At Hearing and Speech Nova Scotia (HSNS), we know that racism still exists in healthcare. It can stop people from getting the care they need. We are working to change that.
We believe everyone deserves to feel safe, respected, and welcome—whether you're a client, staff member, student, or visitor. Our anti-racism plan is a big part of how we make that happen.
Standing up to racism
We are making anti-racism part of everything we do.
What we’re doing:
- Including anti-racism in our mission and values.
- Making sure leaders talk about racism and track our progress.
- Reporting our progress each year to our Board of Directors.
- Talking about anti-racism in meetings with leaders and staff.
Changing our policies
We are reviewing our rules and ways of working to remove unfair barriers.
What we’re doing:
- Checking our policies to remove bias and unfair rules.
- Using tools that help us see things through an equity lens.
- Making sure our policies follow accessibility and health equity laws.
- Creating a Zero Tolerance Policy for racism and discrimination.
A Diverse and fair workplace
We want our team to reflect the people we serve.
What we’re doing:
- Setting goals to hire more people from different racial backgrounds.
- Giving all staff and board members anti-racism training.
- Helping students from racialized groups through bursaries and mentorship.
- Creating a workplace where everyone feels safe and respected.
Listening to communities
We want to hear from people with lived experience of racism.
What we’re doing:
- Talking with racialized communities and clients when we plan and improve services.
- Offering care that respects people’s backgrounds and cultures.
- Sharing info in multiple languages and formats.
- Making it easy to report racism and unfair treatment.
Using data to make things better
We collect information to see where we need to improve.
What we’re doing:
- Gathering data about race and background to find gaps in care.
- Using this data to guide changes and report progress.
- Making sure we ask for data in a respectful and private way.
Always improving
We keep learning and improving how we support everyone.
What we’re doing:
- Including anti-racism goals in our quality improvement plans.
- Sharing updates every year with staff, clients, and the Department of Health and Wellness.
- Taking part in reviews and accreditation to meet equity and safety standards.
Some actions we’re proud of:
- We created the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Reconciliation and Accessibility (EDIRA) Framework to guide all our work. Learn more about the EDIRA Framework (English/French).
- Monthly reports on equity and anti-racism work.
- New training on topics like microaggressions, inclusive language, and psychological safety.
- Easy ways for staff and clients to give feedback safely and respectfully.
- Accessible materials and technology, like assistive listening devices.
- Stronger, fairer hiring practices to support a more diverse team.