Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility—What’s It All About? Why Should We Care

As a rehabilitation professional and psychologist, I have spent decades advancing the principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. The concept has not always had this name but has existed in some form or other since the birth of our country.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility became a cornerstone of the Trump-Vance regime on Day One. Why is it so important to MAGA? We need to know what it is and what it is not to understand why they have placed so much importance on eliminating it.

This article is broken down into several installments in hopes of making it easier to digest.

On the day he was inaugurated, Trumped signed Executive Order 14151, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.” The intent of this executive order was to eliminate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility programs in the federal government and pressure public and private companies to follow suit.

Many people do not know what the initials DEI/DEIA represent. It’s usually referred to by its acronym, which is part of the problem. Rather than using the acronym I will spell it out throughout this article to help us remember what the initials represent.

It’s so important that we understand what Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility stands for, in the real world and in the minds of the Trump-Vance regime. It is a central concept of the Trump-Vance regime and that of Project 2025.

In this series of articles, we will address the following:

· An accurate definition of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

· What Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility are not What Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility means to the Trump-Vance regime

· Why we have heard so much about it recently

· The origins of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the United States, its importance to the founders of the United States

· How it has played a role in most administrations

· President Biden’s involvement and the backlash against Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

· Why Trump-Vance are eliminating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility—how does this advance their overall goals

· The response of corporations across the United States

· What we can and should be doing to reverse these efforts

Let’s dive in.

What is Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility?

It refers to developing and sustaining a world/worldview in which all people are given the opportunity to fully participate in society. This includes not only employment but education, services, freedom to practice any religion (or none), medical and mental health care, healthy environments (clean water, nutritious food, clean air), safe neighborhoods, adequate housing, equal pay for equal work, ability to gain physical access to buildings and maneuver safely throughout the community—including public transportation, addressing and eliminating discrimination and harassment, and so much more. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility extends to ALL people within our country. This is a holistic definition, one that clearly shows how Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility embodies the basis of what it means to be an American.

What Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility are NOT

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility are often confused with affirmative action. Nathanael Wright (2025) offered an excellent distinction between the two, which is quoted below.

“Affirmative Action is a legal policy created to address historical injustices and discrimination by providing opportunities to underrepresented groups. It involves initiative-taking measures to ensure that individuals from these groups have equal access to education, employment, and other areas where they have been historically marginalized. The primary focus is on creating opportunities and leveling the playing field for those who have faced systemic barriers. However, it should be understood that under this theory a lesser qualified person should not be chosen over a more qualified person.”

Wright boils it down to “. . . fostering an inclusive environment where diversity is valued, equity is ensured, and everyone feels a sense of belonging.” Wright, N. (Feb. 5, 2025). DEI CMBG3 Legal Resource. https://natlawreview.com/article/dei-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-v-affirmative-action-they-are-not-same

When Trump/Vance refer to DEI/DEIA, they are referencing race almost exclusively. In fact, many people define it the same way. The belief held by many is that when people are hired or admitted to college based on race, they may not meet qualifications, and thus more highly qualified White people are excluded. There may be limited times where non-White individuals are placed above Whites, but this would be the exception and not the rule. When Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility are part of the fabric of society, the playing field is leveled. Reducing the concept to race alone, and solely in the context of employment and university enrollment quotas, is a travesty. It diminishes Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, along with all the people in our country.

Why are We Hearing So Much About Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility?

There are so many issues competing for our attention in the United States. Some are meant as a distraction and serve to flood the zone, and others are catastrophic: passage of the Big Ugly Bill and the devastation it will cause, ICE kidnappings and the fear and anger this has instilled, the attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities, conflict and genocide in the Middle East, abandonment of Ukraine, establishment of a concentration camp in Florida, Supreme Court decisions which support the regime instead of the Constitution, elimination of USAID, decimation of NOAA and the National Weather Service which led in part to the death of so many children and adults, etc. The attacks on the peoples of the United States appear never-ending. Death and destruction, and the potential for it, are everywhere.

But there is something incredibly significant that is at the heart of much of what is guiding this regime—that of the establishment of, or what Trump-Vance refer to as a “return to”—the days when America was great. This translates to the establishment of a White, Christian male-dominated society.

Flooding the zone is meant to distract us from what Trump-Vance are truly up to—implementing Project 2025, which demolishes the democratic principles our country was built on. The country we love and support is becoming unrecognizable. There are various ways to keep up with what parts have been implemented and where they are in the process. My preference is the Project 2025 Tracker (https://www.project2025.observer/).

We need to understand that the intention of the Trump-Vance regime and Project 2025 are to marginalize all peoples of this country who are not White Christian men, also referred to as White Christian Nationalists. Although they may give lip service to being Christians, it is obvious by their actions that they do not practice Christian teachings. If they did, they would find themselves unable to follow through with the Trump-Vance agenda. Their actions are the antithesis of Christian teachings.

Additionally, Trump-Vance policies are being foisted onto private and public corporations, universities, state and government, many of whom have capitulated and eliminated their own Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. A number of companies are experiencing boycotts from customers protesting this move. This has created some increased awareness of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility.

Next time, we will address the origins of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the United States; its importance to the founders of the United States; and how it has played a role in most administrations.

Let me know your thoughts about this article.