The recording of this recent webinar (March 13 2024) is now available.

Neurodivergence is the divergence of mental or neurological functions from what is considered typical. Neurodiversity is the array of neurotypes in a space which can lead to differences in thinking, attention and memory. Neurodivergent is an umbrella term for conditions including but not limited to ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, Bipolar, OCD, anxiety disorders, and Tourette’s Syndrome. Research suggests that approximately 15-20% of the population is neurodivergent, a segment that contributes a wealth of valuable and unique strengths to scholarly communications. However, this group encounters distinct challenges within professional, educational and social environments. By fostering inclusive and accessible working environments that provide the necessary support, organizations stand to unlock the vast potential for creativity and innovation inherent in this diverse population.

This enlightening panel is tailored for scholarly communications professionals seeking a deeper understanding of neurodiversity and a desire to actively support their neurodivergent colleagues. We will discuss:

• How workplaces can implement policies and procedures for supporting colleagues
• Understanding language and terminology
• Lived experience examples of navigating the workplace

Moderator

Dianndra Roberts, Senior Publishing Coordinator, Royal College of Psychiatrists
Dianndra is the Senior Publishing Coordinator at the Royal College of Psychiatrists working across the books and journals portfolio. In 2019 she founded the RCPsych African and Caribbean Forum. Dianndra has been the ISMTE DEI Advisory Council Co-Chair since 2021 and joined The Scholarly Kitchen/SSP in 2022 as DEIA Associate Editor. Dianndra is passionate about equity, diversity, and inclusion and how we can use our platforms to be active allies, especially in the workplace.

The next C4DISC Community of Practice call will be on April 11, 2024 at 11 am Eastern / 4 pm UK. The topic will be Open Access.

Time converter link

Open Access: our definition for the purposes of this call is when there are no financial, legal or technical barriers to accessing content. In most cases, the author pays for the article publication charge. There are many different models across publishers and societies.

Questions for discussion

• What are the biggest challenges from your organizations’ perspective? 
• How is the article submission process addressing implicit bias by/from editorial reviews? 
• How are broader DEI practices translating into goals that support both authors and the community? 
• What is your experience in open pedagogy? 
• Are authors/researchers receiving due credit when co-authoring; how do we ensure equitable credit? 
• Are DEI principles being integrated into OA initiatives to promote a scholarly ecosystem that is accessible and inclusive of all?

Participants will have breakout room discussions around any aspect of this topic they wish to bring and we will come together for the last part of the call to hear key takeaways.

If you are a COP member you will receive the Zoom link ahead of the call. If you have not yet joined the COP then – learn more here on how to join the community. We have bimonthly calls looking at topics suggested by community members and a discussion group for asynchronous communication.

Last month’s Community call had the topic Recruitment and Retention. You can find previous DEIA Community of Practice Call Summaries here.

C4DISC is very happy to welcome CHORUS as a new Partner supporting our work. You can read about their reason for joining C4DISC here and find a recording of the recent CHORUS Forum: Supporting Accessibility

The data from the second iteration of the Workplace Equity Survey benchmarking the state of diversity, inclusion, and equity (DEI) in the scholarly publishing industry is currently being analyzed. A future-facing instrument, the survey will pick up on emerging needs to help forge a more equitable path forward to the individuals and organizations in our industry. A full report on the results is scheduled for release early in 2024.

For the WE Survey to be sustainable, it needs to be a long-term industry commitment, measuring change over time and evolving with new voices and fresh perspectives.  This post introduces some of the survey’s next generation and delves into some of the detail of the analysis.

The next C4DISC Community of Practice call will be on February 8, 2024 at 11 am Eastern / 4 pm UK. The topic will be Recruitment and Retention.

The theme encompasses the process of seeking out, interviewing, hiring and onboarding employees, partners and vendors. In the publishing industry this includes authors, reviewers and editors. Factors affecting DEIA can include how you choose to advertise or identify candidates; the language, platforms and methodologies used throughout; how feedback is incorporated; and how employees are prepared to support new colleagues.

Questions for discussion

• Do you have examples of best practice for inclusive recruitment and retention?
• Do you have examples where there was room for improvement?
• How do you feel our workplaces and communities can support us in inclusive recruitment and retention?
• Is there anything you would do differently when recruiting and retaining volunteers?
• How do you feel mentor and buddy schemes impact inclusive recruitment and retention?
• How can we ensure people from low-income backgrounds are able to access careers in publishing?

Participants will have breakout room discussions around any aspect of this topic they wish to bring and we will come together for the last part of the call to hear key takeaways.

If you are a COP member you will receive the Zoom link ahead of the call. If you have not yet joined the COP then – learn more here on how to join the community. We have bimonthly calls looking at topics suggested by community members and a discussion group for asynchronous communication.

Last month’s Community call had the topic Psychological Safety. You can find previous DEIA Community of Practice Call Summaries here.