Words (Core Vocabulary)
- DEI/EDI (diversity/equity/inclusion), belonging
- pronouns (she/her, he/him, they/them), name pronunciation
- inclusive language / gender-neutral terms (partner, spouse, chair, firefighter)
- person-first (“person with a disability”) & identity-first (“Disabled person”)—ask preferences
- accommodations / access needs
- microaggression / bias / allyship
- inclusive meeting: closed captions, agenda, round-robin, clear minutes
Phrases (Introduce → include → adjust)
Introductions
- Hi, I’m Aiden— I use they/them pronouns. How would you like to be addressed?
- Could you share how to pronounce your name?
Neutral & respectful
- Let’s say “everyone” instead of “you guys.”
- My partner and I will attend (avoids assuming gender).
Access & accommodations
- Do you have any access needs for the meeting (e.g., captions, breaks)?
- Happy to provide materials in large print or ahead of time.
Repair if you miss
- Sorry, I used the wrong pronoun—thank you for the correction.
- Thanks for the feedback—I’ll adjust the wording.
Contextual Examples (Everyday)
- Calendar note: Agenda attached; captions on; breaks at :25 and :55.
- Email: Team, please review the doc; call me [Name] if you prefer the phonetic spelling.
- Repair: Apologies— they completed the report; great work.
Collocations & Phrases (bold the key words)
- use inclusive terms
- share pronouns (optional)
- ask for name pronunciation
- offer accommodations
- avoid assumptions
- address microaggressions kindly
Canadian Cultural Context
- Canadian workplaces generally welcome inclusive language; pronoun sharing is optional, not forced.
- Accessibility is everyone’s job—planning for captions, contrast, timing helps all.
- Quick, low-drama repairs build trust more than long apologies.
Extra Mini-Patterns (plug-and-play)
- Name help: “I want to say your name correctly—could you teach me?”
- Neutral ask: “Anyone available to review this by 3?”
- Access check: “Any access needs for tomorrow’s workshop?”