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a white icon of a person climbing a mountain on a rainbow gradient background with the acronym ABIDE in black at the bottom

What Does It Mean to ABIDE?

What Does It Mean to ABIDE? Some people hear “abide” and think of phrases like “abide by the rules” or  “abide by a decision.” While this is one definition of the word, there’s another you may have encountered as well. Abide can mean “to tolerate or endure,” “to wait or persist,” and “to remain or stay.”

  • Abide to tolerate or endure: This implies patience and resilience in the face of challenges.
  • Abide to wait or persist: This suggests a commitment to a long-term goal and a willingness to persevere.
  • Abide to remain or stay: This emphasizes the importance of consistency and continuity in efforts to achieve equity.

While I’ve started using the acronym ABIDE to mean Accessibility, Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, I chose that word in particular to reinforce the idea that building an equitable workplace is a journey, not a destination. It requires sustained effort, patience, and resilience.

Haven’t come across this meaning yet? Let’s jump into some dictionaries!

Read More »What Does It Mean to ABIDE?

A white icon of hands as fists representing equity over a gradient pink-purple-blue background

Civility Does Not Replace Equity

SHRM appears to be doubling down on their recent statement on equity, instead of listening to their membership as people speak out across publications and social media against the decision to remove equity from DEI. (I even considered adding letters to DEI! Have you heard of ABIDE?) The new SHRM direction appears to focus on civility.

Voices sticking with the SHRM decision to lump equity under inclusion have called it things like “a strategic move about driving results” and that it “brings more people along for the ride.” 

Someone shared a recent interview with Johnny C. Taylor, and it’s simply solidified my decision that SHRM no longer represents me and my HR and DEI work. Civility does not replace equity.

Read More »Civility Does Not Replace Equity

the word ABIDE in black text over two white hearts on a rainbow gradient background

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.

Read More »ABIDE: Accessibility, Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity

icons of people on platforms of different heights, over a colored blurred background of game pieces

Not Without Equity

If you haven’t yet heard, 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. In their words, “by emphasizing Inclusion-first, we aim to address the current shortcomings of DE&I programs, which have led to societal backlash and increasing polarization […] Equity will be integrated under the broader Inclusion framework.”

I’ve been giving a lot of thought to what this announcement means in the context of the work that I do. 

Read More »Not Without Equity

illustrated disabled people in brightly-colored clothing

Published: Are You Missing the D in DEI?

I had an article published in the recent Workplace in Action® People Excellence magazine. “Are You Missing the ‘D’ in DEI?” explores how diversity & inclusion initiatives may be missing the mark if they aren’t including disability.

My full article is shared below (along with a page for the #A11yBook!), but I hope you’ll check out the full magazine here as well. I’m still reading some of the great articles contributed by my colleagues – it’s a robust issue with a variety of perspectives.

Read More »Published: Are You Missing the D in DEI?