Essence Fest Recap and Disability Pride Month

Reader,

I just got back from Essence Festival — and I’m still processing.

I spoke at two activations, both filled with people who showed up ready to listen and talk about disability, inclusion, and what it truly means to be empathetic to other communities. It was powerful. And in both rooms, I kept hearing the same thought echo in my mind: we need more of this. We need spaces to belong, to rediscover ourselves, and to feel empowered to keep going.

Here is the link to watch the 3 minute recap:

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Here is the link to watch the full 17 minute See Life Different: Reimagining Inclusion panel discussion I moderated.

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There were bright spots. I got to meet Lachi, a blind singer songwriter, who spoke on the author’s stage and had her book, I Identify as Blind featured.

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I got to meet Dr. Munirah Bomani, a Muslimah who vended at BeautyCon and took the stage Unbothered and Well, in addition to the We Love Us Stage (Pictured in the middle – to the left is a Muslimah first time attendee and then there is me in the long blue scarf).

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Representation showed up — and it mattered.

There have also been some visible improvements in accessibility since I last attended Essence Fest in 2024, such as more ASL interpreters, which I’m genuinely grateful for. But a gap still remains.

At the venue level, there were no clear instructions for attendees with disabilities. On the content side, captions were largely absent from social media coverage. Small things — but not small to people like me who need them.

Two years ago today, my Facebook memories reminded me that what I’m building has been in motion for a while. This is a manifestation coming to life.

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So I’m building it.

If you’re ready to make your content, your workspace, or your events more accessible for people with sensory and other invisible disabilities, and also build your brand so you too can speak on stages, I’m available for consulting. Next week, I’m hosting a free webinar — See Your Content Different — and I’ll be sharing more details about something I’ve been quietly working on that I think you’ll want to be part of.

Join me July 16 at 7pm Eastern Time. Click here to Register.

P.S. It’s July — Disability Pride Month. There’s no better time for this.

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I am Zaakirah (zaa-key-ra) Muhammad, a deafblind retinoblastoma cancer survivor, creative tech-savvy entrepreneur and TEDx speaker, with over a decade of experience in photography and digital communications. As a brand cultivating strategist, author, and podcaster, I empower you to step outside of your comfort zone, understand your purpose, and show you how to powerfully tell your story through digital marketing. As your brand therapist, I uncover your blind spots showcasing your superpower. Learn More ​ $9.99 Seeing Life Through a Different Lens eBook This book will inspire you to overcome adversity with resilience. Featuring real-life stories about a young adult and… Read more Get it now! ​ $49.00 Accessible by Design: A Travel Creator’s Accessibility Guide Accessibility isn’t just about infrastructure. It’s about empathetic awareness. This ten page guide is for: Creators who… Read more Get it now! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​​​​​​

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