Committee on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The purpose of the Committee on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion is to facilitate multi-stakeholder collaboration that provides insight on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) matters pertinent to ACRM mission responsibilities to improve the lives of those with disabling conditions through interdisciplinary rehabilitation research and dissemination activities.

CO-CHAIRS

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

• Pamela Roberts, PhD, OTR/L, SCFES, FAOTA, CPHQ, FNAP, FACRM
• Stephanie Kolakowsky-Hayner, PhD, CBIST, FACRM
• Patricia Heyn, PhD, FGSA, FACRM
• Carmen Capó-Lugo, PT, PhD
• Catherine Vanderwerker, PT, DPT, PhD
• Deborah Backus, PT, PhD, FACRM
• Donna Langenbahn, PhD, FACRM
• Fofi Constantinidou, PhD, CCC-SLP, FACRM
• Sonya Kim, PhD, CRC, BCB

Responsibilities

The DEI Committee makes recommendations regarding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion across the 6 M’s.

Accomplishments

• Program & Awards:

• • • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion track at 2022 Annual Conference
    • Speaker invitations at Annual (Justine ‘Justice’ Shorter, MA “Reimagining Health and Healing: Centering People with Color with Disabilities in Rehabilitation Medicine”
    • Committee members contributing a number of DEI content at Annual Conference
    • Three awards under-development (Excellence in Health Equity Paper; ACRM Outstanding Diversity Mentorship in Rehabilitation Research; ACRM Diversity in Rehabilitation Research)
    • Working with 365 Sales Team (Glenn Collins) to promote DEI Sponsorships

• Member Engagement:

• • • Develop ACRM Mentors in 21st Century Rehabilitation Science Initiative/ Recognition of Significant Contributors to the Field
    • Committee members continued involvement in the R13 Integrative Rehabilitation Research Mentoring & Career Development Fellowship [PIs: Heyn, Kim, Lindberg]

• Partnerships

• Archives – Provided Input on their special issue on Health Equity

• • • ACRM Career Development NG, Arts and Neuroscience-Movement TF
    • ACRM BOG – Standing Guest
    • Disability and Rehabilitation Research Coalition (DRRC) Steering Committee– Edited the Comments on NIH DEIA Strategic Plan; Advocate for Disability to be Recognized as a Health Disparity population (NIH Institutes – NIA, NCMRR, NIMHD, etc.)

• Successful Membership Call – 40 diverse individuals
  • • T12 Membership verification by ACRM

2023 Goals

1. 1. Subcommittees established with new leadership:
      • Policy and Practice Subcommittee Chair
      • Member Engagement Subcommittee Chair
      • Consumer representative
   2. Approval of the three developed Awards (Excellence in Health Equity Research Award; ACRM Outstanding Diversity Mentorship in Rehabilitation Research; ACRM Diversity in Rehabilitation Research)
   3. Disseminate the ACRM climate survey results to membership
   4. Discussions with ACRM leadership to develop a DEI sponsorship program
   5. Develop a Strategic Vision and Mission for DEI