Training & systems practice
Respect in Action: Honoring Lived Expertise
A 2025 workshop for Parent Advocates and Community Ambassadors on difficult conversations, power, and respectful assertiveness.
The practice question
Organizations may endorse inclusion while still struggling with conflict, feedback, positional power, and knowledge grounded in lived experience.
The approach
Co-presented learning used the Third Story, the Four Ds, DBT DEAR MAN, realistic scenarios, guided reflection, and a preparation checklist. Participants rehearsed ways to describe differing perspectives, make clear requests, remain grounded, and negotiate without abandoning dignity.
The contribution
An applied framework for difficult dialogue that treats lived expertise as professional knowledge and helps participants combine care, boundaries, and accountable communication.
