DIVERSITY, INCLUSION, EQUITY & ACCESSIBILITY (DIEA)

The Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC) is committed to breaking down barriers and strengthening DIEA within the informal science learning and public engagement sector.

From 2016 through 2021 CASC actively sought opportunities to challenge our operations and offerings in the areas of:

DIEA DEFINED

The definitions CASC uses for the words diversity, inclusion, equity and accessibility (DIEA).

Diversity: The variety of unique dimensions, qualities and characteristics each individual possesses.

Inclusion: Creating a culture that strives for equity and accepts, embraces, respects and values differences of a collective.

Equity: Fair treatment of everyone and ensuring all have equal opportunity to participate in all aspects of society and its benefits.

In the 2020-2022 Strategic Plan, CASC identified three objectives centered around DIEA:

In 2022 CASC is in a pivotal position to take a proactive approach to integrate DIEA practices into a DIEA Strategy that will guide and influence the associations day-to-day operations. We will begin the process with an internal focus and then expand into external influences in five (5) steps as follows:

• Internal Capacity Building & Resource Allocation
• Membership and Stakeholder Engagement
• Protocol, Policy and Procedure Development
• Development of our DIEA Strategy
• DIEA Strategy Implementation and Performance

To help guide us we’ve joined the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) as an Employer Partner and are a partner of the Diversity Leads 50 – 30 project, led by TMU’s Diversity Institute. The Diversity Leads 50 – 30 project will support and strengthen the participants of the 50 – 30 Challenge with access to cutting edge research, databases of best practices, and recruitment and training of diverse board-ready candidates.