WHEREAS, in the United States, inclusion and accessibility are organizational frameworks that seek to promote the fair treatment and full participation of students, school leaders, and other workers
WHEREAS, inclusion focuses on fostering a sense of belonging as well as appreciating and valuing all students’ and workers’ unique qualities so that they can fully participate and contribute, and
WHEREAS, accessibility expands opportunities for individuals of all abilities by removing physical, technological, and systemic barriers that may prevent full participation in society through reasonable accommodations, inclusive work and public spaces, and
WHEREAS, by embedding these principles into educational institutions and recruitment, promotion, and retention efforts within workplaces, we create an inclusive and accessible America that betters education outcomes, increases business performance, and creates equal opportunities for all, not special privileges for some, and
WHEREAS, inclusion and accessibility are integral to ensuring that all students receive a quality education, and that inclusive PreK-12 and college curricula and environments are highly predictive of academic success for all students, and
WHEREAS, when students feel they belong and have access to diverse spaces, they can fully engage academically, increase understanding and respect across differences, and succeed in the workplace and in society, and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that AFSA champions and values inclusive and accessibility initiatives in government, schools and the workforce and opposes efforts to restrict them, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that AFSA will review existing policies and develop new ones as necessary to eliminate systemic barriers and promote opportunities for all students and workers, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that AFSA will provide ongoing education and training on inclusion, accessibility and collective bargaining rights to its members, leadership, staff and labor partners to foster a more inclusive and informed community, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that AFSA will take action to support and protect inclusion and accessibility policies and initiatives that are essential to upholding civil rights, and ensuring all students and workers have a chance at the American dream, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that AFSA will issue public statements, inform its members and partner with other labor organizations and nonprofit allies to stand firm in their commitment to protect inclusion and accessibility in schools and in the workplace and demand that our state, local and national leaders protect these frameworks.