Our experience

John and Carolyn bring special experience and sensitivity to working with families in which children or adults have learning disabilities, ADHD, or other special needs.

John and his wife, clinical psychologist Judith Glasser, Ph.D., have presented workshops at major professional conferences around the US and Canada to teach mediators to work successfully with families with special needs concerns.

Carolyn’s longtime experience with children and adults in the special needs community has deepened her understanding of the challenges faced by families in times of transition.

Creating parenting plans for children with special needs

We are familiar with the kinds of challenges faced by parents of children with special needs, as well as with relevant terminology. We have helped many separating and divorcing couples to develop effective parenting plans for children with learning disabilities, ADHD, or Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Accommodations for clients with learning disabilities and ADHD

Based on our experience, we have implemented a number of important accommodations in our mediation practice for parents/spouses with special needs:

1. We take the initiative in helping clients stay organized as they advance along the mediation process. For example, during the orientation session, we provide clients with a customized binder to make it easier to keep track of the paperwork (financial disclosure documents, etc.) that accumulates during mediation.
2. We are attentive to different learning styles, asking clients how they learn best—visually, through hearing things explained, kinesthetically, etc.—and making it our business to communicate in a manner that responds to their needs and preferences. We do the work of mediation at a pace that fits with clients’ needs.
3. Finally, there is no shaming in our office. We are aware that people with learning disabilities or ADHD often have been criticized, as children and as adults, by people who did not understand the true nature and impact of these conditions. That experience will not be repeated here.

Wheelchair Accessibility

Our office building is wheelchair-accessible from both the street and from the free underground parking garage. If wheelchair accessibility is an issue for you, please refer to the accessibility information in these Directions, or let us know when you schedule your initial appointment, and we will explain to you how to reach the wheelchair-accessible parking spaces.