DEI&A

CSAVR STATEMENT ON DEI&A

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility:
 
The Council of State Administrators of Vocational Rehabilitation (CSAVR) is a national organization comprised of Directors of State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agencies. These agencies are the state partners in the State-Federal program of rehabilitation services provided under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as Amended. The public VR program engages with nearly 2 million individuals with disabilities every year.

CSAVR is committed to working toward a world free of institutional bias and injustice. Racism is a civil and human rights issue, and as such, a disability rights issue. CSAVR condemns and rejects racism and inequities in all forms and the systemic manner in which it is used to oppress minorities, including those who are individuals with disabilities. Disability and poverty continue to exacerbate the challenges that many individuals face. CSAVR will work tirelessly to assist individuals with disabilities, with whom we work, to have full access to opportunities that increase independence and employment, and to provide them with the services and supports they need to achieve the American dream.

This Statement on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessability (DEI&A) leads to a commitment on the part of the leadership of CSAVR to assertively establish strategies and definable actions to foster equality of opportunity in the workplace by supporting initiatives to include underrepresented populations in our own ranks, at all levels. CSAVR and our member organization will promote initiatives that focus on the recruitment, hiring, training, and upward mobility of staff from minority communities. In order to serve our diverse customer base, it is essential to reflect that diversity in our own staff to address the cultural and access issues that individuals with disabilities face in their goal of competitive integrated employment and independence.