How The Grammys Got Accessibility Right, And What They Could Have Done Better

Lachi, a blind award-winning vocalist, writer and community leader, has dedicated her platform, career and craft to amplifying disability culture, promoting inclusion, highlighting intersectionality and advocating for accessibility in the music industry.

For the recent 64th Grammy Awards held in Las Vegas at The MGM Grand Garden Arena, Lachi and an organization she founded called RAMPD, were influential in ensuring that accessibility was not forgotten. Whilst some landmark moments were made, access was still not equitably incorporated to create adequate inclusion for Deaf & Disabled people at the event or for those watching at home.

Lachi, who is an EDM recording artist, songwriter and creator, boasts millions of streams and a half dozen awards. Lachi has been consistently releasing music since signing her first deal with an EMI imprint in 2010. Having collaborated with heavyweights in the Dance industry like Markus Schulz, in the EDM/Pop sector like apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas, and in the hip-hop sector like Styles P. Lachi’s music has debuted on national Dance charts, major editorial lists, and have found support from Armin van Buuren, Andrew Rayal and Hardwell.

“Coming up as a young aspiring black blind artist, I, my parents, my friends, my teachers, we didn’t see or hear anyone who looked like me or had my experiences on TV, radio, online. So everyone encouraged me to keep my passions a hobby, keep my dreams on forever-hold, and pursue a “safe” non-creative career. So I swallowed my dreams of becoming a big music star and started at a 9 to 5 desk job. Unable to continue stomaching the monotony and the lack of will to self-advocate, I quit to pursue music,” says Lachi.

When it came to auditions, rehearsals, sessions and gigs Lachi mentions that she was “sighted passing”—so as to say Lachi could hide her disability. “I did, fearing I’d be viewed as less competitive or would make folks feel uncomfortable. This non-disclosure led me to trip in studios, missing cues at gigs, and left me lacking networking, hindering critical career growth opportunity. But as I found myself working in more established rooms, establishing my own name, the self-confidence brought forth the eventual “coming out” about my blindness, and that “coming out” led to a success of creative purpose far beyond my girl-hood dreams. But it took years swimming alone against waves of self and societal doubt, that I aim to crush for future generations, through amplifying disability visibility in the music industry,” states Lachi.

Namel “Tap Waterz” Norris, Lyricist, Disability Advocate and founding member of RAMPD also attended this years Grammy Awards. Norris happens to be a wheelchair user and says, “It is important that events like the Grammys strive to go accessible beyond compliance. Music is the bridge to all communities no matter one’s race or disability, and as one of the most important platforms in music, the Grammys should and needs to go over the top to make sure everyone is welcome, included and celebrated.”

Precious Perez, Singer, Educator and Membership Chair at RAMPD who is blind and again, attended the event says, “compliance is the bare minimum. Inclusion at its core is not only a seat at the table, but a voice in the conversation. Disability is diversity, and accessibility is part of universal design. It is imperative that award shows such as the Grammys set a precedent for change by listening to the true needs of people with disabilities and acting on them, because that is true inclusion.” Perez, explained, “My experience as a blind person at the Grammys was as it is for most concerts I attend. There was no way for me to know what was happening visually, so my focus was on the music and information I could glean from the presenters that were introduced and the performers that were announced. It would have been beneficial for self-description to be included into the show, as it would have enabled me as a blind viewer to get a sense of the visuals while also getting a glimpse of personalities and character, things sighted people can glimpse while observing how people dress and interact. Overall, I had a positive experience, but there is room for improvement when it comes to accessibility, and I hope to experience further change beyond compliance in the years to come.”In an interview with Lachi, I got to learn about her experience working with the Grammys on accessibility implementation, with the hopes of creating not only a more accessible and disability inclusive show, but just an overall better experience for everyone attending and watching from home.

How did you come to work with the Grammys on accessibility?

I became active in the New York chapter in 2019, after attending a “District Advocate Day”—a day where thousands of members speak to their local congress people on initiatives concerning creator rights. Impressed with my knowledge on the issues, the then Co-Chairs of the advocacy committee invited me to join the committee for the 2020 term (a spot generally reserved for Board members).

I came into the committee Disability first, speaking on access issues no one in the room had ever considered before. In April 2021, I worked with committee chair Sharon Tapper to spear-headed and eventually moderated one of the chapter’s most visible events in recent history – Music Purpose and Community – where prominent musicians in the disability community (including Saidah Garret, Gaelynn Lea, Namel Norris and Gooch) spoke with Valeisha Butterfield Jones (then VP of DEI) on how the Academy can better support creators intersectioned with disability. This program aired nationally, opening up mainstream conversation.

In 2021 I became Co-Chair of the advocacy committee, leading group talks to the senate and congressional members while helping implement new local initiatives to engage Community Boards.

By January 2021, I founded RAMPD.org – a coalition of accredited Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities, along with VP and co-founder Gaelynn Lea, and about a dozen established founding members. Fiscally sponsored, RAMPD raises funds to help with programming and calls to action that help amplify Disability Culture, promote inclusion and advocate for accessibility in the music and entertainment industry.

RAMPD partnered with the WAVY Awards to create an inclusive award ceremony: including easy ramp access, on-stage ASL, live and burned-in captioning. The WAVY’s is also the first-ever award show to integrate self-description fully. RAMPD has also partnered with other major music firms like Women In Music, American Association of Independent Music and NIVA to help ensure the “A” and has most recently worked with the Academy to amplify disability visibility and accessibility at the 64th GRAMMY’s.

What were the accessibility commitments you were advocating for?

Having felt the genuineness in a commitment to change by Valeisha Butterfield Jones and Harvey Mason Jr., and which also extended to Ryan Butler, I felt encouraged to send over my initial ask (annotated with direct references for example or hire) on “Ramping the GRAMMYs” eventually bringing RAMPD fully into the fold. The ask:

• Visible RAMP to the stage (preferably built in)
• Visible ASL interpreters (In-person and for remote viewers)
• Live Captioning
• Live Audio Description
• Self-Description – (written into the script or not) – i.e. “I’m Lachi, she/her, and I’m a Black woman with long beautiful cornrows.”
• On Screen visibility of disabled artists (presenters, performers)
• Below the line hiring of disabled staff / crew / consultants
• Inclusion of an organization amplifying disability culture in the Inclusion Rider
• Publicity/Press of the accessibility
• (later added) Social Media accessibility (captioning, alt text, camel case hashtags, inclusive messaging)

What didn’t happen at this year’s Grammys that you wish did?

There were a lot of first-evers on GRAMMY night for accessibility: a built in ramp, ASL interpreters, and live audio-description and captioning, mainly thanks to the many sit downs between RAMPD, its affiliates and the Academy.

Some opportunities: First and foremost, publicity and press are a great tool for major organizations to amplify disability culture and get folks excited. Allowing the public to celebrate the forthcoming built-in ramp would have allowed folks to recognize it as such on the night of, but really would have allowed the disability community the opportunity to feel included leading up to the show. While such access should be commonplace, and venues certainly shouldn’t seek out public pat on the back…well, frankly, I think they should. I think venues, events, ceremonies, should be super proud of their disability inclusivity and share that fact on the rooftops. Open themselves up to the potential criticisms and view them as opportunities to better their game.

There was sign language interpretation present which is awesome! However, the ASL was not visible to the viewers at home. Simple solutions would be the very impactful inclusion of an ASL person visible on the stage, or the very effective picture-in-picture ASL box on-screen or on a streaming option.

There were also a few missed opportunities for on-screen representation that would have been absolutely beautiful. Hiring on of the many disabled Voice Over talents (many of whom are well accredited) to announce/voice-over the show, including at least one of the dozens of disabled GRAMMY members in the “I am the Academy” video. I would have really loved to see Gaelynn Lea on that. Well-spoken and proud of her visible disability, she would have been such a perfect ambassador.

What was your personal experience as a Blind Woman at the event?

My manager and sighted companion helped us RAMPD folk navigate the frenzied maze. Without him, I’m not sure we’d have been able to do so independently and have the same experience. Great example, I bumped into Mike Tyson during a commercial break. To me he was just some guy in the way. It wasn’t until my manager yelled out “That’s Mike Tyson!” that I heard everyone else yelling it to. Now I can forever say, I crossed paths with the champ. I’m super grateful to the Academy for the complimentary ADA seating tickets offered RAMPD.

To finish, Lachi mentioned, “RAMPD and affiliates such as Roy Samuelsen and Amber G Productions, consulted and advised the academy, spanning several months to help get GRAMMY night accessible beyond compliance. While we are thrilled to have been able to educate, amplify and serve the music community, that level of service is a just a lot for artists, producers and creative support staff with disabilities to have to take on–taking us away from our art, and from figuring out ways to keep our lights on in a society built to keep our lights off. This is why it is imperative for major firms, event spaces and organizations to hire a Disability Culture/Accessibility consultant or coordinator who is on staff permanently.”

Gaelynn Lea, a Songwriter, Violinist and VP of RAMPD says, “As cool as it’s been, disability inclusion work should not be unpaid, and I don’t want big organizations to grow too comfortable with free advice when these are issues they should have already known about. Especially since disabled people are so often untapped in the workplace. Although I like the idea of DEI taking on accessibility, it seems like they often don’t have much knowledge about what the disability community wants or needs. I love that the Academy is open to learning and growing, but I feel like they need a disabled person on their team too.”

You can learn more about RAMPD at www.rampd.org