Lachi: The Singer Redefining Travel Accessibility with Style and Advocacy
With approximately 12 million Americans over the age of 40 experiencing vision loss, and an additional million legally blind, the need for inclusive travel experiences is paramount. Singer and speaker Lachi is leading the charge, advocating for dignity and autonomy for travelers with disabilities – one stylish step at a time.
Lachi, whose full name is Melissa Ulachi Ulanma Offoha, is a globally touring performer who navigates the world with a vibrant, bedazzled cane she affectionately calls her “glam cane.” More than just a mobility aid, the cane serves as a conversation starter and a powerful symbol of self-expression. “I am a globally touring performer and speaker, so heavy travel is a part of everyday life for me,” she told USA TODAY.
Born with colomba, a condition affecting fetal eye development, Lachi’s vision has progressively worsened, leaving her fully blind in one eye and partially blind in the other. Despite these challenges, she embraces her identity as a Black woman with a disability, using her platform to break stigmas and inspire others. She is also the founder and CEO of Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities, an organization dedicated to bringing disability culture to the forefront of the music industry.
Beyond Compliance: The True Meaning of Accessible Travel
Lachi emphasizes that true travel accessibility extends far beyond simply meeting ADA compliance standards. It’s about enabling disabled individuals to experience the world with the same freedom, spontaneity, and dignity as anyone else. “True travel accessibility means disabled people moving through the world with the same agency, spontaneity and style as anyone else – being able to experience the culture, histories and humanity that travel has to offer,” she explained.
This perspective was recently highlighted during a trip to Denver with accessible travel company Wheel the World, where Lachi shared her insights on the realities of traveling with vision impairment. She recalls a particularly memorable trip to St. Petersburg, Russia, in 2019, describing it as feeling like “being in a live snow globe,” and noting the kindness and curiosity she encountered from locals.
However, Lachi acknowledges that accessibility remains inconsistent, even within the same country. Her experience touring Peru, where Lima was highly accessible but other cities presented significant challenges, illustrates this point. She describes herself as a “hustler,” proactively finding ways to self-accommodate, utilizing tools like smart glasses, voice-activated apps, and a sighted companion when needed. For each performance, she sends an Accessibility document outlining her specific needs to clients.
Challenging Perceptions and Inspiring Change
Lachi actively challenges societal perceptions of disability, particularly the tendency to portray disabled individuals as fragile or tragic. In her song, “The Bag,” she celebrates the success and ambition of people with disabilities, asserting that they are “lawyers, parents, athletes, CEOs, and yes — musicians out here getting that BAG.” You can find her sharing this message on Instagram: [Insert Instagram URL here].
She also actively pushes back against infantilizing language and practices, such as the term “differently abled” and “handler’s syndrome,” where people address a companion instead of the disabled person directly. She recounted an instance at an airport where an airline employee asked her companion if he needed assistance, rather than addressing her directly, responding with a playful challenge: “If I needed help, I have no trouble charming you into buying me a whole drink first.”
Lachi is currently working on a book, “I Identify as Blind,” scheduled for release by Penguin Random House in 2026, further solidifying her commitment to advocacy and education.
Practical Tips for Visually Impaired Travelers
Based on her extensive travel experience, Lachi offers several practical tips for visually impaired travelers:
- Give yourself extra time: Allowing ample time reduces stress during navigation.
- Plan ahead: Researching destinations and contacting hotels or airports in advance can provide valuable information and facilitate accommodations.
- Find your tools for independence: Utilize assistive technologies like smart glasses, GPS-integrated phone apps, and, of course, a reliable cane.
Lachi emphasizes that difficulties in travel are often not about blindness itself, but about a lack of awareness and access to the necessary tools. She hopes to see more accessible hotel rooms that don’t sacrifice aesthetics or luxury, believing that accessibility should never mean “sterile or second-rate.”
Ultimately, Lachi’s message is simple: travelers with disabilities want dignity and autonomy. “That’s what every traveler, non-traveler – in fact every human – wants,” she said. “To be able to get with friends, plan out a fun outing, go to that outing, and have fun with their friends, feel welcome, included, and make great memories.”
