american geosciences institute
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Disability Consensus Statement

Disability Consensus Statement

The AGI statement on access and inclusion of geoscientists living with disabilities, written as a community document in 2015, serves to increase awareness of the challenges we face and the responsibilities we have as a community, and provides examples of ethical practices toward this group of individuals.  A list of AGI’s membership societies who have agreed to formally support this statement is provided.  AGI strongly encourages all organizations to adopt, repost or refine this statement as they see fit for their own uses.  A downloadable PDF is available below for this purpose. This is the first step, of many, on our collective journey to providing full access and promoting inclusion of geoscientists with disabilities into our academic programs and workforce.  AGI would like to thank the International Association for Geoscience Diversity (IAGD) for their contributions and expertise in crafting this consensus statement.

If your organization has not already agreed to be a formal signatory on the statement, and would like to be included, please contact AGI’s Workforce staff at workforce@americangeosciences.org


Consensus Statement Regarding Access and Inclusion of Individuals Living with Disabilities in the Geosciences

Washington, District of Columbia
June 2015

The geosciences are central to understanding the interaction between the Earth system and humankind, and are vital to global economic and social development. As a community, it is important that we are inclusive, welcoming, and open to all members of society. The geosciences face challenges in securing the workforce necessary to meet the needs of the coming decades. To increase talent and diversity in the geoscience workforce, opportunities for more inclusive learning and professional development must be developed that enable all geoscientists to advance academically and professionally, including those living with disabilities.

The member societies of the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) are committed to promoting educational and career opportunities to all geoscientists through proactive efforts that engage individuals with disabilities and reduce barriers to full inclusion, in accordance with any relevant national regulations.  Consequently, we, as the representative leadership of geoscientific professional societies and organizations, seek to embrace, empower, engage and sustain the participation and retention of individuals living with disabilities within all sectors of the geoscience community.   

As an inclusive geoscience community, supportive of the needs of all current and future geoscientists, we agree to:

  • Encourage the development of flexible learning environments and inclusive curricula, including in the classroom, laboratory, and field that are conducive to developing the skills of geoscientists of all physical, sensory, or cognitive abilities.  

  • Foster the participation and support the retention of geoscientists who live with disabilities in academic communities, our professional organizations, and the workforce.

  • Promote accessible pathways for students with disabilities to transition into geoscience careers that maximize their unique perspectives, competencies, and abilities.

  • As a representative society, ensure that career and professional development opportunities are made available to geoscientists with all abilities to support life-long growth, and by extension, promote inclusion and act as an example for other organizations.  

We encourage societies to adopt or use this statement for their specific needs.  A PDF of this statement can be found here:
 PDF iconDisability Consensus Statement.