St. Louis On the Air Discussion on Disability Culture

Author:

Starkloff Staff

Reading time:

1 minutes

Date:

December 5, 2025

Share This:

Starkloff CEO Lori Becker appeared on Monday’s St. Louis On the Air, a public radio show, with two other members of the disability community to discuss their experiences of living with a disability.

Host Elaine Cha was curious about disability culture and invited three St. Louisans with disabilities to discuss their experiences on the air. Lori was joined by Raven McFadden, board chair of FestAbility and court clerk for the City of St. Louis, and Seyoon Choi, vocational rehabilitation counselor for Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind.

Lori’s experiences reflect why accessibility is important everywhere we live, learn, work, and play:

“The first time that I was able to use audio description at a play, it was life changing.

It was the Lion King, and so can you imagine all the visuals and how beautiful the characters and the scenery were. … They had someone describing what the colors were and the movements on stage.

It just brings it to life. I get to experience it so much more fully.”

Why businesses should pay attention:

“We have incredible buying power as a community because it’s not just me that is going to these plays and baseball games—it’s me and all my friends.

If I can’t enjoy it, I’m not going to go, and they’re not going to come with me.”

It was a rich discussion with several perspectives and many shared experiences. Check it out!

Check Out the Interview

Find the full discussion in the St. Louis on the Air podcast (Apple podcast or Spotify) or the YouTube video below. St. Louis Public radio also published a written story about the conversation on their website if you prefer to read.

Get the latest news & updates

Subscribe to SDI's Newsletter

* indicates required

Check Out Our Recent Posts:

  • Colorful graphic with text: The 99th Annual Black History Month Festival. All February Long. 2025 Black History Theme is African Americans & Labor. Logo for ASALH: Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Founders of Black History Month. Image includes a gavel, a typewriter, an airplane, a hardhat, running shoes, and photos of Bayard Rustin and Jaribu Hill.

    This year's Black History Month theme is African Americans and Labor and we are shining a light on four Black disabled woman who fought against exclusion and worked for equal opportunity to good jobs for all.

  • Universal Design logo featuring an almost golden ratio spiral with vectors of arcs originating in the center, creating a mosaic-like circle. A photo of Rachel smiling is behind it. She is a white woman with dark curly hair and glasses.

    We’re thrilled to announce the expansion of our Universal Design (UD) program from our biennial global conference to a dynamic, year-round initiative!

  • Starkloff Disability Institute logo. A Message to the Disability Community from our CEO.

    We are facing an incredibly difficult and confusing time. One thing has not changed: our enduring commitment to the full and equal participation of people with disabilities in society.