Having Celiac disease, Asperger’s and a cerebellar brain injury (from a tumor nine years ago) means any travel requires extensive planning. My disabilities are not visible but large crowds bring out my poor balance and cause sensory overload right away. Finding food that is safe to eat is always a challenge. Planning a trip to D.C. in a normal time is difficult; for the march, it is impossible.

Marching is important because as a disabled, low income, queer woman my rights are always in question. From their involvement in the Civil Rights struggles of the 1960s, my ex-hippie parents taught me to defend my own rights and those of others. Now, my Unitarian Universalist faith compels me to work every day for the rights of all.

I will be attending a sister march here in rural New York in a town where I know I can safely eat and take breaks when I need. It is hard for me to not be able to fully participate in all the work that needs to be done!

I am married to my partner and best friend of 19 years. We homeschool our creative, kind, intelligent 11 year old daughter who also happens to have Asperger’s. We do tend to stand out in large crowds, her with her bright pink noise-reducing headphones and me with my ear plugs, dark sunglasses, brimmed hat, and walking stick!

Lego is my meditation; being a lego artist brings me great joy! If you are interested in seeing pictures of my lego bending, see my blog at https://myspontaneousself.wordpress.com/