RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities) is a professional platform equipping the music and live entertainment industry with disability inclusive tools, programming and strategy. RAMPD also connects the industry to a global directory of peer-vetted music/sound creators and industry professionals with disabilities, neurodivergence and other chronic or mental health conditions, to find source and hire—bringing competitive opportunities, visibility and community to our Professional Members while offering disability inclusion to Industry/Venue partners.
RAMPD's Mission is to amplify Disability Culture, promote equitable inclusion, and advocate for inclusive and accessible spaces in the music and live entertainment industries.
Founded in May of 2021 (and established January 2022) by award-winning recording artist and cultural activist Lachi, RAMPD came about after a public talk between the Recording Academy and several disabled artists revealed the serious lack of visibility, access, and representation for music professionals with disabilities.
RAMPD has since partnered with the GRAMMY's to make music's biggest night more disability-inclusive, helping push for a visible ramp to the stage, ASL, audio description and more at the ceremony, finding visibility in NYTimes and Billboard. In 2022 RAMPD was named a Zero Project Honoree at the United Nations for its innovative solutions, and in 2023 was named a Music Business Association Agent of Change. RAMPD's member development initiatives are fiscally sponsored by the Stacey Park Milbern Disability Justice Fund.
Disability Culture: RAMPD defines Disability Culture as the art, music, words, and creative contributions of people who identify as disabled. It is rooted in creativity, determination and problem solving and is a vibrant counter-response to society's marginalization and oppression, and deserves to be celebrated.
Disability: RAMPD's view on disability is big tent, meaning we are inclusive of and advocates for all forms of disabilities, including neurodivergence, chronic and mental health conditions, all physical, sensory, cognitive and intellectual disabilities, d/Deafness and hard of hearing, rare diseases and the immune compromised. We do not define disability by diagnosis, but by identity, as not everyone is able to receive a proper diagnosis. Furthermore disability identity is not limited to the medical model lens, but expands to both the social and cultural models of disability.
Lachi
Founder/Advisory Board Chair
Lachi is a globally touring performer, charting Dance/Pop music recording artist, award winning social entrepreneur, and GRAMMYs Board Governor. Born legally blind, Lachi uses her platform in music, storytelling and fashion to amplify identity pride and Disability Culture to the mainstream narrative. Named a “dedicated foot soldier for disability pride” by Forbes, Lachi has held talks and shows at the White House, the UN, firms, universities and NGOs worldwide, and has been featured in Essence, Billboard, MTV, Good Morning America and the New York Times for her upbeat and unapologetic brand of disability pride.
Gaelynn Lea
Co-Founder
Gaelynn Lea is an internationally touring recording artist and speaker who won NPR Music's Tiny Desk Contest in 2016. Since then, she has captivated audiences around the world with her haunting original songs and traditional fiddle tunes. A member of the Grammy Board, Gaelynn speaks on Disability Rights and accessibility in the arts, sharing perspective on PBS NewsHour, The Moth Radio Hour, and via two widely-viewed TEDx Talks.
Executive Committee
As seen in:
© Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities LLC 2022