In a global women’s march that took place on January 21^st 2017 organizers of a virtual disability march committed to promoting equality, diversity, and social inclusion of people with disabilities joined local marchers in a coalition building campaign around the world. As official co-sponsors of the Washington Women’s March supported by Canadian Women’s March organizers, over 3,000 disabled women, men, and youth joined in empowering a “global network that will organize future campaigns and actions in support of progressive values including women’s rights.”-Women’s March Global

As a way of acknowledging that diversity and disability is a social justice issue, Sonja Huber and colleagues from the United States assisted by Terry-Lee Marttinen in Ontario, Canada helped ensure the women’s march (www.disabiltiymarch.com) was accessible to disabled communities on-line to foster inclusion in feminist activism. Many disabled people were excluded in local in person marches, which mobilized mass support for access to political engagement in several countries. Activists also amplified calls for accessible healthcare and disability supports which are being actively eroded and is a wide-spread issue among disabled people in the US.

The women’s disability march is connecting to local organizations to carry forward regional concerns of disabled women.

“An on-line disability march platform is a creative and effective way for women with disabilities to bring their voices forward as part of the larger feminist movement. One of the few examples of the kind of paradigm shift we need in the feminist movement – equity first!”says Bonnie Brayton, DAWN Canada National Executive Director.

Canadian Women’s March organizers are committed to promoting disabled women’s rights as human rights. An NGO aligning with principles of the US National Women’s March Team and the Women’s March Global Team is being created in Geneva, Switzerland with a branch in Canada. More information is available at www.canadianwomenmarch.ca.