At ABAC we take pride in providing a safe and inclusive work and learning space for our employees, our guest speakers, and the learners that attend our programs.
In addition, as part of our company culture, gender choices are supported, remote, flexible schedules for parents (both employees and guest speakers) are the norm, and privacy rights are paramount. We are honored to be able to say that in ABAC’s seven years of existence, we have always been committed to improving accessibility beyond basic accommodations and improving our programs based on the ideas of our diverse community of speakers, attendees and employees.
Our Anti-Discrimination Policies
Employee and Presenter Policies
- ABAC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, creed, national origin, ancestry, nationality, marital, domestic partnership, civil union status, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sex at birth, genetic information, religion, sexual orientation, education level, age, weight, military status, disability, political preferences, profession, or other characteristics not mentioned here.
- It is the right for all employees and contractors to receive equal pay (Equal Pay Act of 1963) and to request and receive reasonable accommodation (barring undue hardship) if needed, as outlined in the Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law Poster (Link to Screen-reader-optimized poster).
- By law, all employees receive a copy of the EEO is the Law Poster at the beginning of their employment.
- The EEO is the Law poster is displayed in the ABAC office, and as of March 12, 2021 a link to the poster is available on the ABACNJ.com website.
- Employees are prohibited from posting discriminatory content on social media. Any employee who violates this policy is in violation of our mission and may be terminated for breach of the employment agreement.
- We require that all Presenters speak respectfully of other professions, respect cultural, religious, sexual, and other differences and will refrain from making derogatory, harassing, or discriminatory statements publicly in other forums (e.g. social media, conference presentations, etc.) and during their presentation.
- We support professionals who choose to use person-first and identity-first language interchangeably to refer to those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (or other diagnosis). This deliberate choice is made to honor and respect the choice and right of individuals to refer to themselves and their diagnosis of autism (or other) as they would prefer. We encourage speakers to announce their intention to do so at the beginning of their workshop.
- We respect the rights of all individuals to use their personal pronouns and require Presenters and employees to address individuals by their personal pronouns.
- Discrimination based on race, creed, national origin, ancestry, nationality, marital, domestic partnership, civil union status, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, sex at birth, genetic information, religion, sexual orientation, education level, age, weight, military status, disability, political preferences, profession, or other characteristics not mentioned here will not be tolerated. Individuals who discriminate against others will not be invited to present at ABAC. If a Presenter engages in known discriminatory practices prior to an event, the event will be cancelled and no payment will be made.
- If hate speech is used, or disparaging or derogatory comments are made about an individual or group on account of an above mentioned characteristic (race, creed, etc) during an event, the speaker will not be invited back to ABAC to present, previously scheduled events will be canceled, ABAC will withhold payment and, if warranted, we will contact the individual's professional agency/board to make a complaint.
- Employees, Presenters & Internal Continuing Education Committee Members will be asked to sign an attestation that they have received and reviewed these policies.
- ABAC reserves the right to make updates and additions to this document. Speakers and employees will receive updated copies when any changes are made and will be asked to review and sign that they have received them.
Learner Policies
Those that attend ABAC Live Events or participate in any program that includes Learner-to-Presenter or Learner-to-Learner opportunities for communication are expected to speak respectfully of other professions, respect cultural, religious, sexual, and other differences and will refrain from making derogatory, harassing, or discriminatory statements in public or private communications with Presenters or other Learners.
If hate speech is used, or disparaging or derogatory comments are made about an individual or group on account of the abovementioned characteristics (race, creed, etc.), or other, during a Live Event, in a discussion board, or via any other means, the Learner will be removed from the learning portal. The Learner will not be readmitted, ABAC will not refund payment and, if warranted, ABAC will contact the individual's professional agency/board to make a complaint.