What happens when a musician stops trying to fit into an industry and starts changing the culture instead? This week on Pushing Forward with Alycia, Alycia Anderson welcomes award-winning recording artist, author, media personality and disability culture leader Lachi for a joyful, candid and wildly entertaining conversation about music, disability pride, representation, identity and liberation. Lachi is the founder of RAMPD, a UN-recognized organization advancing disability inclusion across the music industry, author of I Identify as Blind, host of PBS Renegades and creator of Glam Canes. Her work uses music, fashion, humor, storytelling and pop culture to challenge the way disability has traditionally been represented. But Lachi’s path into disability advocacy began with something deeply personal. Growing up with low vision, she often avoided using the cane and glasses she needed because she feared being treated differently or losing opportunities in the music industry. When her vision changed dramatically, something unexpected happened: instead of making her life smaller, it pushed her to start living bigger. Lachi began checking experiences off her bucket list, pursuing music more intentionally and eventually embracing the disability identity she had once tried to hide. And something else changed. Once she started asking for the access she needed, she discovered that accommodations did not make her less competitive. They helped her perform better. That realization became part of a much larger mission. Today, Lachi is helping bring disability culture into music, fashion, entertainment and mainstream pop culture while opening doors for other disabled creators along the way. Alycia and Lachi talk about everything from sparkling mobility devices and disability fashion to performing with legendary musicians, meeting Stevie Wonder and unexpectedly jamming with Wynton Marsalis and the White House band. They also dive into Lachi’s new children’s music album, Magnificent, a collaborative project featuring dozens of artists and disability community members. The album celebrates different ways of moving, thinking and communicating without watering down disability language or infantilizing young listeners. At the center of the conversation is a message that applies far beyond disability: The parts of ourselves we are taught to hide can become some of our greatest sources of creativity, connection and power. Lachi reminds listeners that disability culture is not simply about overcoming barriers. It is art. Music. Perspective. Adaptation. Innovation. Community. Pride. And it deserves a much bigger stage. In this episode, Alycia and Lachi explore: 🎭 Disability culture and what it means to celebrate it 🌟 Moving from hiding disability to living visibly and proudly ♿ Why accommodations can improve performance and opportunity ✨ Disability pride, identity and unmasking 🎤 Using pop culture to challenge disability stigma and erasure 💎 Fashion, Glam Canes and mobility devices as expressions of identity 🎬 Why disability representation belongs in mainstream entertainment 🎶 Lachi’s work through RAMPD and disability inclusion in the music industry 🤝 Collaborating with disabled artists and creators 🎺 Meeting Stevie Wonder and performing with Wynton Marsalis 👑 The creation of Lachi’s album Magnificent 🧒 Teaching children disability pride without infantilizing disability 🚀 Creating larger stages and bringing the disability community along ❤️ Why belonging does not have to be earned 🔥 And the power of celebrating the parts of yourself society tells you to reject In Lachi’s Words “Don't just embrace the parts society rejects. Celebrate them.” ~ Lachi Music “Disability culture belongs center stage.” ~ Lachi Music 🎧 Episode 158 Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome to Pushing Forward with Alycia00:33 – What happens when a musician stops trying to fit in and starts changing the industry?02:48 – What is disability culture?03:39 – Celebrating disability through fashion, identity and Glam Canes08:04 – From hiding blindness to living visibly and proudly09:07 – The day Lachi woke up blind10:42 – Choosing to take the wheel of your own life11:03 – How accommodations actually led to more opportunities12:08 – “It’s not the condition. It’s the conditioning.”15:46 – Why Lachi builds everything in community16:51 – Creating Magnificent with disabled artists and collaborators18:35 – Performing with Wynton Marsalis at the White House19:44 – The unforgettable Stevie Wonder story21:27 – Creating music around different ways we communicate22:41 – Why Magnificent is children’s music that doesn’t infantilize disability 24:03 – What Lachi wants today’s eight-year-olds to know 25:22 – “You belong just because you are.” 25:59 – What’s next for Lachi? Bigger stages and bigger impact 26:51 – Bringing the disability community onto the stage with her 28:18 – How to connect, collaborate and work with Lachi 30:41 – Glam Canes, wheelchair bling and one future collaboration 👀 31:14 – Lachi’s Pushing Forward Moment 32:34 – Closing 🔗 Connect with Lachi Lachi Music — Explore Lachi’s music, speaking, advocacy, media work, upcoming appearances, and latest projects. Listen to Magnificent — Stream Lachi’s children’s album celebrating disability pride, identity, belonging, self-expression, and difference. LinkedIn — Follow Lachi’s work in disability inclusion, entertainment, advocacy, leadership, and culture. Instagram — Follow Lachi for music, fashion, disability culture, behind-the-scenes moments, and advocacy. YouTube — Watch Lachi’s music, interviews, performances, advocacy content, and media appearances. TikTok — Catch short-form videos featuring Lachi’s music, personality, disability pride, and cultural commentary. Facebook — Keep up with Lachi’s latest news, performances, releases, and community updates. RAMPD — Learn more about the organization Lachi founded to advance disability inclusion and opportunity across the music industry. Glam Canes — Discover Lachi’s fashion-forward approach to mobility devices, turning canes into bold expressions of style, independence, and disability pride. 🔗 Connect with Alycia Alycia Anderson — Explore Alycia’s speaking, advocacy, accessibility work, podcast, resources, and latest projects. Book Alycia to Speak — Bring Alycia’s keynotes and disability inclusion programs to your organization, conference, or event. Pushing Forward with Alycia — Listen to more conversations about disability, accessibility, inclusion, identity, leadership, and belonging. LinkedIn — Follow Alycia’s work in disability inclusion, accessibility, leadership, speaking, and advocacy. Instagram — Follow along for disability advocacy, speaking, lifestyle, travel, and behind-the-scenes moments. YouTube — Watch podcast episodes, keynote clips, accessibility conversations, and disability inclusion content. Accessibility Check™ — Explore practical accessibility resources designed to help organizations build more inclusive workplaces, experiences, and systems. Listen. Subscribe. Review. Share. Find Pushing Forward with Alycia wherever you get your podcasts, and watch the full conversation on YouTube. If this episode made you think differently about disability, identity or belonging, share it with someone in your community. Open hearts. Clear paths. Let's go. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
