Special education leaders are increasingly encountering “ambush advocates”—individuals who appear at IEP meetings with aggressive tactics, legalistic arguments, or confrontational demands. While advocates can play an important role in supporting families, ambush advocacy can undermine trust, derail collaboration, and escalate conflict.
This session equips leaders with proactive systems-level strategies to minimize the risk of ambush, communication practices that foster trust and transparency, and response techniques that keep meetings student-centered, professional, and legally sound. Drawing on real-world scenarios, participants will learn how to anticipate potential ambush situations, maintain composure under pressure, and uphold both procedural compliance and collaborative relationships.
Leaders will leave with strategies to strengthen staff confidence, reinforce positive parent partnerships, and ensure that even in challenging situations, the focus remains on providing Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for every student.