Disabilities and mediation readiness in court‐referred cases: Developing screening criteria and service networks

Mediation is an ideal alternative to court for many matters. Referrals involving disputants with certain emotional or mental disabilities may or may not be appropriate for community mediation as it is currently being practiced. In many cases, community mediation must become more flexible and accessible; it must offer coaching in advance, allow advocate participation, use mediators skilled in disability issues, and adapt the process. In other cases, centers must assess the “mediation readiness” of disputants. In all cases, community mediation needs to become more deeply nested in human services referral networks. Screening criteria through which mediation programs might assess disputant readiness are suggested.