Disability Inclusion: Required
There is no equity without disability. Featuring a compelling mix of personal stories and practical insights from the disability community and the philanthropic sector, each episode of the Disability Inclusion: Required podcast is a call to action for philanthropy to meaningfully work toward disabil...
Recent Episodes
31
July 7, 2026
Disability Inclusion: Required - Episode 31 - The Cost of Anti-DEI Policies with Dr. Sami Schalk
This episode of “Disability Inclusion Required” examines how contemporary attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are reshaping funding, policy, and everyday life for Black and disabled communities, while also exploring pleasure as a political and survival practice. Our podcast theme music is by Andre Louis and Precious Perez. Thank you to Recording Artists And Music Professionals With Disabilities (RAMPD) for connecting these talented disabled musicians with the Disability & Philanth
30
May 26, 2026
Disability Inclusion: Required - Episode 30 - Parenting While Disabled
Did you miss us? This episode of “Disability Inclusion: Required” centers on the experiences of disabled parents, featuring blind foster/adoptive parent and employment services director Melissa Lomax and autistic scholar-activist and adoptive parent Dr. Morénike Giwa Onaiwu. Our podcast theme music is by Andre Louis and Precious Perez. Thank you to Recording Artists And Music Professionals With Disabilities (RAMPD) for connecting these talented disabled musicians with the Disability & Philanthr
29
Feb. 28, 2026
Disability Inclusion: Required - Episode 29 - Black Disabled Excellence
In honor of the 100-year commemoration of Negro History Week, now celebrated as Black History Month, Disability Inclusion: Required is passing the mic over to Black Disabled leaders. This episode features Marq Mitchell, Heather Watkins, Natasha Nelson, and Mel Brown. Each of them share a 5-minute story about the power of your work, or a 5-minute reflection on what it means to lead liberatory projects while Black and disabled. Our podcast theme music is by Andre Louis and Precious Perez. Thank
28
Jan. 26, 2026
Disability Inclusion: Required - Episode 28 - In Conversation with Lachi
This episode of Disability Inclusion: Required features Grammy-nominated artist and disability culture champion Lachi in conversation with host Justice Shorter. Lachi is an award-winning music executive, host of PBS series Renegades, Recording Academy national trustee, and producer of a Grammy-nominated album. Born legally blind, she created the UN-recognized organization RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities), a consultancy group that collaborates on disability-incl
27
Dec. 27, 2025
Disability Inclusion: Required - Episode 27 - Tis The Season To Celebrate
Sandy Ho, the Executive Director of the Disability and Philanthropy Forum, is interviewed about the disability community's collective victories in 2025 and her hopes for the future. Our podcast theme music is by Andre Louis and Precious Perez. Thank you to Recording Artists And Music Professionals With Disabilities (RAMPD) for connecting these talented disabled musicians with the Disability & Philanthropy Forum.
26
Oct. 15, 2025
Disability Inclusion: Required - Episode 26 - Disability and Healing Justice
This conversation explores the principles of healing justice and its connections to disability justice, highlighting the importance of collective care and the need to challenge individualistic and curative models of care that perpetuate harm and oppression. The speakers discuss how care practices observed by communities of color have been criminalized, and they provide examples of how funders can intervene to support collective trauma transformation. They also address the challenges of adopting