Inclusive Music And The Barriers We Forget

Inclusive Music And The Barriers We Forget

What happens when a child wants to take part in music, but the instrument itself creates the barrier? In this episode of The Equality Edit, Esi Hardy is joined by Rachel Wolffsohn, General Manager of The OHMI Trust, to explore inclusive music, adapted instruments, and why access is about much more than saying an activity is “open to all.”  Rachel Wolffsohn works with The OHMI Trust, a Birmingham-based charity that supports physically disabled people to take part in music-making through adapted instruments, enabling equipment, and practical support. OHMI also runs OHMI Connect, a free online resource that helps disabled musicians identify instruments and equipment that may work for them.  Rachel shares how her work began through her son’s experience of hemiplegia after a stroke, and the realisation that music-making was far less accessible than expected. The conversation explores why many traditional instruments are designed around the assumption of two hands, ten dexterous fingers, and a standard way of moving.  Esi and Rachel discuss what this means in schools, music services, orchestras, choirs, and performance spaces. They talk about reasonable adjustments, adapted instruments, teacher confidence, assumptions around physical disability, and why inclusion must be planned across the whole experience, not only the lesson itself.  This episode is a practical reminder that accessibility is not about lowering expectations. It is about removing barriers so disabled people can take part, progress, and choose what they want to do.  Signposting: - The OHMI Trust- https://www.ohmi.org.uk/  - OHMI Connect (our website to identify possible instruments for a variety of needs/teaching interests) - https://ohmiconnect.org.uk/  - Nicholas McCarthy - https://nicholasmccarthy.co.uk/  - Tony Memmel - https://www.tonymemmel.com/  - David Nabb - https://www.yamaha.com/artists/davidnabb.html  - Felix Klieser - https://felixklieser.de/en/bio-en  - Open Up Music - https://www.openupmusic.org/  - Drake Music - https://www.drakemusic.org/  - Music of Life - https://musicoflife.org.uk/  Chapter Headings 00:00, It’s All Right To Try 02:09, Why Music Accessibility Still Falls Behind 04:03, When Instrument Design Creates Barriers 07:43, The Difference Between Crisis Support And Everyday Inclusion 09:44, When Accessibility Depends On Parent Capacity 12:48, What Happens When Schools Do Not Know Where To Start 14:24, Making Music Lessons More Accessible In Practice 20:17, Challenging Assumptions About Disabled Potential 23:19, Schools, Equality Duties And Inclusive Provision 27:51, Why Inclusion Is More Than Giving Somebody A Different Activity 30:51, How Accessibility Benefits The Whole Classroom 35:36, Listening To Disabled Children And Parents 40:34, Moving From “Difficult Behaviour” To Barrier Reduction 47:12, Practical Advice For Teachers And Education Leaders 1:05:14, Creating More Inclusive Pathways Into Music FOLLOW US LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/esihardy/ Newsletter - https://2dykvk.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2-mRmxbD6QkKL0_px3pDo4A Celebrating Disability website - https://celebratingdisability.co.uk Equality in the workplace blog - https://celebratingdisability.co.uk/the-blog/ #CelebratingDisability #LeaderInterviews #TheEqualityEdit #InclusionInTheWorkplace

Disability Pride, Community and the Disability Movement

Esi is joined by Berni Vincent, a disabled activist, artist, and long-standing figure in the disability movement. Berni shares her journey from growing up excluded and isolated, to becoming proud to be a disabled person through connection, community, and collective action. Along the way, she reflects on how meeting other disabled people shifted her thinking and sense of identity, something that also influenced Esi’s own approach to disability. The conversation explores what inclusion really looks like in practice, the difference between meaningful support and token gestures, and why co-production still matters. There is also a clear thread around what has changed, and what has been lost, as spaces for disabled people have become more fragmented and more digital. Berni also shares how her experiences have shaped her art today and how creativity has become another way to express identity, politics, and lived experience. Signposting and resources Berni Vincent’s art  https://outsidein.org.uk/galleries/berni-vincent/ [https://outsidein.org.uk/galleries/berni-vincent/] Outside In A platform supporting artists who experience barriers to the mainstream art world. https://outsidein.org.uk/ [https://outsidein.org.uk/] Under Marc’s leadership, Outside In has become a trailblazer in the art world, supporting thousands of artists who face barriers due to health, disability, social circumstance, or isolation. With over 4,000 artists showcased on its digital platform, more than 80 exhibitions (physical and online) and a growing number of outsider and non-traditional artists represented in the charity’s own Collection, Outside In has become a leading voice for artists outside the mainstream.   Chapter headings 00:00 Why inclusion is not only about money 00:31 Introducing Berni Vincent, activist and artist 04:17 What it means to be proud to be a disabled person 07:54 Finding identity through other disabled people 10:54 Early meetings and shifting away from medical identity 16:18 Growing up around political change 19:26 Everyday barriers and shared experiences 24:29 Getting involved in the disability movement 29:17 What is missing now, peer support and connection 31:26 Online vs real world spaces 34:53 Technology, access and hidden barriers 37:38 Rights, law and human connection 43:16 Discovering art and Outside In 47:44 Disability, identity and creativity 51:32 Advice for organisations, co-produce and be human 55:07 Final reflections

Where Inclusion Really Happens

What starts as a conversation between two long standing colleagues quickly opens into something deeper about identity, leadership, friendship, and what it really takes to create inclusive cultures.  Content Warning: This episode includes occasional strong language.  Joanne Lockwood, founder of SEE Change Happen and The Trans Inclusion Toolkit, reflects on building a business while navigating gender transition, and how that journey shaped her thinking far beyond one area of inclusion. Rather than staying in a single lane, Joanne talks about what it means to grow into broader EDI work, and why lived experience alone is not enough without reflection, learning, and strategy.  The conversation moves through personal stories, internalised ableism, friendship, advocacy, and the emotional load of constantly having to explain yourself. Joanne and Esi explore what it means to show up in the world when identity is always being read, questioned, or judged, and why safe spaces matter when the rest of the world can feel noisy and demanding.  Alongside the personal reflections, the episode turns to leadership. Joanne makes a strong case for investing in line managers and leaders, not only to understand inclusion in theory, but to develop emotional intelligence, cultural intelligence, psychological safety, and the confidence to respond well to people as individuals. The thread running through the whole conversation is clear: inclusive workplaces are not built through policy alone, they are shaped in the everyday moments where people feel seen, supported, and understood.  This is for leaders, line managers, EDI professionals, and anyone trying to build working cultures where people do not have to fight to be recognised as fully human before they can thrive.  SIGNPOSTING AND RESOURCES  SEE Change Happen.  Joanne’s main consultancy, focused on helping organisations build more inclusive cultures and stronger leadership practice.  Link: https://seechangehappen.co.uk/ [https://seechangehappen.co.uk/]  Joanne Lockwood.  Joanne’s personal website, with speaking, consultancy, and wider information about her work in inclusion and leadership.  Link: https://joannelockwood.co.uk/ [https://joannelockwood.co.uk/]  The Trans Inclusion Toolkit.  A practical resource designed to help organisations approach trans inclusion with more confidence, clarity, and care.  Link: https://thetransinclusiontoolkit.co.uk/ [https://thetransinclusiontoolkit.co.uk/]  Pam Burrows, People Booster https://www.pamburrows.com/ Robbie Williams Quote: 'There's no point regretting things. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. Life's too short to worry about things I've said.’  FOLLOW US LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/esihardy/ Newsletter - https://2dykvk.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2-mRmxbD6QkKL0_px3pDo4A Celebrating Disability website - https://celebratingdisability.co.uk Equality in the workplace blog #CelebratingDisability #LeaderInterviews #TheEqualityEdit #InclusionInTheWorkplace

Psychological Safety, Not Perfect Answers

A conversation that feels like two colleagues picking up mid sentence, and lands on a clear message. Inclusion becomes real when it is built into everyday culture, not parked in a strategy document. Esi is joined by Andrew Murray, Head of Learning and Development at Homes for Students. Over four and a half years of partnership, Homes for Students has shaped a DEIB approach that starts with colleagues, then carries through to residents, with the same standard of care on both sides. Andrew shares what it takes to move away from tick box thinking. It is not about having all the answers. It is about building the confidence to ask better questions, respond well to feedback, and keep learning without fear of getting it wrong. The episode explores what belonging looks like in practice, from LGBTQ+ psychological safety at work, to using colleague led storytelling in Together Is Better Time, and designing student experiences that recognise sensory overload, uncertainty, and access needs from day one. There is a strong practical thread throughout. Use data to prioritise, involve the people impacted, and keep inclusion evolving as the world changes. The message is simple. Culture is built through what happens repeatedly, not what happens once. This is for learning leaders, EDI professionals, people leaders, and anyone responsible for workplace culture who wants inclusion to show up in language, systems, and everyday decisions. Signposting and resources Homes for Students https://abouthomesforstudents.com/diversity-and-inclusion/ Inclusive Employers https://www.inclusiveemployers.co.uk/ State of Mind Sport https://www.stateofmindsport.org/ FOLLOW US LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/esihardy/ Newsletter - https://2dykvk.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2-mRmxbD6QkKL0_px3pDo4A Celebrating Disability website - https://celebratingdisability.co.uk Celebrating Disability Blog [https://celebratingdisability.co.uk/the-blog/] #CelebratingDisability #LeaderInterviews #TheEqualityEdit #InclusionInTheWorkplace

Accessibility Beyond The E-Learning Content

A conversation that starts with long time colleague energy, and ends with a rallying call to stop treating accessibility like a nice to have.  Susi Miller, founder of eLaHub and author of Designing Accessible Learning Content, shares what changed when accessibility regulations became a catalyst, and why learning content has to catch up with other industries that already treat accessibility as innovation.  The episode moves between practical reality and lived impact, including Esi’s experience of being refused a reasonable adjustment in education, and how “equal treatment” can still be discrimination. Susi also shares the moment she realised she had overlooked speech access needs in a live session, and what that taught her about designing with flexibility, not assumptions.  The conversation lands on a hard truth. If learning excludes disabled people, it cannot be called excellent. When as much as 25 percent of an audience can be impacted, accessibility stops being a technical detail and becomes a leadership responsibility.  This is for learning leaders, content creators, EDI professionals, and anyone building training who wants accessibility to move from compliance to culture, and from intention to everyday practice.  SIGNPOSTING AND RESOURCES  eLaHub, Designing Accessible Learning Content Programme: A self access programme showing what accessible learning can look like, built to practice what it teaches.  Link: https://www.elahub.net/sp/designing-accessible-learning-content-programme/ (eLaHub)  eLa1000 Accessibility Assessment: A free assessment tool to benchmark learning content accessibility and get a report on where things stand.  Link: https://ela1000assessment.elahub.net/ (ela1000assessment.elahub.net)  Designing Accessible Learning Content, Second Edition, Kogan Page.  Susi’s book, written to translate WCAG into practical steps for learning content design.  Kogan Page Link: https://www.koganpage.com/hr-learning-development/designing-accessible-learning-content-9781398618206 (koganpage.com)  Amazon Link: https://amzn.eu/d/04VsoHo2   Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, WCAG 2.2, W3C: The standards discussed throughout, including what changed in WCAG 2.2.  Link: https://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG22/ (W3C)  UK Public Sector Accessibility Regulations 2018, legislation: The regulations Susi describes as a catalyst for accessible digital content standards.  Link: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/952/contents (Legislation.gov.uk)  European Accessibility Act, European Commission: The wider direction of travel discussed, where accessibility becomes the default, not the exception.  Link: https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/disability/european-accessibility-act-eaa_en (European Commission)  Influences Mentioned By Susi: Haben Girma, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/habengirma   Lainey Feingold, website: https://www.lflegal.com/   Léonie Watson, LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/lwatson   Molly Burke, Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/%40MollyBurkeOfficial   Sinéad Burke, LinkedIn: https://ie.linkedin.com/in/thesineadburke  Jenny Lay Flurrie, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennylf     FOLLOW US LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/esihardy/ Newsletter - https://2dykvk.share-eu1.hsforms.com/2-mRmxbD6QkKL0_px3pDo4A Celebrating Disability website - https://celebratingdisability.co.uk Equality in the workplace blog #CelebratingDisability #LeaderInterviews #TheEqualityEdit #InclusionInTheWorkplace