The Pennsylvania Council of the Blind (PCB) is committed to creating a welcoming, professional, safe, and respectful environment for all who attend and/or participate in its events.
All participants in virtual and in-person PCB events (peers, PCB employees, event personnel, and guests) must read, agree to, and abide by this Code of Conduct.
The term “events” shall include conferences, meetings, functions, or any other gatherings sponsored or convened by PCB whether live, via electronic communication, virtual or hybrid.
PCB encourages chapters to adopt similar prohibited conduct policies for their meetings and events.
This Policy defines prohibited conduct as including, but not limited to:
- Unwelcome verbal, visual, or physical conduct on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability, genetic information, gender identification, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law, or;
- Disrespectful, offensive and/or threatening conduct, verbal abuse, stalking, bullying, violence, or intimidation.
Any person who believes that he or she has experienced or witnessed behavior prohibited by this policy must promptly report the conduct to the PCB President, PCB event Coordinator, or PCB Office at office@pcb1.org.
If a third party is reporting the incident, no further action will be taken if the accused and the individual who was allegedly affected by the accuser believe that there was no harm meant or no action taken which would rise to the level required for this procedure to take effect.
If the one who is being accused of violating this Code of Conduct is the President, Event Coordinator, or Office staff, the complainant should lodge the complaint with either of the two individuals who are not being accused, e.g., if the President is being accused of violating this Policy, the complainant should lodge the complaint with either the Event Coordinator or the PCB Office.
Upon receipt of a confidential complaint reported under this Policy, PCB will promptly and fully investigate all allegations and the PCB President and/or PCB Event Coordinator or their designees will thereafter determine what, if any, action will be taken based on the circumstances. Such action may include banning the individual from the event where the conduct is determined to have occurred and from any future events.
In addition, such conduct by a PCB peer may subject the offender to sanctions under Article VI of the PCB Bylaws (Powers and Duties of the Board of Directors), specifically, Section 10 (Suspension and Expulsion of Members).
Due to the confidential nature of such complaints, a full discussion of the disposition of the complaint will not be available to all members.
Nothing in this Policy shall limit or preclude the free exchange of ideas and/or opinions, so long as such exchange does not involve threats or other prohibited behavior as defined in this Policy.
Registering for PCB’s Annual Conference and Convention or attending any PCB meetings confirms your commitment to comply with this policy.