Can't Make it to the Women's March? Participate Online in the Disability March.

This Saturday, one of the largest social justice movements of this decade – the Women’s March on Washington – will take place in Washington D.C. to address the rights of women, minorities, the LGBTQ community, people living with disabilities and more. While it’s important that people with disabilities are included in all aspects of the political process, rallies and marches often lack accessibility – prohibiting those living with disabilities, be it a physical disability or invisible illness, from attending.

To ensure people with disabilities are part of the conversation, a group of disability advocates created the Disability March – now an official co-sponsor of the Women’s March – that lets people virtually “march” on Saturday, January 21.

“I work full-time and have to keep a close watch on my health and energy because I have autoimmune conditions – rheumatoid disease and Hashimoto’s – as well as other pain issues,” Sonya Huber, a founder of the Disability March, said. “I know there are many people in similar situations, so I wanted to figure out a way for us to be counted but also for our issues and concerns to be visible at this critical time in our country.”

Here’s my entry in the online #disabilitymarch. Please join us: all it takes is an email to disability@gmail.com… https://t.co/dXb1u4joTB

— Sonya Huber (@sonyahuber) January 13, 2017

Those interested in participating can sign up to march by sharing their photo and story with the Disability March website. On Saturday, the Disability March will be coordinating social media efforts with the Women’s March in D.C. Participants will also be able to share short videos of themselves, contributing to video coverage of the D.C. March.

“We have to tell our stories, not to inspire people but to be real about the needs for support including access to healthcare, transportation and mobility, employment, education, food, safety and so many other vital needs,” Huber told The Mighty. “Disabled people are part of the public and need to be part of social justice movements. With recent political changes, even the inadequate supports that disabled people have had are under grave threats.”

So far, 67 people have signed up to march, but Huber says emails and stories from new participants keep rolling in.

To participate in Saturday’s events, visit the Disability March website and sign-up to attend.