5 Ways to Beat the Delphi Technique in Special Education!

Are you the parent of a child with a disability who receives special education services? Wondering if special education staff are manipulating the IEP team to make predetermined decisions, often different from what your child needs? Would you like to learn about the Delphi technique and how to overcome it? This article will give you the ammunition and information you need to overcome the manipulation that is part of the Delphi technique, and finally get your child the special education services he or she needs!

The Delphi technique was initially developed so that experts in a particular field could reach a consensus. Over the years the usage has been distorted so that it is now used to pit members of one group against members of another group. This is done by the meeting facilitator, who asks all group members what their position is on the issue at hand. They find other group members who agree with their position and manipulate them to turn against group members who disagree with them. This is an unethical way of getting the group to accept whatever the default outcome is!

This technique is being used in special education to pit IEP team members against parents and anyone else who sides with the parents.

Here are 5 ways to beat the Delphi technique for your child’s benefit:

1. Recognize when the technique is being used and expose it! Bring copies of the Delphi Technique information to any school meeting, especially an IEP meeting, if you suspect the technique is being used! Exposure is one way to overcome this unethical technique!

2. Always be charming, never at any time get angry! No matter how many personal attacks come or what the facilitator says, stay calm! Why? Because if the facilitator or the coordinator can make you angry, they see themselves as the victim. Staying calm despite personal attacks will make you seem like the victim and not the coordinator. Other members of the group may side with you because it sounds like you are being verbally attacked!

3. Stay focused on the issue and where you stand on it. Use my favorite promotion technique: repeat, repeat, repeat! If the facilitator tries and puts you on the defensive and changes the subject, keep repeating what your opinion or question is over and over again until the facilitator actually answers the question.

4. If the coordinator starts a long talk on the topic, listen calmly. They are trying to distract you and make you angry. When the person has finished, he returns to mention your opinion or the question. Stay focused on the particular topic at hand and don’t get distracted.

5. It is important to note that if this technique is used at a larger meeting, say a school board meeting, it will look a bit different. If people who disagree with the meeting coordinator remain calm and continue to bring up the topic at hand; the person can ask for a break. Stay away from people who agree with you and do a little spying on the coordinator and his group of people. This tactic will prevent them from sending spies into your party, so they can figure out what your next move is!

I think the hardest part of overcoming this technique is not getting angry when you are personally attacked in an IEP or other meeting. They have insulted me and said that I am stupid for caring for and defending the rights of children with disabilities, to an adequate education. My feeling is that if they’re attacking me they have nothing to counter what I’m saying, and I don’t let it bother me.

The Delphi Technique must be found, exposed and overcome for the good of all children with disabilities!