Most mediations result in better communication between the school and parents. This leads to an improved situation for the student. Bureau of Indian Affairs Branch of Exceptional Education Disclosure and Standards of Mediation Mediation is a conflict resolution process in which an impartial third party facilitates participants negotiating a voluntary agreement. In mediation, decision-making authority rests at all times with the parties. These standards are intended to assist and guide special education and Section 504 mediation in school throughout the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Mediators have duties to the parties, to their profession, and to themselves.
They should be honest and unbiased, act in good faith, be diligent, and never seek to advance their own interests at the expense of the parties. Mediators must act fairly in dealing with mediation participants, have no personal interest in the terms of any settlement agreement, have no bias toward any individual or institution involved in mediation, be reasonably available as requested by mediating parties, and be certain that the parties are informed about the mediation process in which they are involved. The mediator must maintain impartiality toward all parties. Impartiality means freedom from favoritism or bias either by work or by action, and a commitment to serve all mediation participants as opposed to a single party. Each party s consent to proceed with mediation should be obtained early, prior to the beginning of substantive negotiations.