Safety Plan | Circuit Breakers

Safety Plan: Distinct Circuit Mechanisms in Epilepsies

The conference organizing committee is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for all conference participants—free from harassment, discrimination, or any form of inappropriate conduct. All attendees, regardless of career stage, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, religion, or nationality, will be treated with dignity and respect. The conference will comply with all applicable federal civil rights laws, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Our Safety Plan includes:

Expectations of Behavior.

We expect all participants to:

Treat others with courtesy, professionalism, and respect.
Listen actively and allow others to express their views.
Maintain a harassment-free environment in all professional interactions, including sessions, poster presentations, breakout groups, and social events.

Behaviors considered harassing and therefore prohibited include:

Verbal harassment (derogatory comments, slurs, or threats).
Unwelcome physical contact.
Sexual harassment (unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal/physical conduct of a sexual nature).
Bullying, intimidation, or sustained disruption of presentations or discussions.
Discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected category.

2. Confidential Reporting of Alleged Violations.

Attendees who experience or witness a violation of meeting behavior expectations may report the incident in any of the following ways:

Designated Safety Officers:
1. Dr. Joanna Mattis: jomattis@med.umich.edu
2. Dr. Chris Dulla: chris.dulla@tufts.edu
3. Dr. Mark Beenhakker: markbeen@virginia.edu

Scan QR Code to Report Misconduct (Confidential):

Contact the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR):
1. File online complaint: https://www.hhs.gov/civil-rights/filing-a-complaint/complaint-process/index.html
2. Call toll-free: 1-800-368-1019 or TDD 1-800-537-7697.

Filing a complaint with the conference organizer is not required before contacting HHS OCR, and seeking assistance from the organizers does not prevent filing with HHS OCR. Notify NIH about concerns of harassment, discrimination, or other inappropriate conduct at: https://public.era.nih.gov/shape/public/notificationForm.era.

3. Assessment and Consequences for Violations.

The Safety Officers will promptly review the report, gather relevant information, and determine whether a violation occurred. Consequences may include:

Verbal warning.
Removal from specific sessions or events.
Removal from the conference without refund.
Reporting to the individual’s home institution and/or relevant authorities when required.

4. Accessibility and Accommodations.

The meeting venue (Mayer Conference Room, UC San Diego) is fully accessible, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Registration materials will include an optional section for attendees to request accommodations (e.g., mobility assistance, sign language interpretation, dietary restrictions). Organizers will work with UC San Diego’s accessibility services to ensure all needs are met.

5. Documentation of Allegations and Actions.

The Safety Officers will maintain a confidential record of:

All reported allegations.
The findings of the assessment.
Actions taken and the rationale for those actions.
These records will be securely stored for at least three years and will be made available to NIH upon request.