Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
What is EDI?
Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is about creating an even playing field for everyone. Some may think of it as a zero-sum game, meaning that there are not enough resources to go around. In reality, EDI is about examining the challenges faced by specific groups and designing environments, products and services that work better for everyone. Take the example of The Curb-Cut Effect in which people in the disability-rights movement, specifically those who use wheelchairs, advocated for cities to build curb cuts into sidewalk infrastructure. Today, curb cuts are common and benefit many groups - people using strollers, delivering goods, riding bicycles, pulling luggage, and more. This is an example of a solution that initially worked better for one group, but in reality, serves everyone better.
EDI at OIT
All OIT employees play an important role in making sure EDI practices are part of how we work together, whether they are an analyst, developer, project manager or work in any other area. This ultimately impacts how we serve all Coloradans. When it comes to technology, EDI isn’t just a nice thing to do, it’s strategic. It helps us understand how to best serve all Coloradans equitably and how to provide the most engaging experiences for our workforce.
EDI work is not a one-time decision or act. Like planting a garden, you don’t just plant seeds in hopes that they will bear fruit. It requires preparation and care for the soil. You have to water, weed, check on things over time, and this is the approach OIT takes with our EDI initiatives.
EDI Tenets: The North Star for OIT’s EDI Work
- Dignity
- Empathy
- Humanity
- Connection
- Systemic Change
- Courage
- Lifelong Learning
Tip of the Month
Challenging Myths About People Who Are Deaf or Have Hearing Loss
A myth is a widely held but false belief. These misconceptions often develop from a lack of understanding or exposure, and they can significantly shape how we perceive others.
In Colorado alone, more than 755,000 residents identify as deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing. By dispelling common misconceptions about this community, we create a more inclusive and understanding community. Let's explore some of these myths, based on information from the National Deaf Children's Society.
Myth: Deaf people can't enjoy music. Fact: Music is a universal experience. Many people who are deaf or have hearing loss, such as dancer and instructor Shaheem Sanchez, in this 13-minute video, enjoy music through vibrations, amplified sound from hearing aids, and even by creating music themselves. It's not just about hearing the notes; it's about feeling the rhythm.
Myth: Sign language is the same worldwide. Fact: Just like spoken languages, sign languages are beautifully diverse. American Sign Language (ASL), Black American Sign Language (BASL)/Black Sign Variation (BSV), British Sign Language (BSL), French Sign Language (LSF), and others, are all distinct, each with its own rich history and culture.
Myth: Deaf people can't use sound technology. Fact: Technology has made phone communication more accessible than ever. Deaf individuals use phones for texting, video calls with sign language, and relay services that connect them with an operator who can interpret the conversation in real-time. Closed captioning and transcription services for videos, virtual meetings, and entertainment also ensure accessibility for deaf individuals, largely utilized and beneficial to a broad audience.
Myth: Hearing aids and cochlear implants "fix" hearing. Fact: These are powerful tools, but they don't restore natural hearing. They augment sound, and for some, the process of interpreting these sounds can be incredibly tiring.
By taking a moment to challenge these common misconceptions, we can better appreciate and learn from the diverse experiences and abilities of our colleagues or community members that are deaf or have hearing loss.
What we’re doing
We’re on a learning journey at OIT and know that we have a long way to go. Here are some of the exciting things we’re working on now:
- An annual EDI plan that centers on reducing burnout and increasing accountability, psychological safety and belonging for all employees.
- A Wildly Important Goal (WIG) focused on employee engagement that features EDI as a core component.
- We’re scaling up the training and coaching offered to all OIT employees and managers. We’re also setting up employee resource groups to create a sense of belonging for our employees living with marginalized social identities.
- Group coaching is offered to managers every quarter so they can meaningfully contribute to achieving our employee engagement WIG and follow through on performance goals related to inclusive leadership.
- We use data to objectively monitor progress, such as through EDI organizational assessments and demographic analysis of employee engagement data.
EDI Action Alliance
We have a robust group of employees who are passionate about taking steps to institutionalize EDI work at OIT. The group includes subcommittees focused on internal workplace culture and training. Among many projects, they are responsible for analyzing employee engagement data by demographics to understand how employee experiences differ, and hosting quarterly webinars on a variety of EDI topics. Check out the team charter.
Employee Resource Groups
AVID@OIT (Awareness of Visible and Invisible Disabilities) fosters and promotes an inclusive place for employees who identify as having a disability or are neurodivergent.
BIPOC@OIT promotes an environment where BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) employees feel empowered, included and valued by providing resources, support and opportunities for growth and development.
Global Connections@OIT seeks to promote and showcase the view that all immigrants are humans who seek what all humans seek: the opportunity to live a good life, make our contribution, and leave a better world for our children; and that we choose to do this in the USA because of our belief in its promise.
Pride@OIT fosters and promotes an inclusive place for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual OIT employees by honoring each individual’s values, beliefs, principles and lived experiences.
Veterans@OIT empowers OIT's veterans to expand their personal and professional development by communicating, networking, volunteering and providing training opportunities.
Women@OIT aims to provide a supportive community where women from all over OIT can connect, share experiences and access professional development opportunities.
Accessibility & EDI: Two sides of the same coin
Accessibility and EDI work go hand in hand. Accessibility is a commitment to providing equitable access to services and is the responsibility of each state employee and not a single person, team or agency. In 2021, legislation (HB21-1110) was passed that strengthens protections against discrimination on the basis of disability. Among other things, it requires state agencies and local governmental entities to meet web accessibility standards and establishes OIT as the authoritative body to help agencies put those in place. Check out OIT's Guide to Accessible Web Services and Accessibility Law for Colorado State and Local Government to learn more.
What’s next?
- While still in the early stages, we’re crafting EDI guidelines that affect the technology solutions we build at OIT and make decisions about how our technology impacts those we are serving.
Contact the EDI Team
Join us in this important work!
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