A
ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act, a U.S. law that focuses on accessibility and fair treatment for individuals with disabilities.
AAPI: Asian American and Pacific Islander, an inclusive term that embraces a wide array of identities.
AFN: Accessibility for All, a catch-all phrase often used in Europe to emphasize inclusivity for people with various accessibility needs.
ADEA: Age Discrimination in Employment Act, an American law that protects older workers from being unfairly discriminated against.
ATSI: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, used in Australia to refer to the original inhabitants of the continent.
ALANA: African, Latinx, Asian, and Native American, a term that’s often used in academic settings in the U.S. to denote a diverse set of minority backgrounds.
B
BIPOC: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, an all-encompassing term often used in North America to highlight marginalized communities.
BAME: Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic, a term predominantly used in the UK to encompass various minority groups.
BLM: Black Lives Matter, an international activist movement advocating for the rights of Black individuals.
BAMER: Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, and Refugee, another term used in the UK to capture an even broader range of identities.
BRG: Business Resource Group, which are internal groups in companies designed to focus on diversity and inclusion initiatives.
C
CRG: Community Resource Group, typically local-level organizations or internal business groups that strive to address DEI issues within a community.
CAO: Chief Accessibility Officer, a leadership role within an organization responsible for ensuring that accessibility standards are met.
CDO: Chief Diversity Officer, a corporate executive responsible for DEI strategies in an organization.
CEI: Corporate Equality Index, a U.S.-based benchmarking survey and report that evaluates corporate policies and practices concerning LGBTQ+ employees.
CIS: Cisgender, a term for people whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth.
CRT: Critical Race Theory, an academic framework that examines society and culture through the lens of race, law, and power.
D
DEI: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the foundational trio we’ve been discussing, aimed at fostering environments that are respectful of everyone’s backgrounds and experiences.
D&I: Diversity and Inclusion, another way to capture the essence of inclusive practices and diverse environments.
DACA: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a U.S. immigration policy allowing some individuals who were brought to the country as children to defer deportation.
DPO: Data Protection Officer, increasingly vital in ensuring that an organization’s data practices respect privacy and include marginalized communities.
DDA: Disability Discrimination Act, an Australian legislation aimed to protect individuals from discrimination based on disabilities.
E
EEO: Equal Employment Opportunity, a U.S.-based policy that ensures all individuals are treated equally in employment settings, without discrimination.
ERG: Employee Resource Group, internal groups within companies that focus on building supportive communities around various aspects of diversity.
ELL: English Language Learner, a term used in educational settings to describe students who are learning English in addition to their native language.
ESG: Environmental, Social, and Governance, a set of criteria used in corporate settings to evaluate a company’s ethical and sustainable impact, which often includes DEI considerations.
ECNI: Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, a public body that oversees equality and discrimination law in Northern Ireland.
F
FMLA: Family and Medical Leave Act, a U.S. labor law that ensures job-protected unpaid leave for qualified medical and family reasons.
FGM: Female Genital Mutilation, a human rights violation often cited in global discussions around gender-based violence and discrimination.
FLSA: Fair Labor Standards Act, another U.S. labor law that establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, and youth employment standards.
FTE: Full-Time Equivalent, a term often used in employment and education to measure an employee’s or student’s involvement, frequently brought up in diversity audits.
G
GLBT: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender, an older but still used acronym that includes different sexual orientations and gender identities.
GNC: Gender Non-Conforming, a term describing individuals whose gender expression doesn’t align with societal expectations based on their assigned gender at birth.
GDP: Gender Diversity Program, often used in organizational settings to focus on the inclusion of various gender identities.
GSAs: Gender-Sexuality Alliances, organizations often found in educational settings aimed at providing a supportive environment for LGBTQ+ students.
H
HR: Human Resources, the department often responsible for implementing and overseeing DEI policies in organizations.
HBCU: Historically Black Colleges and Universities, a U.S.-based term for higher education institutions established before 1964 with the intention of serving the African American community.
HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus, included here as it’s an area where stigmatization and discrimination still notably exist.
HRC: Human Rights Campaign, an American advocacy group working to achieve LGBTQ+ equality.
HEI: Higher Education Institution, a general term that becomes relevant in discussions about educational diversity and inclusion.
I
IDEA: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access, an expanded version of DEI that incorporates accessibility as an additional focus.
IEP: Individualized Education Program, a tailored educational plan often used in the U.S. for students with disabilities.
ILO: International Labor Organization, a UN agency that sets international labor standards, including those related to diversity and inclusion.
ICT: Information and Communication Technology, increasingly important in discussions about digital divides and accessibility.
ID: Intersectional Diversity, a term used to discuss how different forms of social stratification intersect and affect individuals.
J
JEDI: Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, an expanded version of DEI that incorporates the concept of justice.
JCWI: Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, a UK-based non-profit that advocates for justice in immigration law.
JD: Job Description, increasingly scrutinized for language that could be seen as excluding certain groups from applying.
K
KPI: Key Performance Indicator, metrics often used to evaluate the success of DEI initiatives.
KYC: Know Your Customer, a business process that, while originally designed for risk assessment, has been adapted to understand diverse customer needs better.
L
LGBTQ+: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and others, an inclusive term for sexual and gender minorities.
LMIC: Low- and Middle-Income Countries, often cited in discussions about global inequities and the need for more equitable resource distribution.
LMS: Learning Management System, software used in educational and corporate settings, increasingly scrutinized for its accessibility features.
LATAM: Latin America, often appears in discussions about regional diversity and equity initiatives.
M
MNC: Multinational Corporation, often faced with the challenge of implementing DEI policies across diverse cultural landscapes.
MBTI: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a psychological assessment sometimes criticized for not adequately considering diversity factors.
MOOC: Massive Open Online Course, hailed and critiqued for its potential in democratizing education.
MENA: Middle East and North Africa, a region often discussed in terms of cultural and religious diversity, as well as political complexities.
N
NGO: Non-Governmental Organization, often engaged in DEI-related advocacy and programs.
NEET: Not in Education, Employment, or Training, a term used to discuss young people who are at a higher risk of social exclusion.
NDA: Non-Discrimination Agreement, commonly used in workplaces to ensure a fair and inclusive environment.
NLP: Neuro-Linguistic Programming, a psychological approach that has been debated for its inclusivity or lack thereof.
O
OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, an intergovernmental economic organization that also studies social inequality.
OER: Open Educational Resources, digital or other materials offered freely and openly for educators and students, aimed at reducing educational inequity.
OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration, involved in workplace equity in the context of safety and health.
OSS: Open Source Software, considered an inclusive approach to software development that invites collaboration from diverse individuals.
P
POC: People of Color, a term to describe individuals who are not of European descent, used to discuss racial diversity and inclusion.
PTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, mental health condition often discussed in the context of inclusive healthcare.
PWD: Persons With Disabilities, a term used to highlight the importance of inclusivity and accessibility for all.
PPP: Public-Private Partnership, often used in the context of DEI to leverage resources for greater impact.
Q
QI: Quality Improvement, often discussed in healthcare but also relevant in improving DEI practices.
QPOC: Queer People of Color, a term that combines racial and sexual diversity, emphasizing the intersectionality of these identities.
QOL: Quality of Life, a metric that often incorporates DEI considerations, including access to education, healthcare, and social services.
QTBIPOC: Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, a term that epitomizes intersectionality in DEI discussions.
R
ROI: Return on Investment, increasingly used to measure the tangible benefits of DEI initiatives in organizations.
REI: Racial Equity Institute, an organization focused on addressing systemic racial inequity.
RP: Restorative Practices, a justice approach that aims to foster inclusivity by reconciling offenders with their communities.
RWI: Reproductive Work Inequality, a term that addresses the disproportionate burden of unpaid labor on women and marginalized communities.
S
STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics; fields often examined for gender and racial disparities.
SDOH: Social Determinants of Health, examining healthcare access in terms of socioeconomic factors.
SLA: Service Level Agreement, a contract that can include DEI expectations between parties.
SWOT: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats; a framework sometimes used to evaluate DEI strategies.
T
TERF: Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist, highlights the need for inclusive feminism that embraces trans individuals.
TGNC: Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming, a term acknowledging the diversity of gender experiences.
TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, a U.S.-specific welfare program with DEI implications.
TVET: Technical and Vocational Education and Training, often cited as a means to democratize educational opportunities globally.
U
URM: Under-Represented Minorities, a term often used in academia and workplaces to highlight the need for more inclusive practices.
UD: Universal Design, an architectural concept emphasizing accessibility for all people, regardless of their physical abilities.
UBI: Universal Basic Income, a policy idea aimed at addressing economic inequities.
UX: User Experience, a tech and design term that also speaks to making products accessible and inclusive for all.
V
VET: Vocational Education and Training, emphasizing the need for diverse educational pathways.
VAWA: Violence Against Women Act, a U.S. law but an example of legislative efforts globally to address gender-based violence.
VR: Virtual Reality, increasingly used for DEI training.
VA: Veterans Affairs, often scrutinized for equitable treatment of veterans.
W
WOC: Women of Color, highlighting the intersectionality of race and gender.
WFH: Work From Home, which has DEI implications regarding accessibility and opportunity.
WGEA: Workplace Gender Equality Agency, an Australian entity, but representative of gender equity initiatives worldwide.
WIC: Women, Infants, and Children, a U.S. assistance program with relevance to broader issues of family and gender support globally.
X
XBI: Cross-Border Investment, which raises DEI considerations in international trade and corporate practices.
XaaS: Anything as a Service, a cloud computing term with DEI implications in tech sector accessibility and job opportunities.
XML: eXtensible Markup Language, relevant in the context of creating accessible web content.
XDR: Extended Detection and Response, cyber-security related but relevant when considering DEI in technology fields.
Y
YWCA: Young Women’s Christian Association, historically focused on the empowerment of women but has expanded its DEI initiatives globally.
YT: YouTube, a platform that raises numerous DEI concerns around representation, accessibility, and censorship.
YOLO: You Only Live Once, a cultural term that speaks to the importance of inclusion and opportunity for all in their lifetimes.
YGL: Young Global Leaders, a World Economic Forum initiative to promote diversity in leadership.
Z
ZPD: Zone of Proximal Development, a term from educational psychology that has implications for creating equitable educational environments.
ZBB: Zero-Based Budgeting, often discussed in the context of equitable resource allocation.
ZEV: Zero Emissions Vehicle, relevant for discussions around environmental equity.
ZM: Zoom Meeting, which has become synonymous with the changing landscape of remote work and its implications for DEI.
