Position statements

EDI and Decolonisation Statement, 2025

  1. CTI was established to share knowledge, critical thinking and reflexivity, in order to improve the quality and impact of collaborative working relationships between Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) in High Income/ Minority World Countries and those they collaborate with, in Low and Middle-Income /Majority World Countries, including:
  • SLTs
  • Other communication disability professionals
  • Development and humanitarian agencies
  • Organisations of People with Disabilities (OPDs/ DPOs)
  • Service users.

2. We are committed to anti-racist, anti-oppressive practice, that supports peace and collaboration. We recognise the need for increased awareness and understanding of the intersectionality of racism with other characteristics

3. We therefore seek better to understand each unique individual and community, to ensure that the services and resources that CTI supports or develops, are accessible and culturally responsive to all. We strive to be sensitive to the following (not exhaustive) list of characteristics and identities:

  • Age
  • Caring responsibilities
  • Clan
  • Disability status
  • Educational status
  • Ethnicity
  • Gender
  • Geographical location
  • History (social and historical)
  • Language/s spoken
  • Marital status
  • Neurodiversity
  • Political beliefs
  • Religion/Faith
  • Sex
  • Sexuality
  • Socio economic status
  • Tribal group
  • Urban/rural location.

This list is not exhaustive.

4. In relation to decolonisation, we recognise:

  • The historical dominance of the Global North in the evidence, resources, values and practices of SLT.
  • The significance, importance and contributions of our counterparts in formerly colonised countries, in leading the decolonisation of SLT training curricula, research and working practices, particularly in LMICs.
  • CTI needs to understand and engage in decolonising SLT. As we work with colleagues in Low and Middle-Income /Majority World Countries, we will strive to ensure our materials, resources and knowledge reflect the diversity of our sector and shared value base.

Please see our decolonisation page for more information

5. We aim to be inclusive and accessible in our work, to recognise and champion diversity, promote and practise allyship, to reduce discrimination and unconscious bias within our organisation and those with whom we partner. To this end, we resolve to provide a safe and respectful environment in which to intentionally:

  • continually educate ourselves;
  • evaluate critically the working practices of CTI;
  • maximise the diversity of CTI’s membership and leadership;
  • signpost to and liaise with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and other organisations, where appropriate.

BLACK LIVES MATTER

June 23rd 2020

CTI would like to issue the following position statement in response to the events of June 2020 and in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

CTI exists to share knowledge and critical thinking to improve the quality and impact of collaborative working relationships between SLTs in High Income Countries and colleagues and service users in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).
Whilst we aim to be inclusive and to champion diversity, the events of the past few weeks have challenged us to look more critically at ourselves as a group, our structures, our work and its impact.
We want to take a clear stand against all forms of racism, including institutional and systemic racism, white supremacy and other forms of oppression. We support the Black Lives Matter movement and are committed to anti-racist, anti-oppressive practice.
We understand that impact is more important than intention. We recognise the need for increased awareness and understanding of the intersectionality of racism with, for example, gender, sexuality, religion, age, disability, socio-economic status, and education (this list is not exhaustive). We therefore make a commitment to further learning and ongoing change.
We commit to looking critically at the diversity of CTI’s membership, and how we can better increase diversity. We will make conscious efforts to ensure that future services are provided by, and are accessible to, all regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, political views, gender, disability, or sexual orientation.
We recognise the significance and importance of colonised groups leading the decolonisation of SLT training curricula and working practices, particularly in LMICs. CTI will strive to reduce discrimination and unconscious bias within the organisation, through active learning from, and sharing of, the research, practices, and voices of Black, Minority Ethnic and other under-represented groups.
CTI will strive to ensure the organisation’s membership and leadership is accessible to, and inclusive of, all those interested in its mandate, without discrimination.
We resolve to continually educate ourselves and to evaluate critically the working practices of CTI, to increase inclusivity and challenge oppression in all its forms.