Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Statement
The ADHD Association of Greater Edmonton (AAGE) is committed to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) principles in all aspects of our operations and community engagement. AAGE was founded in response to the pressing need for support of individuals who identify as having ADHD and their families, a community that has been misunderstood and often marginalized in the educational and employment areas.
The AAGE recognizes that justice requires fairness and impartiality in the service to the community. The organization is dedicated to ensuring equitable access to resources and support services for individuals of all cultural backgrounds, identity orientations, ages, abilities, and experiences. The vision of AAGE is that “Individuals with ADHD are understood and embraced as unique and valuable.” Embedded within this vision is the advocacy for fair treatment across contexts. Further, the land acknowledgement on the website and reiterated at each support meeting highlights the importance of justice and reconciliation.
AAGE is dedicated to creating and sustaining relationships with other communities. Throughout the organization’s existence, AAGE has developed relationships with various community organizations who serve those who identify as neurodiverse. Examples include our Indigenous neighbours at Maskwacis and the 2SLGBTQIA+* community. These partnerships are some of the actions that demonstrate our goal of becoming more inclusive.
AAGE strives to foster justice, equity, diversity and inclusion within all levels of our organization, embracing the richness of perspectives, identities, and lived experiences that make up the ADHD community. The majority of our leadership including the Board of Directors comprise those with lived experience of ADHD and are diverse in their cultural background, education, age and ability.
AAGE is dedicated to providing support, education, and advocacy that is accessible and responsive to the varying needs of our community members and to protecting their rights as a neurodiverse population. AAGE offers free support groups, guest speakers, email support, and maintains an informative website and active social media platforms to connect individuals with relevant resources and community networks.
As an organization rooted in service and volunteerism, AAGE recognizes the importance of ongoing learning and growth in advancing JEDI goals. The association is committed to continuously evaluating and improving current practices to better serve the needs of all individuals within the ADHD community.
* This acronym continues to evolve and is adopted from the Government of Canada website: https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/free-to-be-me/2slgbtqi-plus-glossary.html