English 
French As part of the podcast series, “ArtsAbly in Conversation,” Diane Kolin interviewed Lisa Sniderman, a musical theatre playwright, songwriter, ukelele player, and vocalist known by her artist name, Aoede, living in California.
This post presents the resources that Lisa Sniderman mentioned during the conversation.
Lisa Sniderman aka Aoede
Lisa Sniderman (Lis) is a multi-award-winning artist and playwright known by her artist name, Aoede. As a disabled artist, Sniderman creates-and often centers characters with illnesses-to express, foster healing, elevate, empower and advocate for people with chronic illnesses and disabilities. She’s been honored with 100+ awards and accolades for songwriting, albums, films, stage plays, spoken word, books, all while battling a rare, disabling autoimmune disease for 16 years: Dermatomyositis and Common Variable Immuno-Deficiency (CVID). Says Sniderman, “Music and art are my lifelines; I just cannot stop creating.” She kept so busy creating, Sniderman admits she forgot to grieve her illness. She has also been homebound many years, missing live theater, and had a vision of bringing live theater to those like her through filmed stage performances, which sparked “The Grieving Project” audiobook. She’s adapting this audiobook to a stage musical to bring live theatrical experiences to chronically ill and disabled communities.
Visit Lisa Sniderman’s website
Watch the “Keep Shining” video
The Grieving Project
The show is rooted in the concept of radical accessibility and using technology along with the guiding principle of breaking down barriers to live theater and community. My team and I have been developing The Grieving Project to bring live, accessible, immersive theatre experiences to those like me who can’t attend live theatre. My vision and concept rely heavily on integrating innovative tech to help create comparable live and virtual theatrical experiences. This includes: projections, immersive audio and digital experiences-e.g, engaging with the show in community with others in a virtual theatre-a virtual space called The Meadow where our audience can interact with a computer-generated environment and other audience members. Our online audience can come into a virtual theatre in the digital lobby, take a seat in the theatre, and choose their camera angles during a performance like a live audience member would change their gaze, and become a part of the live theatre community.
Visit The Grieving Project’s website
Watch the proof-of-concept video (6 minutes)
Critical Disability Studies (CDS) and the Social Model of Disability
Numerous sources about CDS are available. Here is one form the Critical Disability Studies Collective hosted by University of Minnesota. It answers the following questions: What is Critical Disability Studies (CDS)? Why do CDS? What “counts” as disability? I’m new to thinking about disability as not medical; where do I start? And other related topics.
Visit Critical Disability Studies Collective’s website
RAMPD
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.
Visit Lisa Sniderman’s RAMPD profile
Lachi
Lachi is a singer-songwriter, touring performer, producer, actress, author, disability advocate and cultural activist based in New York City. Lachi’s music is often described as Pop or Dance music. She is legally blind, due to Coloboma. Throughout 2021 and 2022, Lachi established herself as a go-to disability advocate in the music industry, speaking with and performing at places like the White House, the United Nations, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, and the BBC, among other notable appearances. Lachi is the founder of RAMPD. Starting in 2022, RAMPD began partnering with the Recording Academy to help make the Grammy Awards more accessible: working to add a visibly ramped dais, Sign language interpreters, live captioning, and Audio description, American Sign Language and ramps on the red carpet. In February 2024, Lachi was named a 2024 Woman of the Year by USA Today.