As an immigrant, Latino and person with a disability, I can attest that people from marginalized communities like myself do not exclusively inhabit one identity. This is especially true for those of us who have disabilities. We are 26% of America’s population, representing a cross-section of our nation’s magnificently diverse racial, ethnic, gender and LGBTQ+ communities.

Striving for equality is a participatory undertaking. It’s about inviting people to become actively involved in representing the interests of those of us who are historically marginalized. We must all make space for the dynamism of a multitude of identities in politics, industry, innovation and culture. And it’s also about exploring where our interests coincide. That’s why during its formative years, the Disability Rights Movement took inspiration from the Civil Rights Movement's strategies and tactics to pave the way for victories like the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Those of you who fight for racial, immigrant or LGBTQ+ equality will be familiar with our aspirations as people with disabilities. You may think the chief issue that affects us is inaccessibility. But we face employment discrimination, lack of access to healthcare and equal educational opportunity, police brutality and prejudice from banks and landlords.

Remember, many people with disabilities are also people of color. There are Latino immigrants with disabilities like me, women with disabilities and LGBTQ+ people with disabilities. Some may belong to many marginalized groups at one time, such as LGBTQ+ immigrant disabled women of color. We must understand this multitude of experiences for our collective movements to chart an equitable course forward.

The hardships that marginalized people face can be compounded by how their identities intersect. It’s sometimes hard for those straddling different worlds to know where to turn for support and solidarity. Organizations that might be competent on racism, sexism and homophobia may falter on disability, and vice versa. Unfortunately, from my perspective, when there is a gap in cultural competence, it is usually around disability.

Read the full article about DEI plans and disability by Vincenzo Piscopo at Forbes.