The REAACT Program is committed to creating an environment that values and respects diversity, equity, and inclusion across our research, clinical, and training activities. Many of our research participants, community partners, staff, faculty, and trainees come from diverse backgrounds and may face unique challenges related to their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and ability status. We believe that embracing these diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences is essential for advancing autism research and promoting the well-being of individuals on the autism spectrum. We are dedicated to ensuring that our research initiatives are meaningful to the autism community and to using our findings to better inform policies and practices. All of our efforts are congruent with the DEI efforts of Pitt Psychiatry.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion in our research
Our research team acknowledges and takes ownership for past exclusionary practices, in our lab and in our field overall. Autism research has historically excluded autistic voices, especially people with high support needs, those who are minimally or non-speaking, and those from marginalized racial and ethnic groups. Our team understands that it is our responsibility to create trust with these communities. We recognize that building trust requires ongoing and genuine efforts. We are prepared to commit the time and resources necessary to build genuine, long-term partnerships with autistic people who have historically been excluded.
Our process includes forming community partners groups that are paid and involved in every stage of our research (See PAARCC). We also establish relationships with local community organizations and community leaders to identify projects, priorities, initiatives, and events that we can support. We strive to be trustworthy, open, transparent, and responsive to feedback from all community members and partners.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion on our team
We understand that there is not enough diversity in autism research or among providers serving the autistic community and our lab is no exception. We have initiatives in place to prioritize professional support of people from marginalized backgrounds, such as neurodivergence, minoritized racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual identities, and people with disabilities.
We are working to form partnerships at the national level to bring and support new scholars to autism research (See Dissemination and Partnership Core and Training). We have secured internal, local, and national resources to support these scholars through individualized mentorship, scholarships, and other means to create an equitable training experience.
Environment
We work hard to maintain an environment that embraces and celebrates differences. We dedicate resources to maintain physical and virtual environments that are safe, welcoming, and inclusive. We regularly seek out feedback from our team and research participants to make improvements to support these goals.