Why the Disability March Is an Important Part of the Women's March on Washington

When I first heard about the January 21 Women’s March on Washington and nationwide sister marches, I was excited. After all I consider this my 1960’s, a time when women must use our voices to protect our rights that were negatively attacked by the now President. To that end I’ve been busy signing petitions, writing articles, posting news stories, calling legislators, attending meetings and becoming a social justice activist to defend the rights of all American citizens.

I considered going to Washington to march, then changed my mind to join a friend marching in Philadelphia. With accessibility on my mind, the logistics of the day caused me great concern. As the day drew near I knew I’d be unable to walk the necessary miles, doubting I’d be able to keep up with my able-bodied friends.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, about 56.7 million people have a disability. I am one of them. As a women with a disability I will fight for my rights along with those of other disabled women.

As I began reading posts on several social media platforms about making plans for the march, I began feeling invisible. When I thought about it I realized, once again, something was missing.

I read through the Unity Principles of the Women’s March and noticed an absence of inclusion of the disability community. I was disheartened.

As the mission of the Women’s March states:

“In the spirit of democracy and honoring the champions of human rights, dignity, and justice who have come before us, we join in diversity to show our presence in numbers too great to ignore. The Women’s March on Washington will send a bold message to our new government on their first day in office, and to the world that women’s rights are human rights. We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us.”

Absolutely. To defend those who are being marginalized. This is crucial. Yet historically the disabled have been globally ignored. Now is the time to end that discrimination.

We are not invisible. We are here. We have voices. We add value. We matter.

When Donald Trump mocked a disabled reporter, we were marginalized. With the ACA being threatened with the possibility of millions becoming uninsured, we are being marginalized. And when we’re not mentioned among the important groups being threatened by the new administration, we are being marginalized.

So I was feeling pretty low about the march, asking myself who will support us? I began to do some research and found my answer.

First, I found a group called Disability March. Created by Sonya Huber, the Disability March provides a way for people like me to participate in an online-only march as a contingent of the Women’s March on Washington.

By emailing them a photo of ourselves with a short explanation about why we feel strongly about the march, they’ve provided us with an opportunity to speak our minds. Here are four examples:

“I have late-stage Lyme, which has greatly impacted my physical capability due to complications such as dysautonomia; thus, I am not strong enough to march.”

“I’m joining the march because I believe in the mission, but attending in person would be hard for me with my asthma and arthritis, both of which get worse in cold weather.”

“I’ve had to advocate for my son since his birth regarding his health, and for the last 3 years regarding his public education. The repeal or scaling back of the ACA could have drastic impacts on my son’s ability to get medical care in the future. I’m concerned that many public schools don’t properly follow IDEA, and that under DeVos and Trump the situation is likely to get worse. Finally, I’m concerned about how Trump has engaged individuals with disabilities in his business dealings and during the campaign. Rights for the disabled were largely one through public collective action. I’m proud to be able to participate in such an action, even if only virtually.”

“If I could trust my body to cooperate, I would be going to Washington to insist–once again, and I can’t believe that this is necessary once again–that women’s bodies are our own business, that women’s rights are human rights, that I count and you count and my daughter counts and my granddaughter, my grandson, my great-granddaughter count and your daughters and sons and and and and…”

According to Sonya Huber:

I started the online disability march after talking with my friends about how it would be hard for me to go to DC and how sad I was about that. All three of us have mobility/health issues and are writers, so I thought a blog would be an easy place to start. In particular I wanted to open up the idea of activism and challenge the idea that the only way to be active is to go physically to a place. I think demonstrations and marches are so important, but there are so many people who will be negatively affected by Republican policies who cannot travel to protest.

I contacted the Women’s March organizers early on and made some edits to our site based on feedback from them and from other writers, and we just became an official co-sponsor of the march last week.

As I mentioned in the Bustle article, I am glad that the organizers of the march added a statement about disability as a separate bullet point of the unity principles, but it’s important for the sake of history to know that it was left out initially, just as a reminder of how often disability is not viewed as an intersectional issue at an equal level to other elements of our identities.

I do support the march and I applaud the huge amount of effort and care the march organizers are taking. I also am very excited that the march organizers are not going for the lowest common denominator but instead explicitly mentioning racial justice as a cornerstone of the march, as this is where progressive movements need to orient!

If people want to get active in the Disability March, all they have to do is send an email to We will also be tweeting on Friday and Saturday with the hashtag #disabilitymarch.

Terry Martinen, a member of the Disability March, explained why she joined:

For me, broad-based inclusion of people with disabilities is fundamental in view of my experience and studies. I supported this project early as a participant because I think it opens up space for a range of people with disabilities to voice protest over issues affecting the U.S. and globally. It is a way to promote meaningful inclusion in women’s movements with potential for future direct activism in U.S context.”

Then I found Women’s March on Washington – Disability Caucus. On their Facebook page they state:

The disability community is often forgotten and left out of the political, economic, and social spheres. It is time that we have a prominent voice in the social justice cause. As we have done throughout history, we will join other groups to support social justice, equality, and unity. Sign up for assistance: @WMWDisability

It’s hard enough living with the daily struggles of a disability, but the double whammy is when you’re unable to join others in a fight you strongly believe in.

That’s why I’d like to thank Sonya Huber and her friends for creating the brilliant idea of the Disability March.

I’d also like to thank the kindness of a stranger who, on Facebook, asked if she could carry my name on a necklace so I could “walk” in Washington.

Thanks to an old friend who knit a purple hat (the “color” of the march) to wear in my honor as she marches in Washington..

And many thanks to a group I just “met” called Suffering the Silence whose campaign #MarchWithMe matches those unable to march with those who’ll march in their honor. To sign up as a Mentor or Supporter of Suffering the Silence simply send your name and a photo of yourself here. Then go to their website to learn more about their commitment to empower patients, friends and family to speak out and share stories. They are doing tremendous things to “transform the medical and social perception of those living with chronic disease.”

There are silver linings in everything, and despite dark clouds ahead I’m energized by the commitment of many to stand together for those being marginalized. I am proud to be part of the Women’s March and the Disability March and all they stands for.

I hope the Women’s March continues to automatically include the disability community in their vision of inclusion.

This country was built on the idea of human rights for all. Let’s stand strong together to make sure no one’s rights are ever taken away.

(NOTE: I highly recommend reading an excellent article about disability rights being absent from the Women’s March by Emily Ladau at TheEstablishment.com and kudos to Emily.)

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