In a recent article published in Frontiers in Education, Huyck and colleagues (2021) describe opportunities for professional organizations to address the underrepresentation of individuals with disabilities in organizations and in hearing research.
The authors included individuals who are deaf and hard-of-hearing (D/HH) engineers, scientists, and clinicians who actively participate in clinical practice and auditory-focused research. Suggested actions by professional organizations include recruiting individuals with disabilities for leadership opportunities, reducing financial constraints (e.g., conference registration), ensuring equal access (e.g., accessibility committees for conferences), fostering peer-mentoring groups, and establishing equity and inclusion across all facets of diversity.
The authors conclude by encouraging the development of similar peer-mentorship network models to facilitate diversity and equity in other professions and fields. This article highlights important considerations for all professional organizations as we grow to become more equitable, diverse, and inclusive for all members.
Reference
Huyck J, Anbuhl KL, Buran BN, et al. (2021) Supporting equity and inclusion of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in professional organizations. Front Educ 6: Article755457.
Recent Posts
How Do Animals Perceive Music?
Music can be defined as vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds, with rhythm, melody or harmony, and often, an expression of human emotion. Music can transcend…
‘Eye’ on Health: AI Detects Dizziness and Balance Disorders Remotely
Interesting research led by audiologist Ali Danesh, PhD, at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) helped develop a novel, proof-of-concept tool to help identify nystagmus using a…
Rizatriptan vs. Placebo for Attacks of Vestibular Migraine: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Jeffrey Staab, MD, and colleagues studied the effectiveness of rizatriptan as a treatment option for vestibular migraine. Their research included 134 patients between the ages of…