Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Following the racial tensions that ensued after the murder of George Floyd last spring, the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities (CIDD) formed a working group to construct a statement that reflects our position on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Quite frankly, this type of statement and commitment to DEI was long overdue. The group put in countless hours of discussion that resulted in a joint statement. Last fall that statement was circulated for confidential feedback among the CIDD faculty and staff. Below is the final statement that reflects the position of the CIDD on diversity, equity and inclusion. We are grateful to those who contributed their time to this effort, during what was already a stressful period for all of us who have been coping with the impact of the pandemic. Let us hope that this statement has a constructive impact on moving forward our broader community towards addressing the racial inequities that have plagued our country and serves as a guide to clearly establish our core principles for all those involved with the CIDD.

Joe Piven, MD
Director of the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities

CIDD Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities (CIDD) serves individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions and their families by providing high quality, evidence-based clinical care, conducting cutting-edge research, and training health service professionals. At the CIDD, we recognize that neurodiverse individuals have myriad racial, ethnic, gender, religious, and other identities; this diversity is one of our community’s many strengths, and we seek to understand and highlight it. Alongside the UNC School of Medicine, we are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, non-discriminatory, and anti-racist environment for all individuals and families we serve, as well as for our trainees, faculty, staff, and community partners. At CIDD, we commit to the following:

• Condemning discrimination, hatred, prejudice, and microaggressions, while promoting respect, compassion, and inclusivity.
• Working to uncover our own biases, to hold ourselves accountable, and to make positive changes.
• Providing high quality, culturally sensitive clinical services.
• Conducting research that represents the needs and experience of diverse populations and promotes health equity.
• Promoting cultural and linguistic responsiveness among our faculty, staff, and trainees.
• Listening and learning on an ongoing basis.