We know that issues/conflicts/disputes sometimes arise related to planning or implementing IEPs for children with special needs. The WI Special Education Mediation System (“WSEMS” for short) has been helping parents of children with disabilities and schools resolve these disputes since 1996.

Learning Objectives:
• Learn about the WSEMS & the free options for early dispute resolution that are available
• Learn how to access each option and what to expect
• Learn about the results and outcomes achieved by the System since its inception

Presenters: 

Nissan Bar-Lev is the Director of Special Education for CESA 7 & is one of 3 Partners who administer the WI Special Education Mediation System. Nissan co-chairs the Special Projects Committee for WCASS. He serves on the Governor’s Autism Council, Children’s Long Term Support Council & chairs the State Superintendent’s Blind & Visual Impairment Education Council. He serves on the SAA Assessment Team, the WI RtI/PBIS Advisory Council, & National IDEA Partnership “Creating Agreement” team. He is a co-author of Special Education in Plain Language.

Courtney Salzer is the Executive Director of WI FACETS. She also serves as the Director of the OSEP-funded Region C Parent Technical Assistance Center and of the WI Parent Training and Information Center. Courtney has spent most of her career working on systems change efforts related to children with disabilities, including serving as the former Director of WI FACETS’ State Professional Development Grant and WI FACETS’ Youth Mentoring Programs. She received her Bachelor’s Degree and Law Degree from Marquette University and possesses a Professional Certificate in Non Profit Management from UW-Milwaukee. Prior to her work at WI FACETS, Courtney was an attorney in private practice, where she did a variety of civil litigation. Courtney is the mother of two school-aged children with disabilities and the sister of a young adult with a disability.