Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

The McPartland Lab upholds the commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) stated by the Yale Child Study Center to ensure that people of all different identities are represented in, included in, and benefit from our research. As researchers and clinicians, we recognize our responsibility to cultivate accessible and inclusive practices in science and in our community. We believe that prioritizing diverse perspectives in our research will both strengthen our science and expand the applicability of our findings to a wider population.

Our lab welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and identities, including but not limited to nationality, culture, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, ability status, education, socioeconomic status, documentation status, and training level. We do not tolerate discrimination or prejudice of any kind. We consistently work together to examine and disrupt any biases we hold to promote an inclusive environment. We evaluate our digital and written material to ensure that the language we use is inclusive and reflective of those we seek to serve.

Our current efforts and future plans towards fostering DEIB in the McPartland Lab include:

1. Attend workshops and presentations on topics of equity and inclusion to continue to educate ourselves. Hold regular lab-wide discussions of research articles and topics related to DEIB in autism and clinical neuroscience research. We commit to sharing and reflecting on what we learn to continuously inform our practices. Consider DEIB issues as relevant to all lab conversations.
2. We will center the voices of those who will be impacted and represented in our research through active engagement with community members of diverse backgrounds and identities. We will use these experiences to inform our research practices in order to facilitate positive experiences for our participants. This includes using language that reflects the preferences of the individuals with whom we work. We aim to produce high quality research that is relevant to the needs of the community.
3. Maintain an updated compilation of DEIB educational resources for lab members.
4. Actively recruit diverse participants for our research studies to ensure representation of our findings. This includes meeting individuals and families through local events, accommodating our participants’ needs, and implementing suggestions from the advisory group.

For those interested in working in the McPartland Lab, we have made efforts to advertise our job opportunities to a wider applicant pool and are committed to recruiting a diverse research team reflecting a range of experiences, identities, and levels of training.

We commit to consistent efforts toward DEIB in the McPartland Lab, and we welcome any suggestions and partnerships to further our progress.