Washington State Glossary for Inclusive & Equitable Workplaces
Welcome to the 4th version of the Glossary for Inclusive & Equitable Workplaces, previously known as the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging glossary!
The intent of this glossary is to provide state employees with a compilation of equity-related terms and their meanings. When we have a shared vocabulary and agree on the meaning of the words we use, we are better able to collaborate across departments, teams, and the communities that we serve.
Words carry meaning, power, and impact. It is important that we understand the meanings, recognize the power, and demonstrate reflection, continual learning, and accountability for the impact of the words we use in Washington State government. It is also important to understand that the human beings who are educating us about these terms are living the identities and experiences described in this glossary.
Because people are continually evolving, the words we use to describe them need to evolve as well. This resource is meant to support the work of improving access, advancing equity, and eliminating systemic racism and other forms of oppression from the work we do. This is not meant to serve as a primary resource in any specialized area such as law, medicine, or academia.
Thank you to the Washington State Business Resource Groups, the Washington State DEI Council Glossary Workgroup, The Department of Health, Department of Enterprise Services, Office of Equity, OFM Communications for your hard work and dedication to this body of work. The work that was poured into this version will directly impact those who experience disparities, exclusion, and systemic oppression in the workplace. Thanks to your vital contribution to this work our state will have a practical resource guiding us to maintain a growth mindset while affirming and embodying diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism, and belonging every step of the way.
You may request a Glossary Edit if you would like a term added to or a definition edited in this glossary. Please note that the review committee meets quarterly to review these submissions and is committed to the shared-power process, so these edits make take several months to research and to respond to.
Term |
Definition |
|---|---|
| National Origin |
System of classification based on the nation from which a person originates regardless of the nation they currently live. National origin is not something an individual can change, though origin can change through the generations of family. |
| Nationality |
A specific legal relationship between a person and a state, whether by birth or naturalization in the case of an immigrant. |
| Native American |
Broad reference used to include all Native people of the U.S. and its trust territories as well as persons from Canadian First Nations and Indigenous communities in Mexico and Central and South America who are U.S. residents. |
| Neurodiverse/Neurodivergent/Neuroatypical |
Nonmedical term describing people whose brains develop or work differently than the majority population. Neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits. Individuals who are neurodivergent have different strengths and struggles compared to people whose brains develop or work typical to the majority population. The word neurodiversity refers to the diversity of all people, but it is often used in the context of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as other neurological or developmental conditions such as ADHD or learning disabilities. • Neurodivergent or Neuroatypical generally references people with brains that operate differently from the majority of society, and can include those with a large range of disabilities, such as people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); those with severe anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other similar mental health conditions; people with learning disabilities, including dyslexia; and people with other intellectual and developmental disabilities within the wide range of conditions that can shape thinking, learning, and perceiving the world. • Autism/Autistic is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, including deficits in social reciprocity, nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, and skills in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships. The presence of restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities is required for the diagnosis. Most individuals holding an ASD diagnosis or suspected to have an ASD diagnosis prefer identity-first language (“autistic person”) over person-first language (“person with ASD”), though individuals should always ask the preference of the person with the disability. • Neurotypical is a term used to describe individuals whose brains function in a way that is considered typical or standard. Neurotypical people tend to learn and develop at a similar pace to their peers, and they have a good understanding of social norms and expectations. Their language, communication, social skills, sensory processing, and executive functioning skills are all within the range of the common majority. Neurotypical describes individuals who do not function outside of the common majority range (e.g., individuals who don’t have autism, ADHD, severe anxiety, OCD, PTSD, dyslexia, etc.). Many people who support the use of terms such as neurotypical, neurodiverse, and neurodivergent believe that autism doesn’t need a cure and is not a disability. They believe the differences it presents in people should be respected and celebrated. |
