Touchstone's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative

”…to promote an inclusive, respectful culture in our organization

through cultivating meaningful ideas from stakeholders…”

The Touchstone Diversity Initiative mission is to promote an inclusive, respectful culture in our organization through cultivating meaningful ideas from stakeholders and creating valuable experiences to benefit our staff, our clients, their families, and the community at large. The TDI will represent the vast array of individuals and experiences encompassed by our team and will also provide opportunities for everyone to engage with new experiences and with their community in a way they may not have before. Of course, it can be very difficult for anyone to open up and be forthcoming about what makes them different and unique among the general population, among their friends, among their family, and among their coworkers. The TDI wants to foster a culture of understanding, acceptance, and compassion within Touchstone and the communities compassion within Touchstone and the communities we serve.

During Pride Month, we (Touchstone ABA) reaffirm our commitment to support, protect, and advocate for members of the LGBTQ+ community within our company and the community at large.

Insights on Pride Month from some of our Touchstone Diversity Initiative Participants:

“As a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, Pride is an incredibly important time of year for me personally, as the support shown by allies, whether that be in the community at large, on the internet, or by my teammates at Touchstone lets me know that I am an accepted and valued person. However, it is also a time to reflect on the fact that not everyone in the LGBTQIA+ community live in a safe and loving environment and that a lot more hard work must be done by a lot of kind-hearted, loving people who are putting forth the efforts needed to protect all people under attack by harmful language, actions, and legislation. I am thankful for an organization like Touchstone, where I can comfortably be myself!” -Al Tuminello

“To me, Pride is a celebration of triumph, perseverance, and unconditional love! At Touchstone, I am proudly open as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, and I have been welcomed with open arms. I’ve been accepted for who I am and respected throughout the entirety of my employment. In addition, the Lafayette clinic parents have been displaying their acknowledgment of this month by dressing their kids in rainbow attire! I am so honored to work for such an understanding workplace!” -Avery Rust (she/her)

“Pride is a time when you should celebrate who you are as yourself in its entirety. Many people in the LGBTQ community have spent a good portion of their lives hiding and/or feeling ashamed of who they are based solely on a gene. Imagine if you were made to feel this level of shame and guilt, or in some places murdered or ostracized over your hair color or what hand you wrote with, it’s the same genetics. Pride is about shedding any guilt and fear and just being unabashedly your true self. If not now, when? You could die tomorrow without having lived a single day as your most authentic self”. -Kastin Kopecky