Inclusive Language at OMNI

New: Inclusive Language Guide

OMNI developed its Inclusive Language Guide to promote inclusive, respectful, and accessible language across our projects. It provides guidance on using language that avoids biases, fosters belonging, and respects cultural, gender, and social diversity in all forms of project communication. It also includes practical examples and alternatives to common phrases, encouraging communication with empathy and awareness of others' lived experiences. Access the guide here.

Our Why

At OMNI, our goal is to intentionally center equity in every stage of our projects. Centering equity requires a commitment to understanding the complex nature and nuances that arise from living in a diverse society. A significant part of this effort involves our use of language.

We use inclusive language for the following reasons:

  • Reach: Inclusive language helps us reach a broader range of participants. It ensures we collect comprehensive data from all community members, as individuals from non-dominant identities are more likely to engage when they see themselves reflected.

  • Quality: It enhances data clarity and quality. Using inclusive language improves our data accuracy, while excluding inclusive options can lead to confusion and reduce the validity and reliability of our findings.

  • Respect: It ensures all participants feel seen, heard, and valued. We live in diverse communities where individuals have complex, intersectional identities and experiences. Using inclusive language helps us treat all participants with dignity and empathy.

Our Approach

We have identified four key hallmarks that guide our use of inclusive language:

  • People First Language: We prioritize people-first language, placing the individual before their condition or identity. For example, we say "person with a disability" instead of "disabled person." We adapt our language to respect the preferences of specific communities or projects that may prefer identity-first language.

  • Self-Identification Options: Whenever feasible, we include self-identification options, allowing individuals to describe themselves in their own terms. This empowers authentic expression of identities and experiences. For example, on surveys, we include: “Prefer to self-describe: ______”.

  • Eliminating Stigmatizing Language: We are committed to eliminating stigmatizing or alienating language. We use accurate and respectful terminology when addressing social issues, focusing on conditions or behaviors rather than labeling individuals. For instance, instead of "addict," we use "substance use behaviors."

  • Continuous Learning and Iteration: Our approach to language is iterative and adaptive. We continuously educate ourselves, stay informed about best practices, and remain open to feedback from diverse perspectives. This allows us to refine our language choices over time, ensuring our communication remains respectful, inclusive, and reflective of evolving societal norms.

Clients and the Use of Best Practices

We recognize that our best practices may not always align with our clients, partners, or community members' preferences. When there is a discrepancy, we rely on our core values of inquiry, agility, accountability, and connection to reach a collaborative solution. Our process includes:

  1. Active Listening: We engage in open, honest conversations with our clients about their concerns regarding inclusive language. We listen actively to understand their perspectives and document their feedback.

  2. Sharing What We Know:

    • OMNI’s Why & Approach: We reiterate our purpose for using inclusive language, explaining its importance and impact on various communities. We highlight how inclusive language promotes reach, better data quality, and respect for all individuals.

    • Resources and Success Stories: We provide resources, such as articles and training materials, to support our clients in implementing inclusive language. We share success stories from other projects that have benefited from adopting inclusive language practices.

  3. Collaborative Solutions: If clients still have concerns, we address them directly. We provide alternative language options and work collaboratively to find mutually acceptable choices that reflect our goals of Reach, Quality, and Respect while meeting the client's needs.

Our adaptive approach, grounded in our core values, allows us to meet the diverse needs of our clients, partners, and communities. We are dedicated to centering equity through the use of inclusive language, ensuring all voices are heard and valued, fostering environments of understanding, empathy, and equity, and contributing to a more inclusive society.