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Code of Conduct
Gatlinburg Conference is an event that brings together a community of professionals from around the world in the area of behavioral research on intellectual and developmental disabilities. Gatlinburg Conference is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, welcoming, professional, harassment-free conference experience for everyone regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, caste, age, religion and any other status protected by laws in which the conference or program is being held. The Gatlinburg Conference Code of Conduct ensures we collectively create this kind of experience. This document expresses the behaviors we expect at Gatlinburg Conference, what is unacceptable behavior, how we address unacceptable behavior, and how to ask for help if needed. All participants, including attendees, organizers, speakers, trainers, sponsors, exhibitors, vendors, volunteers, and event staff at Gatlinburg Conference are required to abide by the Gatlinburg Conference Code of Conduct. Event staff and their designated representatives will enforce this code throughout the event. We expect cooperation from all participants to help ensure a safe environment for everyone.

Expected Behavior
All event participants are expected to behave in accordance with professional standards, the Gatlinburg Conference Code of Conduct, applicable laws, and to the extent not contrary to the above, their respective employer’s policies governing appropriate workplace behavior.

WE ARE CONSIDERATE
Gatlinburg Conference is an international event that attracts diverse people from a wide variety of ethnic, cultural, and religious backgrounds. We acknowledge that cross-cultural communication can often be complicated and encourage everyone to consider the impact of their words and actions on those with different backgrounds and experiences.

WE ARE WELCOMING
One of the greatest strengths of the Gatlinburg community is our inclusiveness. Making all participants feel welcome and included at Gatlinburg Conference is everyone’s job.

WE ARE RESPECTFUL
All participants should strive to treat each other with dignity and respect, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, caste, age, religion and any other status protected by laws in which the conference or program is being held.

WE ARE COLLABORATIVE
If misunderstandings occur, we encourage people to work things out between themselves where this is practical. Where support is beneficial to achieve this, participants agree to ask for help. People are encouraged to take responsibility for their words and actions and listen to constructively-presented criticism with an open mind, courtesy, and respect. If people do not feel able to work out an issue between themselves, they are encouraged to seek the advice of a third party to help mediate.

To get help mediating you may contact gatlinburg@ku.edu or with an online incident report.

WE LEAD BY EXAMPLE
Anyone who represents the conference, officially, informally, or otherwise, is a leader in our community. At Gatlinburg, leadership roles include but are not limited to organizers, keynote speakers, symposia speakers and poster presenters. Leadership is not an award, right or title; it is a privilege, a responsibility, and a mandate. As leaders, they must represent the best version of the Gatlinburg community in what they say and do.

Unacceptable Behavior
We do not tolerate harassment and keep our conference a harassment-free zone for our attendees. Harassment will not be tolerated in any form, including but not limited to harassment based on gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, caste, age, religion or any other status protected by laws in which the conference or program is being held. Any report of harassment will be addressed immediately. Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

  • Verbal comments or imagery that reinforce social structures of domination related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, caste, age, religion and any other status protected by laws in which the conference or program is being held.
  • Unwelcome comments regarding a person’s lifestyle choices and practices, including those related to food, health, parenting, drugs, and employment.
  • Abusive, offensive, or degrading language or imagery
  • Language or imagery that encourages, glorifies, incites, or calls for violence, emotional, or physical harm against an individual or a group of people
  • Intimidation, stalking, or following
  • Harassing photography or recording
  • Sexual imagery. At a minimum, no images containing nudity or expressions of sexual relationships that might be deemed inappropriate for a business environment should be used. In addition, participants should consider local societal customs of the hosting country when deciding what is deemed appropriate for a business environment.
  • Sustained disruption of talks or other events
  • Unwelcome sexual attention or advances or physical contact
  • Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior

No weapons of any kind or illegal drugs are permitted at Gatlinburg Conference venues.

Sponsors and Exhibitors should not use sexualized images, activities, or other material. Booth staff, including volunteers, should not wear sexualized clothing/uniform/costume, or otherwise create a sexualized environment. Speakers should not use sexual language, images, or anything that would constitute harassment as defined above in their presentations.

What To Do If You Witness Or Are Subject To Unacceptable Behavior
If you feel threatened or violated as a result of intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory or demeaning conduct, please immediately notify an event staff member or contact us at gatlinburg@ku.edu. Likewise, please immediately notify an event staff member if you notice that someone else is being subjected to such behavior.

Emails to the gatlinburg@ku.edu address will be received and processed by Gatlinburg Conference Directors and Managers (John Colombo, Drew Rosdahl, Jennifer Holwick, Alyssa Cool and Jamie Jones).

Individuals who have questions, concerns or complaints related to harassment are also encouraged to contact the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR).  A complaint may be filed with the HHS OCR (Filing a Civil Rights Complaint).  Making a complaint to the conference organizers is not required before filing a complaint of discrimination with HHS OCR, and that seeking assistance from the conference organizer in no way prohibits filing complaints with HHS OCR.  In addition, individuals may notify NIH directly about concerns of harassment, including sexual harassment, discrimination, and other forms of inappropriate conduct at NIH-supported conferences (see NIH’s Find Help webpage)

Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior
Unacceptable behavior from any Gatlinburg Conference participant will not be tolerated. If a participant engages in unacceptable behavior, Gatlinburg Conference staff and designated representatives may take any of the following actions they deem appropriate, up to and including a temporary ban or permanent expulsion from the event without warning and without refund. These actions may include, but are not limited to:

  • A warning to cease their behavior and that any further reports will result in further actions
  • Removal from Gatlinburg Conference, with no refund
  • Not being allowed to attend future Gatlinburg Conference, for a period of time or indefinitely
  • Revocation of leadership roles related to Gatlinburg Conference events, programs, committees, and platforms.
  • Reporting behavior to the applicable authorities.

We’re all in this together
We have an amazing community and this document is designed to continue and strengthen our ability to safeguard and foster our attendees’ wellness and encourage the community’s growth in a safe, productive and welcoming place by providing clarity and expectations around our attendees’ behavior and responsibilities. Parts of this Code of Conduct are derived from best practices used in other Conference Codes of Conduct and is in adherence with the Jan 22, 2021 NIH Notice NOT-OD-21-053 Updated Guidelines for Enhancing Diversity and Creating Safe Environments in Conferences Supported by NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements