Why is Diversity Important?

By Ella Hanley, Young Adult Council Member

When we hear the word diversity we tend to think of groups of different people – a diversity of race, gender, nationality, or ability – but behind that idea is the fact that different people also represent “diversity” of ways of experience and understanding of the world. Having true diversity can open us up to new ways of understanding the world around us and making improvements that allow everyone to be included.

 I would like to look at two reasons why diversity is important to a growing society including: creativity and innovation, and better decision making. When we think about  creativity and innovation we can see how people with a different point of view might be able to think about something in a way that others don’t – they might see things from a different point of view and be able to help understand it in a way that others might miss.  For example, people with Down Syndrome or people who use wheelchairs might have different opinions and perspectives. For example, you walk up to a store, and the door does not have a clear entry path for a wheelchair.  Someone who needs this help might be able to think about a unique way to arrange the entrance – a new idea that allows everyone to enter safely. Or someone with Down Syndrome might notice that a store does not have any staff members to help with alternate modes of communication and could suggest something to help everyone connect better.

Let’s discuss better decision making. This could mean a lot of things when it comes to diversity. It could increase problem solving skills for a team of workers who would benefit from a number of innovative ideas. For example, a fashion design team that can think about different fits and cuts of clothing for many body types. A group that could design a customer service experience that would embrace multiple lifestyles. Or even a creative team of web developers who think about current Web Content Accessibility Guidelines from a lived perspective, not just as a checklist of concepts. Diversity leads to many positive things in our lives that would give us a good wide range of life goals. Diversity is important because it opens us up to new ways of understanding the world around us and making improvements that allow everyone to be included.