Inclusion Policy

For the purposes of this policy ‘inclusion’ means access for all. It means recognizing differences between individuals / groups and providing opportunities for them to participate in the events we create regardless of those differences, whether this is as a participant, exhibitor, sponsor, or organizer.

The US Trail Running Conference embraces diversity and difference and is committed to providing events that are safe, inclusive, accessible and equitable. We want our events to be equally accessible to all members of society, whatever their age, disability, gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality or social/economic status.

We will develop a focus on inclusion, not exclusion, and ensure that we provide appropriate advice to organizers and volunteers to ensure that everyone can participate as fully as possible.

The Inclusion Policy is intended to promote a change in attitudes and perceptions and to improve opportunities for everyone to participate at our events.

We will seek to ensure that we comply with all legislation in place and the characteristics protected by it (age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity) and encourage all participants and organizers to do so. We will seek to include everyone regardless of whether they have a protected characteristic or not.

Our aim is to provide an environment where everyone feels:

• Welcome
• Represented
• Included in decision making
• Able to participate
• Safe and free from discrimination, bullying, harassment and vilification.

Aims

The aims of the Inclusion Policy are:

• To promote the development of knowledge and understanding of disability, equity and inclusion amongst our participants, exhibitors, sponsors, and event organizers by the provision of appropriate guidance and training.
• To guide and support the integration of inclusive practice into our event programs and activities.
• To contribute towards growing and sustaining numbers of people from under-represented groups participating in our events.
• To promote inclusion within our events whether in person or online.
• To adopt inclusive practice within our events.
• To promote close working partnerships with relevant groups and organizations to support the development of inclusive practice within our events.

Commitment

We will:

• Actively identify and reduce barriers to participation for under-represented groups.
• Consult with expert partners and other organizations to facilitate inclusive practices and remove barriers to participation.
• Ensure under-represented groups are given the opportunity to participate in all aspects of our events.
• Take steps to establish an action plan to deal with a situation should anyone at one of our events discriminates, harasses, bullies or victimizes any participant, exhibitor, sponsor or organizer.

We will not:

• Tolerate discrimination, harassment, bullying or victimization.
• Make assumptions and will try to speak to people about the reasonable adjustments they believe might be made to enable them to participate and to discuss how these could be made.

A Welcoming Environment

We will:

• Think positively about how we can include people rather than focusing on potential barriers to participation.
• Consider how our events are promoted.
• Consult with participants, exhibitors and sponsors about their needs and requirements.
• Encourage people to contact us to discuss their needs and requirements to facilitate inclusion and we will ensure we consider what reasonable adjustments could be made to enable them to participate.
• Make reasonable adjustments where required to make our events accessible.

If you have any questions or comments about our Inclusion Policy, please contact:

USTRC Event Director, Terry Chiplin, at terry@ustrailrunningconference.com

USTRC Assistant Event Director, Corinne Trujillo Shalvoy, at corinne@ustrailrunningconference.com

Credit – Blackwater Valley Runners for their original policy document