Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging Commitment

At Not A Malfunction™, difference isn't something we simply accommodate.

Difference is part of human design.

Our work is rooted in the belief that people should not have to erase, disguise, diminish, or continually work against who they are in order to belong, contribute, lead, or succeed.

That belief extends beyond neurodivergence.

We are committed to creating spaces, experiences, content, and services where people of different identities, backgrounds, abilities, experiences, perspectives, and ways of thinking are treated with dignity and respect.

We recognize that inclusion is not achieved by declaring that everyone is welcome. It requires continuing attention to the systems, assumptions, barriers, and expectations that determine who can fully participate once they arrive.

Our Commitments

Representation & Perspective

We value diverse perspectives, lived experiences, identities, disciplines, and ways of thinking.

As Not A Malfunction grows, we seek opportunities to collaborate with, learn from, amplify, and engage people whose experiences and perspectives broaden the conversations we create.

We do not expect one person, identity, diagnosis, or lived experience to represent an entire community.

Neuroinclusion

Neurodiversity is central to our work.

We recognize that people think, process information, communicate, learn, focus, create, regulate, and participate differently.

Whenever reasonably possible, we design our programs, resources, communication, and experiences with those differences in mind rather than assuming there is one "right" way to participate or succeed.

We also recognize that not everyone identifies with a diagnostic label, has access to formal diagnosis, wants a diagnosis, or uses the same language to describe their experience.

You do not need a label to deserve understanding.

Inclusion & Belonging

We welcome people across differences in race, ethnicity, national origin, culture, disability, neurotype, age, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and other aspects of identity and lived experience. We expect our community to do the same and will take reasonable action when this is not honored.

Some individual programs or communities may be intentionally designed for a particular population, such as women, neurodivergent individuals, entrepreneurs, leaders, or other defined groups. When an offering is designed for a specific community, eligibility or intended audience will be communicated clearly.

Creating a space for a particular community does not diminish our respect for those outside of it. Sometimes meaningful inclusion requires creating spaces where people with shared experiences can be centered rather than continually required to adapt to the majority.

Accessibility

We are committed to improving the accessibility of our digital content, educational materials, events, and learning experiences.

Where reasonably possible, we seek to reduce unnecessary barriers for people with different learning, communication, sensory, cognitive, physical, visual, and hearing needs.

Because accessibility needs vary considerably, we recognize that no single format works for everyone.

If you are participating in one of our programs or events and need an accommodation or alternative way to access material, we encourage you to contact us. We will make reasonable efforts to identify an appropriate solution when one is available.

Equity

Equality gives everyone the same thing.

Equity recognizes that the same thing does not necessarily give everyone the same opportunity to participate.

We believe meaningful inclusion requires looking beyond identical treatment and considering the barriers, resources, circumstances, and systems that affect people's ability to participate and succeed.

As our organization grows, we will continue exploring responsible ways to reduce unnecessary barriers to accessing our work while maintaining a sustainable business.

Respectful Community

We want our communities and events to make room for thoughtful conversation, curiosity, disagreement, learning, and different perspectives.

We do not require people to think alike in order to belong.

We do require participants to engage with one another with basic dignity and respect.

Harassment, threats, demeaning behavior, discrimination, or deliberate targeting of individuals based on protected (by law or not) characteristics are not consistent with the communities we are building.

We reserve the right to establish and enforce additional community standards for particular programs, events, or platforms.

Inclusion Does Not Mean Perfection

We don't believe meaningful inclusion comes from pretending we will always get everything right.

Language changes. Communities evolve. People teach us things we did not previously understand. Accessibility needs differ. And building more inclusive systems is ongoing work.

We are committed to listening, learning, examining our own assumptions, and making thoughtful changes when something can be done better.

That commitment is particularly important to us because Not A Malfunction exists to question systems that ask people to continually adapt themselves without ever asking whether the system itself should change.

We intend to hold ourselves to that same question.

Our Larger Belief

There is no single correct way to think.

No single correct way to communicate.

No single correct way to create, contribute, learn, work, lead, or build a meaningful life.

Human difference is not a problem we need to eliminate.

Our work is about understanding those differences, designing with them in mind, and creating more room for people to bring their brilliance with them instead of leaving pieces of themselves at the door.

Difference isn't disorder. It's design.

Ongoing Commitment

This commitment is intended to evolve alongside our organization and community.

We may periodically review and update it as our programs grow, accessibility practices improve, our understanding develops, and the needs of the communities we serve change.

The most current version will be available on this website.

Questions, Feedback & Accessibility Requests

We welcome thoughtful feedback about accessibility, inclusion, and participation in our programs and services.

If you have an accessibility request, encounter a barrier while interacting with our website or programs, or would like to bring an inclusion concern to our attention, please contact:

Not A Malfunction

D'Leene DeBoer, RN, BSN, MS

Subject: Accessibility Questions/Feedback/Request

Email: support@notamalfunction.com

Website: NotAMalfunction.com

Last Updated: August 16, 2026