Background
Disability inclusion is an integral part of the Association’s next phase of work focused on advancing disability awareness and equity. The Disability Inclusion Strategy Forum provided a platform to collaboratively discuss and build upon priority areas aligned with APA’s recently released Accessibility and Inclusion Maturity Model (AIMM) (PDF, 273KB)opens in new window. The AIMM is a systematic, science-based approach to implementing best practices for disability inclusion and accessibility, ensuring these principles translate to every aspect of APA’s work.
These principles are also reflected in APA’s Resolution on Support of Universal Design and Accessibility in Education, Training, and Practice, which advocates for the incorporation of universal design principles, products, and environments usable by all people, throughout all of APA’s actions, programs, and polices.
This event aimed to foster an environment of collective action, encouraging participants to share their insights and contribute to shaping future practices and initiatives.
Vision statement
APA is dedicated to cultivating a more inclusive environment wherein disability is recognized as a core aspect of diversity and identity. We champion universal and inclusive design principles, integrating accessibility as an essential aspect of all programs, events, and initiatives. We include people with disabilities across leadership roles, thus embedding experiences and perspectives of a variety of people in organizational decision-making processes. Recognizing the importance of community among individuals with shared lived experiences, we provide opportunities for meaningful connection and collaboration among APA members with a diversity of similar and different disabilities. We commit to infusing disability into research, educational and training curricula, practice, and other areas in psychology while prioritizing advocacy efforts for the rights, dignity, and full inclusion of individuals with disabilities.
Outcomes
Throughout the Disability Inclusion Strategy Forum, participants collaboratively:
- Developed the initial elements for a shared aspirational statement that clearly outlines the Association’s commitment to disability inclusion for all members. This required participants to define key concepts and establish clear and concise components of disability inclusion.
- Identified and proposed specific strategies to enhance disability awareness among APA’s membership. This included opportunities to highlight critical disability issues in psychology and promote relevant resources, programming, and educational opportunities across the entire Association.
- Explored and recommended various mechanisms for facilitating connections and building a community of members with the shared lived experience of disability. Participants began building a sense of community by engaging in rich, small group discussions.
- Discussed and suggested strategic approaches to increase the knowledge and skills of APA members, empowering them to create more accessible and inclusive meetings and events.
We really want to be a model, an exemplar for what it really means to create an environment, an organization that is inclusive.
Video
Acknowledgements
Resources
Several resources were shared with Strategy Forum participants to facilitate active discussion:
- The APA Resolution on Support of Universal Design and Accessibility in Education, Training, and Practice affirms APA’s support of infusing universal design principles throughout APA’s actions, programs, and policies to promote a more inclusive and accessible organization
- The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Framework is a foundational document that provides guiding principles based on best practices and a roadmap for the future of EDI strategic planning
- The Inclusive Language Guide was developed to raise awareness, direct learning, and support the use of culturally sensitive terms and phrases that center the voices and perspectives of those who have been historically marginalized or stereotyped
- The AIMM is a systematic, science-based approach to advancing disability awareness and equity across the association with the primary goal of supporting the implementation of best practices around disability inclusion and accessibility.
References
American Psychological Association. (2019). Resolution on support of universal design and accessibility in education, training and practice. https://www.apa.org/about/policy/universal-design-accessibility-education.
American Psychological Association. (2021). Equity, diversity, and inclusion framework. https://www.apa.org/about/apa/equity-diversity-inclusion/framework.
American Psychological Association. (2023). Inclusive language guide (2nd ed.). https://www.apa.org/about/apa/equity-diversity-inclusion/language-guidelines.
American Psychological Association. (2024). Accessibility and inclusion maturity model. https://www.apa.org/about/apa/equity-diversity-inclusion/accessibility-inclusion-maturity-model.