The term “equity” refers to fairness. Equity is different from equality.

Equality means providing the same to all. 

For example, saying “everyone is welcome” at a meeting is equality.

Equity means recognizing that we do not all start from the same place and acknowledges that adjustments need to be made to balance imbalances. For example, while everyone is welcome at a meeting (there is equality), if that meeting takes place on the 2nd floor of a building with no elevator, participation is not equitable because people with some types of physical disabilities 

cannot go to the meeting. 

To make this meeting equitable, the meeting should be moved to a wheelchair accessible space.

This image demonstrates the difference between Equality and Equity: