On this page you will find a collection of resources centered around Collaborative Advocacy, a relationship-building approach to advocacy that protects parental rights, reduces conflict, and helps families engage confidently in the IEP or IFSP process.
This short document and companion video highlight a collaborative approach to empowering students with disabilities, their families, and other advocates for the student to effectively navigate the IEP process. The publication is also available in Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Spanish, and Vietnamese.
This self-paced online course supports Parent Center staff, advocates, and others who assist families in engaging effectively in the IEP and IFSP process and resolving conflicts constructively. The course introduces core topics—communication, conflict engagement, parental rights to dispute resolution, and responding to dispute resolution calls—by leveraging CADRE’s trusted tools and materials. Real-life scenarios and short knowledge checks with feedback support practical, real-world application. A final module focuses on using CADRE resources to extend and reinforce learning, making this course a strong onboarding and refresher tool.
This resource provides families interested in hiring an advocate with questions to consider and highlights additional resources available to families.
This webinar from Oklahoma Special Education Resolution Center explains the important role that advocates play in helping parents navigate the IEP process. Their participation can lead to collaborative communication or make it more difficult for the team to work together, causing additional conflict. This webinar will focus on ways advocates can provide positive support to the team, what parents can look for when selecting an advocate, what can be expected from an advocate, and how schools can work effectively with advocates.