Beth Stoffmacher, Founder
Consultant, Trainer, Disability Specialist
I am a disability consultant and certified facilitator and mentor trainer in the Technology of Participation (ToP) Methods, dedicated to creating inclusive, accessible, and highly participatory spaces where every voice matters.
Beyond strategic planning and organizational process facilitation, I teach Technology of Participation (ToP) Facilitation Methods: practical, structured tools that help leaders and teams collaborate and make decisions together. My courses train professionals to design meetings and group processes where every voice can be heard and every participant, regardless of disability or learning style, is genuinely included.
Experience
I founded Stoffmacher Consulting with a clear purpose: to help groups and organizations achieve their vision for the future. At the heart of everything I do is a commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities and supporting those who work alongside them. I worked at the UCLA Tarjan Center, a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities for 30 years.
I am a mentor trainer and qualified facilitator in the Technology of Participation (ToP) Facilitation Methods (focused conversations, consensus workshops, action planning, and strategic planning).
I am the co-chair of the ToP Network Board of Directors (January 2025) which allows me to interact and influence a network of ToP Network of Facilitators. and work with other practitioners to shape the future of the network.
Approach
I believe in the value of participatory and accessible facilitation.
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People describe my style as engaging, authentic, inclusive, and compassionate, and I bring deep care to everything I do. My own experience as a person with a disability shapes my commitment: I work to build inclusive environments, prepare facilitators, and equip advocates so that meetings and trainings work for every learning style.
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I'm also the creator and instructor of Building Inclusive Facilitation Practices for Everyone — a course helping professionals lead meetings and conversations that are equitable, engaging, and accessible to all. I partner with disability agencies, nonprofits, educators, and government organizations to clarify and implement their vision, mission, and strategic goals through thoughtful facilitation and results-driven strategies. My experience across universities, cultural arts organizations, nonprofits, and local, state, and government agencies means I understand my clients' challenges from the inside out. People describe my style as engaging, authentic, inclusive, and compassionate. I care deeply about this work and the people I do it with. I founded Stoffmacher Consulting with a clear purpose: to help groups and organizations achieve their vision for the future. At the heart of everything I do is a commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities and supporting those who work alongside them.
ToP ~ Technology of Participation
Technology of Participation (ToP) is a set of structured facilitation methods developed by the Institute of Cultural Affairs designed to engage diverse groups, minimize conflict, and build genuine consensus. It empowers teams to collaboratively solve problems, brainstorm, and plan without hierarchical top-down direction.
ToP relies on three core techniques to guide groups through a natural progression of thinking:
Focused Conversation (ORID): This method structures dialogue to draw out the group's thoughts without leading them to a predetermined answer. It follows a four-step framework:
Consensus Workshop: This approach enables a group of any size to build consensus on a complex issue without relying on traditional voting. It allows every voice to be heard and synthesizes diverse ideas.
Action Planning: Once a group has a shared vision and agreement, this method helps break ideas down into executable, manageable tasks. It requires the team to identify:
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ToP methodologies are heavily used in organizational development, strategic planning, and community engagement because they guarantee every voice is acknowledged and build deep, long-term commitment to the decisions made.
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Get In Touch with Beth
• Develop a shared understanding across your organization through authentic, participatory conversations that are inclusive and accessible for individuals with all disabilities.
• Create meaningful core values and vision statements that inspire collective, aligned action and measurable outcomes.