Community and Event Guidelines

Last updated May 18, 2023

At the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging matter. Pediatric brain tumors do not discriminate, and we strive to ensure a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for every family impacted by this disease, our supporters, volunteers, staff, board, and anyone committed to helping care for and cure kids with brain tumors.

The PBTF community is made up of a network of individuals who share this commitment to eradicate pediatric brain tumors, and the collective sum of our differences, life experiences, knowledge, creativity, innovation, and unique capabilities are key to achieving our mission.

It is of utmost importance that every person who engages with the PBTF community has a positive and rewarding experience, and each of us shares a responsibility to foster a welcoming, safe, and inclusive environment.

PBTF’s in-person and online events and our digital communities are key aspects of fostering this environment while increasing support for children with brain tumors and their families. We refuse to tolerate or engage in any form of discrimination or harassment at events or in online communities and are dedicated to providing an inclusive experience for everyone regardless of race, age, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disabilities, neurodiversity, nationality, ethnicity, religion, physical appearance, body size, or other protected category.

When you participate in a PBTF event or digital community, you are contributing to the overall experience, which makes us all accountable to each other. We have established the following community and event guidelines to ensure that all community members understand what behavior is expected and what behavior will not be tolerated.

The PBTF expects all community members to abide by the following guidelines at events and in digital communities, including community-related activities, meetings, social media and communications. If you have any questions about these guidelines, please email [email protected].

Expected Behavior

PBTF’s events and digital communities are family-friendly and non-political, and volunteers and participants are expected to:

  • Be respectful to all community members, with an aim to help promote a greater understanding of and respect for the diversity and inclusion of everyone.
  • Be considerate, kind, constructive, and helpful.
  • Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior, materials, and speech.
  • Cooperate with PBTF staff, volunteers, and other participants.
  • Work together with an open approach to help families and find a cure for brain tumors.

Because children with brain tumors and survivors are an immunocompromised population at an elevated risk for severe disease, all attendees of PBTF in-person events are also expected to follow these health and safety guidelines:

  • Anyone who feels sick or has shown symptoms of an infectious disease should not attend an event in-person.
  • Wearing a mask to protect yourself and others – especially those who are immunocompromised – is encouraged at all in-person events.
  • If a patient family requests individuals in close proximity wear a mask, we ask that you respect this request by either putting on a mask or moving to another area of the event.
  • PBTF will abide by any local health requirements that are more stringent than these guidelines. We will also monitor local conditions and modify guidelines or shift in-person events fully virtual as needed.

Unacceptable Behavior

Unacceptable behavior from any community member will not be tolerated. Unacceptable behavior includes, but is not limited to:

  • Wearing inappropriately descriptive clothing, displaying flags, badges or stickers that contain discriminatory symbols or language that has a negative connotation to a protected group.
  • Intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning speech, materials, or conduct by any participants of the event or digital community and related activities.
  • Racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, or otherwise discriminatory jokes and language.
  • Violence, threats of violence, or violent language directed against another person.
  • Personal insults, particularly those related to gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, or disability.
  • Inappropriate photography or recording.
  • Taking of photos or video within the event environment or digital community for use on social media, without the prior permission of the individuals or owners of the content therein.
  • Any boisterous, lewd, or offensive behavior or language, including but not limited to using sexually explicit or offensive language, materials or conduct, or any language, behavior, or content that contains profanity, obscene gestures, or racial, religious, or ethnic slurs.
  • Smoking, vaping, or other use of alcohol, marijuana, tobacco products, or illegal drugs.
  • Failure to obey any rules or regulations of the event venue, digital community, platform or organizer.

Consequences of Unacceptable Behavior

Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated. Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. If someone engages in unacceptable behavior, PBTF may take any action it deems appropriate, including warning or expelling the individual from the event or digital community with no refund. For more egregious behavior, PBTF may, in its reasonable discretion, temporarily or permanently ban an individual from the community.

What To Do If You Witness or Are Subjected To Unacceptable Behavior

If you are subjected to unacceptable behavior, notice that someone else is being subjected to unacceptable behavior, or have any other concerns, please notify a PBTF staff member or volunteer as soon as possible. PBTF staff and volunteers will be available to assist those experiencing unacceptable behavior to feel safe for the duration of the event or within the digital community. All reports will remain completely confidential. If you have any questions or concerns, please email [email protected].

Attribution

These guidelines are the product of PBTF’s commitment to create and nurture a diverse, welcoming, safe, and inclusive experience for kids with brain tumors, their families and the entire PBTF community. The framework of these guidelines were inspired by the Open Source Bridge Code of Conduct, released under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike license, and the Google Anti-Harassment Policy, licensed under the Creative Commons Zero License.

Thank you for sharing our commitment to these guidelines and to the children and families we serve. Together, we will end childhood brain cancer.

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