IDEA

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access

ASCIP Mission Statement

To optimize the health and wellness of individuals with SCI/D through advanced interdisciplinary education, professional development and scientific research.

IDEA Committee Mission Statement

Fair treatment, equal access to opportunity, nondiscriminatory teamwork and collaboration. Intentionally promote fair treatment, equal access to opportunity, nondiscriminatory teamwork and collaboration.

Our Purpose Statements:

Awareness and education related to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access in supporting ASCIP’s activities, operation, policies, communications, services and products.

Develop a culture where Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access are understood, respected and intentionally applied through meaningful, practical and pioneering strategies that can serve as a role-model to enhance opportunities for learning and self-growth globally for all citizens and our communities.

Click Here to view the IDEA Committee members.

The IDEA Award

The award recognizes excellent work that provides an important contribution to advancing our understanding of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA). The awarded work demonstrates an inclusive and culturally aware thought process that counteracts the practices of disenfranchisement and disempowerment of members of our society. This award seeks to promote work that addresses gaps in IDEA related knowledge, data, and skills.

This recognized work is innovative and impactful in addressing systemic issues and barriers surrounding IDEA internationally, nationally, and/or locally. This award highlights work that provides an opportunity and platform for marginalized voices or advocates of IDEA to be heard, acknowledged, and recognized.

View the IDEA Award scoring rubric

Past award winners:

2022: Raheleh Ghasseminia MS, OTR/L, “The Intimate Justice framework: Interrogating inequity for sexuality outcomes in women post spinal injury.”

2023: Jenny Kiratli PhD, “Social support and community engagement for LGBTQ+ persons who live with spinal cord injury.”
To optimize the health and wellness of individuals with SCI/D through advanced interdisciplinary education, professional development and scientific research.

In troubled times, mental health hygiene is more vital than ever

January 17, 2024

In troubled times, mental health hygiene is more vital than ever As an organization that advocates for not only the physical needs of those with spinal cord injury/disorders (SCI/D) but also the emotional and psychological wellbeing of individuals with SCI/D, ASCIP's Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) committee holds close our commitment to advocacy for patients and their communities. We acknowledge how collective trauma can impact many of those in the SCI/D community that have experienced violence firsthand as well as those of us who provide care. Our brains tend to engage in behavioral patterns in response to life events and trauma is no exception. Recent exposure to, or witnessing/hearing about, trauma events can trigger renewed experience of historical traumatic events. With these trauma triggers, come the memories and emotions that accompany them. The complexity of the dynamic interplay between mind and body triggers the fight-flight-freeze-fawn part of our nervous system. Add in multiple triggers daily, and we have an exhaustion of emotional internal resources and physical energy. ...