ABIDE: Accessibility, Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity

I’ve had so many great conversations since that SHRM announcement! Equity, while sometimes misunderstood, is such a critical part of the work that DEI professionals set out to do.

SHRM (the Society for Human Resource Management) recently announced the “strategic decision” to rebrand DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) as Inclusion & Diversity (I&D), effective immediately.

Read more: Not Without Equity

I think, instead of removing letters from the acronyms we use to describe our work, we should be adding letters. Let’s consider ABIDE.

---

ABIDE: Accessibility, Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity

ABIDE is an acronym that stands for:

• Accessibility: equal access to opportunities and resources, regardless of abilities or disabilities
• Belonging: a sense of connection and acceptance where everyone feels valued and welcomed
• Inclusion: environments where everyone feels respected, heard, and supported, regardless of their background
• Diversity: differences that make us unique, including many facets such as race, gender, age, and disability
• Equity: the resources and support needed for everyone to compete fairly

Each component of the ABIDE framework is interconnected and crucial for creating an inclusive environment.

The ABIDE Interdependence

• Accessibility without inclusion can lead to physical access but social isolation.
• Belonging without accessibility can exclude individuals with disabilities.
• Inclusion without diversity can create homogeneous environments lacking innovation.
• Diversity without equity can result in tokenism rather than genuine opportunity.
• Equity without belonging can lead to a sense of isolation even with equal opportunities.

ABIDE Without _____?

• No Accessibility: Excludes individuals with disabilities, limiting talent pool and violating rights.
• No Belonging: Creates a hostile environment, leading to low morale, turnover, and decreased productivity.
• No Inclusion: Marginalizes underrepresented groups, stifling creativity and innovation.
• No Diversity: Limits perspectives, hindering problem-solving and decision-making.
• No Equity: Perpetuates systemic inequalities, undermining fairness and justice.

ABIDE in Circulation

I’m not the first to use this acronym, but I think it’s time we bring it into wider circulation.

These sources came up for organizations using the ABIDE acronym to mean Access(ibility), Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity. There aren’t too many yet!

• American Printing House: https://www.aph.org/abide/
• Second Helpings: https://www.secondhelpings.org/second-helpings-abide-committee-looks-towards-future/

Other variations include:

• advancing belonging, inclusion, diversity, and equity (Henry Ford College)
• accountability, belonging, inclusion, diversity, and equity (Luther Seminary)
• appreciation, belongingness, inclusivity, diversity, and equity (Ascension Health System)
• authenticity, belonging, inclusion, diversity, and equity (various LinkedIn/Twitter posts)

What About DEIB, IDEA, JEDI, and Other Acronyms?

The landscape of diversity, equity, inclusion, and related concepts is filled with a variety of acronyms. Each has its own nuances and focuses. The plethora of acronyms reflects the evolving nature of the conversation around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Different organizations choose different terms based on their specific goals, values, and target audience.

Ultimately, the most important thing is not the acronym itself, but the actions and commitments behind it.