On 8 March, we organised a workshop and inclusive participation in the International Women’s Day demonstration in Erfurt embedded in the URB.ABLE project, bringing together participants with and without disabilities to reflect on accessibility, inclusion, in public spaces.
Why? Public demonstrations are a fundamental part of democratic infrastructure. When demonstrations are not accessible, people with disabilities are excluded from one of the most visible forms of civic engagement. This reinforces discrimination against people with disabilities in urban spaces and deepens structural inequalities.
Why 8 March? The fight against ableism is part of the feminist fight and must therefore be taken into account at demonstrations. This strengthens intersectional solidarity and makes democratic participation more inclusive.
The workshop was designed using non-formal education methods, encouraging participants to express their ideas creatively and share their perspectives in a collaborative environment, as well as empowering participants who had never joined a demonstration. The aim was to create a space where participants could reflect on how urban environments, social movements, and public participation can be more accessible for everyone.
In preparation of the demonstration, participants talked about accessibility, gender equality, and the right to participate fully in public life, as well as fears and expectations towards a demonstration, and created their own demonstration posters.
After the creative activity, the group joined the International Women’s Day march. Taking part in the march allowed participants to connect their reflections from the workshop with a real public action, experiencing how social movements occupy and transform urban space. It also created an opportunity to observe how accessible and inclusive such public events are for people with disabilities.
Following the march, the group concluded the workshop with a reflection session on their experiences during the demonstration. This yielded a prototype for a toolbox that is scalable for both organizers and participants of future demonstrations and is based on the expertise of participants with disabilities.
The workshop demonstrated the spirit of the URB.ABLE project: empowering young people to observe, question, and shape their cities so that urban spaces become places where everyone can participate fully in social and public life.
