Practicing Proactive Inclusion Instead of Reactive Accommodation

A few months ago I came across Debra Ruh’s distinction between proactive inclusion and reactive accommodation (image below). This distinction is absolutely necessary for authentic inclusion, and I want to talk about why.

What is proactive inclusion?

I’d like to share a recent example of this. I was out to dinner a few months ago with my 80 year old mother. She suffers from chronic pain and other ailments. Her mobility is limited and sitting can be very painful for her in the wrong circumstances. At times she is wheelchair bound, but last night she was able to walk using only her cane.

Reactive accommodation in the wild

We went to a new restaurant since it was for my birthday, and I wanted to try something new. When we were seated we noticed the chairs were small, black metal with no cushions. They fit aesthetically with the decor, but they posed us quite a problem. We asked if there were cushions available and were told no.

I then went to the car and got her cushion – which was too big for the chair. I went back to the car and got my emergency blanket, which we folded oddly to make work. It was less than ideal and I think she was in a lot of pain. But she didn’t want to stop the dinner, so she continued to sit.

The owner of the restaurant came over to see us and ask after the food and it was clear our waitress had told him about the issue with the seat. He was very apologetic, kind, and promised to make accommodations moving forward. We were also told next time to “ask to be seated upstairs” because they had a booth with cushioned seats.

They were kind and well-meaning, but this is a perfect example of reactive accommodation and not proactive inclusion. They had a handicapped parking space, which we used, and its required accommodation. But it did not appear as though they had considered how to accommodate non-wheelchair bound disabled folks.

What can we do about it?

I have learned a lot about the difference between accommodation and inclusion through doing life with both my mother and with Kristen. Neither of whom would fit comfortably in the seats at this restaurant (which is a shame because the food and the vibes were both good).

I’m encouraged that we spoke to the owner last night, and he did seem interested in learning and growing as his customers relay information to him.

If you’re invested in building authentic inclusive cultures, give some thought to the distinction between accommodation and inclusion in your own work (and non-work) environments.

Learn more about the work we do on diversity and inclusion training HERE.

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