The Disappearing Act: Why DEI Language is Vanishing
In this episode of Morning DisabiliTEA, host Ashley Sims discusses a growing trend: DEI language quietly being removed from federal websites and Fortune 100 companies. With terms like equity, inclusion, and even disability disappearing from public materials, what does this shift mean for accessibility, workplace culture, and disability inclusion efforts?
Ashley explores reporting from The New York Times and HR Brew, explains how language changes shape priorities and accountability, and shares practical steps for advocates to keep disability visible even as organizations back away from DEI messaging. Language is power—and protecting it protects progress.
This show is produced by Disability Solutions, a nonprofit consulting firm and job board, dedicated to helping companies recruit, hire, and retain talent with disabilities. We partner with employers to develop inclusive, equitable hiring strategies that work — for both individuals and businesses.
00:03.48
Ashley Sims
Welcome back to Morning Disability, the show where we spill the tea on disability inclusion and what's really happening in workplaces and beyond. I'm your host, Ashley Sims, and today we're diving into something that's been quietly but massively shifting.
00:19.21
Ashley Sims
DEI language disappearing from both government and corporate spaces and what that means for disability inclusion. So let's get into it. The New York Times recently reported that federal agencies under the Trump administration have started scrubbing words like equity, inclusion, and even racism and disability from their websites.
00:41.98
Ashley Sims
This isn't an outright ban. It's a systemic removal of language tied to diversity and accessibility efforts. Why does that matter? Because when the words disappear, the priorities usually follow.
00:55.35
Ashley Sims
If terms like accessibility, disability inclusion, or even reasonable accommodations banish from public facing materials, it sends a clear signal. These issues are no longer top of mind.
01:08.31
Ashley Sims
And that shift doesn't just stay on the surface. It trickles down into policy decisions, funding allocations, and ultimately the lived experiences of people with disabilities.
01:20.50
Ashley Sims
Language isn't just systemic. Language isn't just semantics, it's a roadmap. When disability-related language is erased, it becomes easier for programs to be deprioritized, budgets to shrink, and accountability to fade.
01:38.49
Ashley Sims
In short, if the words go, the work often goes with them. Last week, HR Brew dropped a bombshell. More than half of Fortune 100, around 63 companies,
01:52.38
Ashley Sims
have changed or removed DEI language since the 2024 election. And most of them didn't announce it. They just quietly edited their websites. A few big names, Deloitte, Target, Meta, and IBM.
02:06.58
Ashley Sims
These are companies that once had strong DEI messaging and now Poof, it's gone. Experts say this is about risk management and legal pressure, not necessarily a full ideological shift.
02:20.38
Ashley Sims
But here's the kicker. When companies stop talking about DEI publicly, accountability takes a hit. And disability inclusion often gets lumped into these broader DEI efforts.
02:33.05
Ashley Sims
So when the umbrella shrinks, well Never mind. Cut that. And disability inclusion often gets lumped into these broader DEI efforts.
02:45.43
Ashley Sims
Now, let's be clear. Of course, we don't want false allies or performative statements. No one's asking for empty promises. But here's the reality. Many of these Fortune 100 companies weren't just talking the talk.
03:00.95
Ashley Sims
They were walking the walk. They had successful inclusion programs, employee resource groups, and measurable progress. So what happens to all of the momentum when the language disappears?
03:12.38
Ashley Sims
Does the work continue quietly behind the scenes, or does it stall without public accountability? That's the question we need to be asking.
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Ashley Sims
Visibility equals priority. If disability isn't named, it's easy to ignore. Accountability disappears. Without those words on websites and reports, there's no external pressure to keep programs alive.
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Ashley Sims
And culture follows language. Words aren't just optics. They shape how teams think and act, remove them, and inclusion becomes optional.
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Ashley Sims
So what can we do? We can speak up. Ask your organization why language changed. Frame it in a question of values and accountability.
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Ashley Sims
Keep disability visible. Advocate for explicit references and reports, job postings, leadership messaging, and training materials. Track changes.
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Ashley Sims
Monitor your company's websites, policies, and public statements. If disability language disappears, document it. This creates a record for advocacy. Build allies.
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Ashley Sims
Partner with HR, legal, and accessibility teams within your organization. When multiple stakeholders understand the stakes, it's harder for inclusion to become optional.
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Ashley Sims
And share why language matters. Because words shape priorities, budgets, and culture. Bottom line, language is power. When we protect the words, we protect the work.
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Ashley Sims
For governments, removing language signals a shift in priorities without passing a single a single law. For governments, removing language signals a shift in priorities without passing a single law.
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Ashley Sims
For companies, it's often about risk management, avoiding lawsuits or controversy. But here's the problem. When the words go, accountability goes with them.
05:29.21
Ashley Sims
For governments, removing language signals a shift in priorities without passing a single law. For companies, it's often about risk management, avoiding lawsuits or controversy. But here's the problem. When the words go, accountability goes with them.
05:43.76
Ashley Sims
That's why we have to keep having these conversations. Because language isn't just optics. It's the foundation for progress. And if we let that foundation crumble, the work we fought for can disappear quietly.
05:58.23
Ashley Sims
So let's make sure disability stays front and center. Ask the hard questions, push for transparency, and remind everyone inclusion isn't a trend.
06:09.72
Ashley Sims
Thanks so much for tuning in. If this episode got you thinking, like, share, and subscribe. And let's keep pushing for inclusion.