Academic Advisory Committee on Anti-Racism, Anti-Bias, and Anti-Oppression (ARABAO) for Students, Faculty and Staff in the School of Rehabilitation Science (SRS)

In 2020, the School of Rehabilitation Science formed an Academic Advisory Committee on Anti-Racism, Anti-Bias, and Anti-Oppression for Students, Faculty and Staff (SRS ARABAO Committee).

Subsequently, each academic program in the SRS formed an ARABAO committee, with a focus on that program’s identified needs and priorities, particularly related to curriculum. Membership included faculty and students, and in some cases alumni and community clinicians.

As of September 2023, the program committees were disbanded, and the discussions and recommendations of each committee have been embedded in the existing educational committees for each program (e.g., curriculum committee, admissions committee, program council).

School of Rehabilitation Science Academic Advisory Committee on Anti-Racism, Anti-Bias, and Anti-Oppression for Students, Faculty and Staff

Faculty Co-Chair: Michelle Phoenix

The SRS ARABAO committee will vision and shape how anti-racism, anti-bias and anti-oppression will be enacted at the SRS by serving as a key consultation point for all major equity, diversity and human rights initiatives that relate to SRS (including but not limited to race, culture, sex, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion/creed, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, health status, body size, linguistic background and the intersections of any of these). The SRS ARABAO committee is co-chaired by a faculty member and a student. Membership includes faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community clinicians.

Intentions include:

1. Work towards shared practices, communication, language, and initiatives in SRS while cultivating a diversity of approaches
2. Provide guidance and advice on SRS equity and diversity initiatives including admissions, recruitment and onboarding of students in their first year
3. Promote continued learning on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion by sharing information, resources, educational opportunities and workgroups with the SRS community
4. Support programs and research centres in their work to shape curriculum and research practices that promote anti-bias, anti-racism and anti-oppression, and to also provide them with resources that will support diversity, access, equity and social inclusion
5. Link to FHS EDI committee and university Equity and Inclusion office
6. Provide information on departmental and university processes related to the Discrimination and Harassment Policy
7. Provide a safe and respectful space to discuss issues around recent events in the realm of social justice and equity

Activities to date:

• Completed a diversity focused survey with applicants to our programs, admissions assessors, and accepted students to consider representation and plan for support of equity-seeking groups
• Introduction of a Black equity stream in the admissions process
• Exploring creation of a student-focused and student-led conversational space
• Created resources related to:
  • guidance on consultation, resolution and reporting options for violations of McMaster’s Discrimination and Harassment Policy
  • introduction slide templates for guest lecturers to identify their positionality and create awareness of the SRS values on anti-racism, -bias, and -oppression
  • inclusive language and accessibility (e.g., using closed captioning in Zoom)
• Circulates information on events and workshops relevant to equity, diversity and inclusion and related initiatives