Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility

The “Empower research teams and collaboration” priority within the UHN Strategic Research Plan 2019–23 speaks to our efforts to support and develop the world’s top research teams, comprising diverse groups of scientists, clinicians, trainees, staff and other partners. We recognize that there are systemic barriers for many underrepresented groups, and have been reminded of the need for all of society to tackle systemic racism and all forms of discrimination. This includes a clear need for us to do more to promote inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA).

UHN is committed to meeting the standards outlined in the province's Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Accordingly, UHN is evolving its policies and procedures in compliance with the Act and its standards for customer service, employment, transportation, information and communication and the design of public spaces.

 

We are committed to providing accessible information and communication to all and recognizes that persons with disabilities may require information in accessible formats. All documents required by the Customer Service Standard and the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulations (IASR) are available upon request, subject to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). When providing these documents, UHN will do so in the format requested. If you require correspondence, reports and/or other UHN documents in an accessible format, please contact us by email at accessibility@uhn.ca and let us know what format is preferable. Alternatively, contact us at 416-603-5526 to make your request by phone.

 

To learn more about accessibility at UHN visit the UHN AODA site.

The inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility seminar (IDEA) series is intended to provide a forum where researchers, staff and trainees can learn about IDEA-related topics from peers and IDEA experts. The series is organized and managed by the Research IDEA Committee. 

 

Leveraging technology to address communication barriers - Digital technologies provide new opportunities to facilitate meaningful communication. We can use these technologies to get around various challenges, including cultural barriers and accessibility. At the same time, the specific needs of people with physical or cognitive disabilities, socioeconomic disadvantages, or those who live in remote locations must be considered to make sure they are aided and not at risk of being further marginalized due to lower tech-savviness and social isolation. Our speakers highlight how user needs, training, and context impact an individual's ability to use technology. Speakers will discuss: 1) how new assistive technologies can be leveraged to reduce barriers for older adults, people with physical and/or cognitive disabilities wit, peopleh socioeconomic disadvantage, and people who live in remote settings; 2) ways to support the use of these technologies in the health research setting; and 3) the importance of using an equity, diversity and inclusion lens when developing and procuring technologies for use in health, research and social care systems.

 

Mythbusters: challenging widely held beliefs about individuals living with spinal cord injury - International Day of Persons with Disabilities is observed annually on December 3 to spread awareness and understanding of disabilities. This year we invite you to learn more about what it’s like to live and work with spinal cord injuries. Speakers will debunk some of the widely held beliefs about individuals living with spinal cord injury and provide insight on ways to ensure a disability-inclusive research environment.

 

Women in academic medicine - Women and girls make up half of the world’s population and therefore, half of its potential. Yet, there is still significant underrepresentation of women in science. In recognition of those challenges, the United Nations has named February 11th as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science to support women and girls in science. Long-standing gender stereotypes and biases often discourage women from participating in science-related fields. Moreover, as women progress through their careers in academia, increasing leadership roles and other expectations create barriers to their advancement. Our invited speakers will share their past experiences in academic medicine, highlight some of the challenges women face in research and speak about ways to support and recognize women leaders in the research community. 

 

Managing vulnerable patients during and after the COVID-19 pandemic - Due to public health measures to control the spread of COVID-19, institutions/ pain clinics across the country have ceased or severely restricted in-person visits, which significantly impacts care of the 15-19% of Canadians who struggle with chronic pain. Thus, chronic pain patients have lost resources that were their mainstay of stability such as routine physiotherapy and psychotherapy. This presentation will discuss the Transitional Pain program pioneered at the Toronto General Hospital and present some of the findings associated with this model of care, as well as, novel interventions designed to improve access to care during the pandemic and beyond.  In closing, a high level overview of novel cannabis based clinical and basic science research underway at UHN is discussed.

 

Promoting anti-racist culture in research - Even though one out of every 30 Canadians identifies as Black, the experiences and diversity of Black individuals are often unappreciated, especially in Canada where there is little data on race and ethnicity. In reality, systemic and institutional racism can often lead to unintended discriminatory attitudes, beliefs, practices and policies that are felt more acutely in the Black community. We have invited two speakers to share equity, diversity and inclusion practices and strategies that aim to address racial and ethnic inequalities that create barriers for Black patients, scientists, staff and learners in the health and research system.

 

Enhancing inclusion in academic medicine - The UHN research IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility) committee recently hosted a seminar titled 'Women in Academic Medicine', during which we discussed some of the barriers faced by women in academia. During the seminar, Dr. Moira Kapral (Senior Scientist, UHN) shared different ways to support women researchers and Dr. Serena Sohrab (Assistant Professor, Ontario Tech University) spoke about the impact of infertility on women's careers. The session, which was moderated by Dr. Susanna Mak (Professor, Mount Sinai Hospital), highlighted many challenges that continue to impede the advancement of women in academia, including the effects of motherhood on female career trajectories and gender pay gaps. We have invited four speakers from different parts of the organization to join the conversation: Dr. Brad Wouters (Executive Vice President, Science and Research, UHN); Dr. Emma Bell (Postdoctoral Fellow, UHN); Dr. Laura Desveaux (Scientist, Women's College Research Institute; Founder & Executive Director, Women Who Lead); and Sheila O’Brien (Executive Vice President, People, Culture and Community, UHN). The panelists will talk about the challenges women and non-binary scientists, staff and trainees experience and opportunities to address the negative impact of these challenges. 

 

Fostering a culture of inclusion for research trainees - Research trainees represent the next generation of scientists and future leaders in science. Because of this, creating a culture of inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility—one that provides equal access to opportunities and ensures that trainees reach their full potential—is critical for the success of the research enterprise. We have invited two speakers to share their insights on ways to create a culture that empowers and supports trainees in academia. 

 

Sharing our stories: walking in truth together - This highly interactive session respectfully utilizes story-telling and truth-gifting approaches to discuss complex issues in health care and Indigenous peoples. Participants will be engaged in a series of mini-lessons and activities that: a) explore the various levels of racism/privilege that exist in our professional and personal spaces, b) examine ways to confront/deconstruct these forms of inequity that have real human (and other-than-human) costs, and, c) foster a community of practitioners that can see these ‘issues’ with an informed and strengths-based lens for change.

 

Beyond the male-female binary - For those working in laboratory-based biomedical sciences, it can be particularly challenging to incorporate the complex, dynamic, and context-dependent constructs of sex and gender into paradigms that rely on controlled experimentation. As a result, male-female comparisons are often the default mode for considering the influence of sex and gender.The webinar will explore solutions to help researchers conceptualize and operationalize sex and gender in the lab, including mechanism-oriented and context-driven approaches, and revisiting our practices of data visualization, statistical analysis and scientific rhetoric to promote equity.