BC-ABA Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis (BC-ABA) stands in solidarity with the Black community, Indigenous peoples, immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, women, all people of colour and individuals with minority status against all forms of racism, hatred, bigotry and discrimination. Those affected by systemic racism in our communities deal with prejudice, discrimination, and hatred every day of their lives. Silence is not an option. We must take a stand and speak up.

We value diversity, equality, compassion and inclusion for all. Therefore, we must make efforts to support all of our membership, clients, and community members. We must make efforts to speak against anti-Black, anti-Indigenous, and all forms of systemic racism in our communities, in our province, in our country and in the world. We must make efforts to listen and learn from those who are oppressed by systemic racism.

We acknowledge that a statement is not enough, and it is only a starting point. Our hope is that taking these initial steps will prompt discussion, reflection, education, and taking actions that align with our values. We will be discussing these issues and how we can work to address them at future board meetings.

As a starting point, BC-ABA is committing to the following action steps:

1. Developing website and social media resources that educate on the importance of and promote inclusion and diversity.
2. Creating accessible CEU opportunities focused on inclusion and diversity.
3. Creating a committee focused on inclusion and diversity.

We are also taking this time to reflect on our own privilege and prepare to take effective action. We encourage our membership and those in our community to do the same. Please consider learning about and supporting the following organizations:

• Black Lives Matter Vancouver / Toronto / US
• Black Visions Collective
• Hogan’s Alley Society
• The anti-racist small business pledge

If you are a person of privilege, please take this time to listen and reflect. Below are some resources to start:

• Anti-Racism Resources
• Ally Resource Guide
• Resources for Accountability and Action for Black Lives
• NY Times Anti-Racist reading list
• Anti-Racism Resources Compiled By Behaviour Analysts

We have chosen to include the resources above due to the urgency of the Black Lives Matter movement in current political events, but we want to acknowledge that here in Canada, many minority communities face daily injustices as well. We do not wish to negate their experience or support one cause over another. What is clear is that we have not been doing enough and that we can contribute in more meaningful ways to the current discussions and actions. This is a start, and we are making a commitment to do more as an organization to support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and take collective action against racial injustices.

We would like your feedback on how we can do more. Please take a few moments to fill out the following survey and share your thoughts and ideas:

Take the Survey