NYSAN Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Dear NYSAN Members,

The Board of the New York State Association of Neuropsychology (NYSAN) is acutely aware of the impact of the current political climate and the concerns being expressed across America and within our state. Recent and proposed policy changes are creating significant challenges for psychologists and neuropsychologists in research, education and training, and clinical practice. These changes affect our daily work and challenge the fundamental ethical principles that guide our discipline.

NYSAN remains steadfast in our commitment to excellence in neuropsychology while fostering a diverse and inclusive community. Our organization will continue to welcome and support outreach efforts to individuals from diverse and historically underrepresented backgrounds, encouraging their pursuit of careers in neuropsychology and active participation in NYSAN activities.

We encourage students and trainees to engage in open dialogues with their supervisors, training directors, and mentors to address any concerns about their education and training needs. We will continue to offer continuing education opportunities related to diversity and other critical topics through our webinars, conference presentations, and publications. We will also continue to advocate for policies and practices based on scientific evidence and ethical standards, ensuring that our profession can provide appropriate and quality care to all patients.

Through these challenging times, we aim to remain a resource for our members and will keep you informed about policy changes and their implications for our field. We also welcome your input, and offer the following suggestions:

Communicate Experiences: Please reach out to the NYSAN Board or the committee chairs to share how these policy changes are affecting your work and the people you serve. We invite our members to share their viewpoints within our community respectfully and collegially as we navigate these challenging times together.

Stay Informed and Engaged:Visit NYSAN and other related neuropsychology listservs and websites for updates on efforts and actions you can take. Please also share any resources you find helpful with our community.

Lend Your Expertise: Inform us how your expertise could help educate our members, support or mentor our student affiliates, and influence our policy efforts. Please consider providing a webinar or presentation, writing a tipsheet for our website, or joining a committee.

Look for our Advocacy and Outreach Updates: NYSAN will share updates happening throughout our state as they become available and provide practical advice on how to navigate the policy landscape and stay informed.

We recognize that this is a time of significant uncertainty, and we are committed to navigating through it together.

Sincerely,
The NYSAN Board of Directors