Identifying the associated factors of mediation and due process in families of students with autism spectrum disorder.

The team sent a survey to 507 parents of students with autism. They asked who had filed mediation or due-process complaints against the school.

Parents also answered questions about their child’s age, placement, behavior, income, and how well the school and family worked together.

Families were more likely to sue when the child was older, in a separate classroom, had anxiety or sadness, earned a high income, and rated the family-school bond as poor.

The biggest red flag was a broken partnership; it topped the list even after the stat check.

Burke et al. (2018) asked a different group of parents what blocked future planning. Both studies used big parent surveys and found the same core idea: when families feel shut out, they seek outside help.

Camodeca et al. (2020) interviewed parents and teachers of young, mainstream pupils. They showed that small participation gaps start early. Perez et al. (2015) show that if those gaps are not fixed, they can turn into formal fights later.

Roudbarani et al. (2023) found that some clinicians avoid treating autistic youth. Put together, the problem is on both sides: staff hesitate and schools stall, so parents escalate.

You can spot lawsuit risk early. Watch for an older student in a self-contained room who seems anxious and whose parents rarely join meetings. Fix the partnership before it breaks: invite parents to pick the goal, share daily data, and meet on their schedule. A strong bond now can save months of mediation later.