Praxis’ EDI Commitment Statement

Praxis is committed to cultivating equitable, inclusive and diverse environments where research, innovation and individuals thrive for enduring impact to enhance the lives of all people with spinal cord injury (SCI) toward a world without paralysis.

Praxis acknowledges there are systemic barriers and discrimination faced by equity-deserving groups, which include women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities/racialized groups, and members of LGBTQIA2S+ communities. Research demonstrates that diverse and inclusive teams within organizations, and specifically research, increase impact and capacity to address complex issues and innovation.

Action and leadership to address systematic inequalities are an ongoing commitment for Praxis; as an organization we continue to learn and unlearn, to embed equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) principles across all aspects of our operations and work, inclusive of research, research investment, human resources and community engagement.

We also recognize specific EDI issues within the SCI community include ableism, access to SCI best practices for diagnosis and care, consultation with underrepresented groups, sex and gender representation in research, and full engagement of people with lived experience of SCI (PLEX) at all stages to avoid tokenism.

Our EDI goals:

• Develop pathways to enhance EDI within SCI-related research and innovation.
• Develop data-informed and evidence-based EDI assessments, reports and decision making.
• Listen, unlearn, and create space for EDI across our operations, internal and external.

Indigenous Engagement Statement

Praxis acknowledges that Indigenous people with SCI experience many unique issues and barriers, from diagnosis and medical care to support within the community. These issues are frequently unseen, unrecognized and unsupported by consultation, affirmative action, inclusion or respect for cultural and traditional ways of being.

Within our EDI commitment and ongoing Indigenous initiatives, we seek not only to counter systemic ableism but also tackle the systemic racism that is the ongoing legacy of colonial oppression of Indigenous communities. This includes decolonizing our research process, embracing the right of First Nations for self-determination in health and research priorities, respecting Indigenous ways of knowing, and ensuring equitable access to SCI care, research methods, funding, data, and innovation.

In full consultation with the Indigenous SCI community and researchers, our EDI commitment seeks to focus priorities on research, care and innovation that are meaningful to Indigenous people with SCI. Praxis will continue to listen and engage with Indigenous communities to support their priorities in research and care.