Culture is often defined as the shared values, traditions, food, clothing, and art that characterize and celebrate a group of people and are passed down through generations. We see cultures amplified across regional communities, such as southern culture or west coast culture, or across ethnic or racial communities, such as Latin culture or Jewish culture.
However, when thinking about a disability culture, or the shared values of people with disabilities, people might tend to think of compliance laws, medical needs, or charitable models. But those concepts aren’t cultural celebrations of the Disability community. Many people aren’t aware of the Disability community, and with that community comes a shared identity pride.
RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities)—a disabled-led platform equipping the music industry with the tools and programming needed to support music creators and professionals with disabilities, neurodivergence, and other chronic and mental health conditions as well as a global directory of said music professionals—also works to cultivate a power-building community while amplifying the notion of Disability Culture. RAMPD defines Disability Culture as the art, music, words, perspectives, and creative contributions of people who identify as having any form of disability. Disability Culture is rooted in creativity, determination, resilience, and problem solving. It encompasses our heroes, our evolving language, our powerful stories, and our unending Disability joy. Disability Culture is a vibrant counter-response to society’s marginalization and erasure, and it deserves to be celebrated.
As Hip Hop has elevated Black culture and country music has elevated rural culture, RAMPD works to elevate Disability Culture and shift the social narratives on disability by harnessing the power of music. In honor of 35 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act, some of the professional music creators, performers, and industry executives in our RAMPD professional community came together to weigh in on what Disability Culture and Disability joy means to them. Here is what they had to say:
How do you define Disability Culture?
“The difference between the disabled population and the Disability community, is that with community comes shared perspectives, identity pride, and culture. Disability Culture is that wit and drive that comes with navigating a society not built for us, the language and connections that offer dignity and empathy in a world that excludes us, the clothing adapted for our bodies and devices adapted for our independence, our poems, our dance, our heralded stories of trial and triumph, our heroes, our disabled ancestries, and the way we live, love, learn, and thrive, overcoming—not our disability—but society’s inaccessibility.” – Lachi / Award-winning recording artist, Founder/CEO, RAMPD, Recording Academy / GRAMMYs Trustee
“It is resilience forged in the fires of exclusion, turned into a force that redefines the world. It is the language of resistance, the art of adaptation, and the unapologetic celebration of diverse bodies and minds. It is the rhythm of ASL poetry, the defiance of a wheelchair dancer carving space on the stage, the ingenuity of adaptive technology, and the laughter in spaces where ableism has no foothold. It is interdependence, not as weakness, but as a radical act of community. It is knowing that accessibility is not a privilege—it is a birthright.” – Wawa Snipe / Actor, Rapper, Sign language artist
“It’s the shared experiences, creativity, and pride that come with being disabled. We shape culture, and that’s powerful.” – Jay Manuel / Music producer
“It’s being part of an open community, one that has taught me that I AM worthy, and that I am capable of amazing things, even if I can’t work a 40-hour work week.” – Shelly Hartman / Music industry professional
“It’s owning who you are, loud and proud. It’s walking into rooms where no one expected you to be and making them remember your name.” – Austin Halls / Pop recording artist
“It’s a society in which I am included for what I am, a musician, a teacher, an activist.” – Diane Kolin / Vocalist, Musicologist
“It’s the power to know that whatever disability you may have, you are not alone.” – Andre Louis / Music producer, Musician
How do you define Disability Joy?
“Disability joy is a form of resistance and self-acceptance, challenging the notion that one’s Disability identity solely encompasses grief or grievance—as opposed to joy, wins and strength. It is an unapologetic celebration of Disability Culture, pride, community or expression, is the perfect antidote to erasure, and works to render exclusion powerless. “ – Lachi
“It is all of the prosthetic eye jokes I make, the Glam Canes I pose with, and the ease with which I discuss my anxiety and depression. It’s sharing my story and uplifting the stories of the community through my artistry, representing all of the identities that make me who I am.” – Precious Perez / Singer-songwriter, President, RAMPD
“It’s dancing barefoot in my studio, resting without guilt, laughing with my comunidad, and building something meaningful even when my body feels heavy. It’s the soft rebellion of choosing pleasure, peace, and purpose in a world that tries to define us by pain.” – Natalis Rubero / Recording Artist
“The freedom to exist as we are—to create, connect, innovate, and thrive on our own terms, embracing the richness of our identities and communities.” – Aoede / Award-winning artist, Playwright
“Living out loud and being accepted exactly as I am.” – Rev Chris Wylie / Songwriter, Treasurer, RAMPD
“Embracing my journey, celebrating every step forward, and expressing my best self through my art.” – Orod / Singer songwriter
“Even on difficult days, when I put on my Mariachi suit, I step into my power and leave the pain behind. Disability joy shapes who I am and the passion I bring to every stage.” – Ivan Estrella de Los Angeles / Mariachi Artist
“It is the exhilaration of reclaiming narratives, of turning ‘you can’t’ into ‘watch me.’ It is love, connection, art, culture, rebellion, and resilience wrapped in the glow of knowing that disability is not a tragedy; it is a way of being, worthy of celebration.” – Wawa Snipe