Interlude: Inclusive Language, Survey Questions, and Disability Identity

I'm sending this week's newsletter a few days early because today is a very important day.

It's World Inclusion Day.

This day is dedicated to ensuring that people of all races, ethnicities, ages, abilities, genders, and other characteristics are accepted, welcomed, and treated equally. This day also celebrates the sense of belonging among all people so that they feel heard, valued, appreciated, and respected.

In honor of this day, I want to do what I can to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. And I think that one valuable thing I can do is help people learn about inclusive language.

So starting today, my Inclusive Language Course will be available for FREE! You can enroll through the course website.

​Click here to enroll​

Please spread the word so that more people can learn the power of inclusive language and how they can use inclusive language in their writing, clinical practice, and daily lives.

Now onto this week's round-up...

💌 Round-up

💻 From My Desk

How to Write for Equity and Inclusion in Medicine​
"We may not always be aware of the subtle ways that our language can (unintentionally) impart bias or judgment. Or how even small changes in a word or order of words can affect the meaning of our message. To help you become more aware of these nuances in your writing, here are some things to keep in mind when writing for equity and inclusion in science and medicine."

👓 Reading

Blindness transformed my social world, and I changed with it​
I was fortunate to meet the author of this article in my masterclass. I have learned so much from his expertise, perspectives, and outlook on his "enability." And his article is packed with mind-opening perspectives and stories that will touch your heart and soul. There were too many good excerpts to include in the newsletter. I recommend reading every word of the article.

​How to ask sensitive questions in surveys​
Do you use surveys in your research? This article shares 5 essential guidelines for how to ask sensitive questions in surveys.

1. Establish rapport before asking personal questions

2. Check for bias and don’t make assumptions

3. Lean into inclusive language​

4. Include context about why you’re asking a sensitive question

5. Be upfront about anonymity and how you're protecting data

​Six pregnancy terms you probably won’t hear again, including ‘high risk’ and ‘failed’​
"...many women were less concerned about the way their baby was born but with whether they had a positive experience and felt safe and listened to." The Royal College of Midwives now recommends avoiding the following terms: "delivery", "low risk" or "high risk", "normal", "emergency cesarean", "incompetent cervix", and "failure" or "failed".

💬 Quote

“When we prioritize using inclusive language that values and respects every individual, we create an atmosphere where everyone feels a sense of belonging and their contributions are valued. It's like building bridges that help us understand each other better and create a safe environment where everyone can be their authentic selves, do their best work, and thrive.” – Silvija Delekovcan

📝 Experiment

Open the latest draft of a manuscript, proposal, or other important document that you wrote. Read through the draft and revise the text to use inclusive language.

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal