Being a child of immigrants, Lachi didn’t like the idea of ​​overwhelming others for being blind. Though unable to see the picture and reluctant to ask for help, she still graduated in the top percentile of her class, attended top universities, and started her own creative business and established career. . It may seem like a difficult achievement, but for Lachi it was easy, his motto being: “Anything you can do, I can do it blind.” “

Why adopt disability in the hiring strategy

Today, Lachi is an award-winning creative artist, established songwriter, national disability inclusion advocate specializing in the music industry, and sought-after speaker, host and model. Currently co-chair of the GRAMMY Chapter Advocacy Committee in New York, Lachi also founded RAMPD.org, a coalition of record artists and music professionals with disabilities, which hosts a YouTube series. The out of rhythm, interviewing top celebrities with disabilities and performing adventurous stunts, and recently Lachi hosted the PBS Masters segment renegades, celebrating the disabled rebels who helped shape America. On her lively social media, Lachi talks about beauty, self-confidence and disability pride, sharing posed photos wearing stiletto heels and posing with a glittery white stick.

In an industry where disability, race and gender could make success difficult, Lachi surrounds himself with a hardworking and dynamic team that supports his public career. “I attribute my success to my diverse team, a team made up almost exclusively of people who think creatively, have innate autonomy and high-level problem-solving skills. People with disabilities, ”Lachi says.

The US Department of Labor reports that employers who integrate disability into their talent management strategy have a 72% increase in productivity and a 90% increase in employee retention. Employers should consider making it a mission to capitalize on this and reap such benefits.

“As a blind woman, I have always had to find clever ways to assess, navigate and problem-solve in order to keep pace with my non-disabled counterparts. It got me to be really good at a lot of things: web design, audio engineering, copywriting, video editing, really an ability to figure things out despite obstacles. When I got to a point in my career where I needed a full team; the bulb hit. Let’s assemble a team that specializes in autonomous problem solving like myself, who have this ability to figure things out despite (what others may perceive as) obstacles. “

Adopt a disability-focused team

With millions of streams, regular TV, radio, and film placements, and collaborations with Apl.De.Ap, Snoop Dogg, Markus Schulz and others, Lachi’s portrayal surely has to rival that of his non-disabled fellow singers by being a well-oiled machine of large-scale doers and thinkers. The team she has assembled is exactly that: fully established, motivated and passionate, because the majority have a personal interest in the overriding objective of amplifying the culture of disability among the general public.

“The team has what I call ‘Big Dis Energy’: a superior problem-solving ability and an innate sense of self-determination due to identifying as a person with a disability. High level problem solving skills, increased drive and a strong sense of integrity. We’ve kept up the pace, even through the brand-new attention to the PBS pilot, recent releases and the press that followed.

Lachi’s artistic career is currently managed by Ben Price of Harborside Management. Legally blind, Ben sits on the BPI Equality Advisory Group and advocates for inclusion, supported in part by the Arts Council England. Keely Cat Wells, Lachi Talent Representative, is a Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient for her work advocating for disability representation in Hollywood and co-founder of the WeThe15 disability awareness campaign, herself with a handicap not visible.

Lachi’s literary agent Stephanie Hansen, who is unilaterally deaf, has signed major publishing deals, while Arthur, who identifies as neurodiverse, manages operations while also serving as director of operations for the National Association of Executive Search Consultants. JD, also legally blind, takes care of administration, while the social media and outreach team consists of Sal Lopez and Hanan Hirsawa, both legally blind. Hanan also performs audio description for the majority of The out of rhythm series.

When given the right tools, the right training, and a supportive environment with clear goals, employees with disabilities form a highly productive, empowered and creative team.

Disability, Art and Employment

As Lachi carves his way as a leading disability voice in the music industry, Lachi has built a coalition of accredited musicians and disabled entertainment industry professionals who are passionate, creative and highly experienced. However, the stigma surrounding disability has made it difficult for these talented individuals to find and keep employment. A 2019 Attitude is Everything survey found that 70% of artists with disabilities hide their conditions in order to get a concert, 2 in 3 risk their well-being to perform and 1 in 5 are forced to cancel a concert due to lack of access.

“Artists of any type and diversity shouldn’t see such percentages in their work and shouldn’t have much more difficulty getting work than their counterparts,” Lachi said, calling on labels, publishers and publishers. employers of production houses to step up their DCI efforts. to include staff with disabilities, in venues, talent buyers, advertising agencies and media studios to include artists with disabilities and genuinely disabled storytellers in their agendas. She also adds that “industry and foundation boards should also engage leaders with disabilities to help them make well-balanced and informed decisions.”

Through her work with RAMPD, she, along with top creators, artists, engineers and music professionals who identify as a person with a disability, is on a mission to reclaim the disability narrative, seeking to change perceptions of ” inspiring ”to“ competitive ”. .

“I want to see us win GRAMMYs. I want to see us on the board of directors at SONY and Warner Music. I want to see us in the big sessions, cover Billboard, sign some high profile, lucrative deals, and see our stories on VH1. From the green room to the boardroom, we, record artists and music professionals with disabilities, deserve to have access and to have our culture amplified.

Be intentional

Regardless of the industry, it starts with the intention of incorporating talents who identify as disabled into your hiring strategy, as well as a willingness to welcome and foster an inclusive environment beyond a performative checklist.

“I’ll tell you like that,” said Lachi, “If there’s anything you can do, I can do it blindly, imagine what we could accomplish if we had the tools, the training and the skills. opportunity to be equal on a level playing field. “