Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Lachi. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.
New York City-based Lachi, creator of Lachi Music, is making history — not only in the music world, but for communities of people with disabilities and neurodiversity. Three years ago, Lachi, an award-winning recording artist and cultural activist who was born legally blind, created Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities (RAMPD) when she found herself navigating the music industry as someone who was losing their vision. Today, the organization is home to 80 vetted music professionals and its mission is to amplify Disability Culture, promote equitable inclusion and advocate for inclusive and accessible spaces in the music and live entertainment industry.
“There are so many movements. Think about the people who started the women’s movement. Who are the people that started women really being seen in the music industry or the people who helped Black and Brown folks get seen in the music industry? I can tell you who really started helping folks with disabilities and neurodivergence get seen in the music industry; it’s RAMPD,” Lachi said.
Because she was keeping her disability a secret, Lachi kept herself from asking for accommodations that would help her perform at her best at studios or networking events. “I would miss handshakes in darker rooms that could cost me a touring or record deal, and I realized that I was going to have to get in front of the situation,” Lachi said. “If I wanted to go to the next level in my career, I needed to accept all parts of myself and not hide who I am in an industry that frankly rewards authenticity,” she added.
Lachi started getting involved in different organizations with musicians and even joined The Recording Academy, the community of music professionals that hosts the annual Grammy Awards. She asked the professionals around her what they were doing about disability culture and accessibility at their organizations and throughout the music industry. “I’m not going to say I heard crickets, but folks didn’t have an adequate answer,” said Lachi. So she set out to make some big, important changes.
Lachi knew there was a stigma around disabilities, especially neurodivergence — when a brain processes information in a way that is not typical of most individuals — and other chronic conditions, but she dreamt of an industry that was equitable, safe and an environment that people felt genuine pride and joy to be a part of. After being a part of an online panel with the Recording Academy in April of 2021 and speaking to other music industry professionals, Lachi had a dream of five letters: RAMPD.
She had an epiphany, and that was the beginning of her professional platform that equips the music and entertainment industry with disability inclusive tools, programming and strategy. Lachi quickly had her first task and client: make The Grammy’s more accessible. As a Grammy’s Board Governor, Lachi helps RAMPD continue its partnership with The Grammy’s to make music’s biggest night more disability-inclusive. It pushes for a visible ramp to stages, American Sign Language translation, audio descriptions and more. This year, The Grammy’s brought four RAMPD members to grace the official red carpet.
RAMPD has also partnered with Netflix, Women in Music, Songwriters of North America and more. They’re currently working with the Country Music Awards and brainstorming more ways to help venues and their city as a whole become more inclusive.
“Growing up, I didn’t have a disabled woman of color in the music industry to look up to. I always knew that my goal would be to uplift my communities and become the first blind Latina at the forefront of the industry, but I knew I had to create my own lane. I didn’t think I’d have any real guidance until I met Lachi and found RAMPD,” said Precious Perez, a blind Puerto Rican music artist, educator, disability advocate and president of RAMP.
“When I think of Lachi, I see this beautiful Black woman who is a strong, confident and determined force of nature. She isn’t afraid to break down barriers, but she does it in such a way that both educates and brings people together to create true inclusion. She struts around with her stylish glam canes, and she is authentically her,” Perez added.
RAMPD has two levels of membership. There are community memberships which are free to join and peer vetted professional members who pay yearly fees to get paid opportunities and perks. Lachi hopes to extend RAMPD beyond New York City and grow their new MIX program, the Music Industry Accelerator, which helps professionals go from great to greater. Lachi says that It’s very difficult in this industry to be able to compete with non-disabled counterparts, so this incubator will have everything from mentorships, resume reviews and more.
“I think the most rewarding part so far is that I can confidently say that RAMPD has officially established itself as a leading voice in the music industry,” Lachi said. “It’s such a beautiful thing that’s never been done before. There’s so much stigma, there’s so much shame, there’s so much fear, there’s avoidance and there’s anger — but we have been able to penetrate one of the more superficial industries that cares about appearance.”
In October of 2024, RAMPD and Lachi Music will be featured on a PBS Digital series that celebrates renegade rebels and revolutionaries with disabilities who have shaped America. Under Lachi’s volunteer leadership, RAMPD has also raised over $175,000 in funding since its launch in 2021.
Lachi encourages employers to listen and engage with their community, and to educate themselves on how to better their organizations to be more accessible for people with disabilities and neurodivergence. She’s going to unapologetically infiltrate pop culture with disability narratives through music or her personal style.
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