Non-Discrimination Policy

Effective Date: July 20, 2023

Purpose

  1. Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation (“Foundation,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to maintaining an environment that is inclusive, respectful, equitable, and free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
  2. This Non Discrimination Policy reflects the Foundation’s commitment to equal opportunity, fair treatment, and respectful participation in all aspects of its operations, programs, services, employment practices, volunteer activities, partnerships, and community engagement.
  3. The purpose of this Policy is to establish the Foundation’s standards regarding non discrimination, inclusion, accessibility, reasonable accommodation, reporting, and accountability.

Scope

  1. This Policy applies to all Foundation activities, programs, services, events, communications, employment practices, volunteer opportunities, donor relations, community outreach, partnerships, and decision making processes.
  2. This Policy applies to directors, officers, employees, volunteers, contractors, applicants, program participants, donors, visitors, partners, vendors, and any other individuals who interact with or act on behalf of the Foundation.
  3. This Policy applies to conduct occurring in person, online, by telephone, by email, through social media, during Foundation events, in Foundation programs, and in any setting connected to Foundation operations or activities.

Policy Statement

  1. The Foundation prohibits discrimination, harassment, exclusion, unequal treatment, retaliation, or denial of opportunity based on any characteristic protected by applicable law.
  2. Protected characteristics may include race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, military status, or any other status protected by applicable law.
  3. The Foundation is committed to providing equal access and equal opportunity in its programs, services, employment practices, volunteer activities, and public engagement.
  4. The Foundation expects all individuals associated with it to act with professionalism, fairness, courtesy, and respect.

Prohibited Conduct

  1. Prohibited discrimination includes any action, policy, practice, or decision that unlawfully treats an individual less favorably because of a protected characteristic.
  2. Prohibited harassment includes unwelcome conduct based on a protected characteristic where such conduct creates an intimidating, hostile, offensive, or abusive environment, or interferes with an individual’s ability to participate in Foundation activities.
  3. Prohibited conduct may include, without limitation, verbal comments, written statements, images, gestures, jokes, slurs, intimidation, threats, exclusion, unequal treatment, denial of access, denial of opportunity, or other conduct inconsistent with this Policy.
  4. Prohibited conduct may occur regardless of whether it is directed at an individual, group, participant, employee, volunteer, donor, visitor, or member of the public.
  5. Retaliation against any person for raising a concern, making a complaint, participating in an investigation, requesting an accommodation, or opposing conduct believed in good faith to violate this Policy is strictly prohibited.

Equal Opportunity in Employment and Volunteer Activities

  1. The Foundation is committed to equal opportunity in recruitment, hiring, training, supervision, promotion, compensation, assignment, discipline, termination, and all other employment related decisions.
  2. The Foundation is also committed to equal opportunity in volunteer recruitment, selection, placement, training, supervision, recognition, and continuation of volunteer service.
  3. Employment and volunteer decisions shall be based on legitimate qualifications, merit, experience, performance, organizational needs, and mission related considerations, and not on unlawful discriminatory factors.
  4. The Foundation will seek to maintain recruitment and participation practices that encourage fairness, diversity, and inclusion.

Program Access and Service Delivery

  1. The Foundation is committed to providing its programs, services, educational resources, outreach activities, and public communications in a manner that is inclusive and respectful.
  2. The Foundation will not unlawfully deny participation in its programs, services, events, or activities based on a protected characteristic.
  3. Eligibility criteria for programs, services, events, or activities shall be applied in a fair and consistent manner and shall be related to legitimate Foundation purposes, safety considerations, operational needs, or legal requirements.

Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodation

  1. The Foundation is committed to making reasonable efforts to provide accessible programs, services, communications, events, and facilities, consistent with applicable law and available resources.
  2. Individuals who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in Foundation activities, access Foundation services, apply for employment, volunteer, or engage with the Foundation may contact the Foundation using the contact information provided in this Policy.
  3. Requests for accommodation should describe the accommodation requested and the activity, program, service, or process involved.
  4. The Foundation will review accommodation requests in good faith and will provide reasonable accommodations where required by applicable law and reasonably feasible.
  5. The Foundation may request additional information when necessary to evaluate an accommodation request.

Inclusive Practices

  1. The Foundation seeks to foster a culture in which all individuals are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.
  2. The Foundation may support inclusive practices through training, education, communication, accessibility review, community engagement, and ongoing evaluation of organizational policies and practices.
  3. Staff, volunteers, and individuals acting on behalf of the Foundation are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that supports inclusion, safety, professionalism, and respect.
  4. The Foundation encourages constructive feedback from employees, volunteers, program participants, donors, community members, and partners regarding opportunities to improve inclusion and accessibility.

Training and Awareness

  1. The Foundation may provide training, guidance, or educational resources regarding non discrimination, harassment prevention, accessibility, cultural awareness, respectful communication, and inclusive practices.
  2. Training and education may be provided to employees, volunteers, leadership, or other individuals involved in Foundation activities, as appropriate.
  3. The Foundation may update training materials and practices from time to time to reflect organizational needs, community feedback, and applicable legal requirements.

Reporting Concerns

  1. Any person who believes that they have experienced, witnessed, or become aware of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or other conduct inconsistent with this Policy is encouraged to report the concern promptly.
  2. Reports may be made to the Foundation using the contact information provided in this Policy.
  3. A report should include, where possible, the names of the individuals involved, the date and location of the incident, a description of the conduct, any witnesses, and any relevant documents or communications.
  4. Reports may be made by individuals directly affected by the conduct or by individuals who witnessed or became aware of the conduct.
  5. The Foundation will make reasonable efforts to handle reports with discretion and sensitivity.

Review and Response

  1. The Foundation will review reports of potential discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or other violations of this Policy in a timely and appropriate manner.
  2. The nature and scope of the review may vary depending on the circumstances, including the seriousness of the allegation, the individuals involved, available information, legal requirements, and operational considerations.
  3. The Foundation may take interim measures where appropriate to protect individuals, preserve the integrity of the review, or prevent further potential harm.
  4. Individuals involved in a review are expected to cooperate honestly and in good faith.
  5. The Foundation will seek to protect confidentiality to the extent reasonably possible; however, complete confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where disclosure is necessary to investigate, respond, comply with law, or protect the rights and safety of individuals or the Foundation.

Corrective Action

  1. If the Foundation determines that this Policy has been violated, it may take appropriate corrective action.
  2. Corrective action may include counseling, training, warning, reassignment, restriction from participation, removal from a program or event, termination of volunteer service, termination of employment, termination of a contract or partnership, or other action deemed appropriate under the circumstances.
  3. The Foundation reserves the right to take corrective action even where conduct does not violate law but is inconsistent with the Foundation’s standards, mission, or expectations for respectful conduct.

Protection Against Retaliation

  1. The Foundation prohibits retaliation against any person who, in good faith, reports a concern, participates in a review, requests an accommodation, opposes discrimination or harassment, or assists another person in exercising rights under this Policy.
  2. Retaliation may include intimidation, threats, adverse treatment, exclusion, discipline, reduced opportunities, harassment, or other conduct that would discourage a reasonable person from raising a concern or participating in a review.
  3. Any person who believes they have experienced retaliation should report the concern promptly.
  4. Retaliation may result in corrective action, up to and including removal from Foundation activities, termination of volunteer service, or termination of employment.

Responsibilities

  1. All individuals associated with the Foundation are responsible for supporting a respectful, inclusive, and non discriminatory environment.
  2. Foundation leadership is responsible for promoting compliance with this Policy, responding appropriately to concerns, and modeling conduct consistent with the Foundation’s values.
  3. Employees and volunteers are responsible for treating others with respect, complying with this Policy, reporting concerns in good faith, and cooperating with reviews when requested.
  4. Partners, vendors, contractors, and other outside parties interacting with the Foundation are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this Policy.

Community Commitment

  1. The Foundation recognizes that its mission is strengthened by diverse perspectives, inclusive participation, and respectful community relationships.
  2. The Foundation seeks to collaborate with individuals and organizations that share a commitment to lawful, respectful, inclusive, and non discriminatory practices.
  3. The Foundation may consider a partner’s conduct, policies, public reputation, and alignment with these principles when evaluating partnerships, sponsorships, collaborations, and community relationships.

Policy Review

  1. The Foundation may review, amend, or update this Policy from time to time to reflect legal developments, organizational needs, community feedback, and best practices.
  2. Any updated version of this Policy will be effective when posted or otherwise adopted by the Foundation, unless otherwise stated.

Contact and Reporting Information

  1. Questions, concerns, accommodation requests, or reports relating to this Policy may be directed to Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation.
  2. Email: contact@DriveWithCare.org
  3. Telephone: +1 (302) 579 6191
  4. Website: https://www.DriveWithCare.org/
  5. Reports should include enough information to allow the Foundation to understand and respond to the concern.

Reservation of Rights

  1. Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation reserves all rights, remedies, claims, and defenses available under applicable law and equity.
  2. Nothing in this Policy shall be construed as a waiver of any rights, remedies, or defenses, all of which are expressly reserved.
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