Striving to remove barriers that prevent us from building Vibrant, Diverse, Inclusive, Accessible Communities!
NationalWorld profiles broadcaster and disability-rights advocate Matthew Kayne, who turns years of hospital routines and system barriers into a creative act: writing and releasing “Free Like a Bird,” a song about agency, dignity, and removing barriers.
The core idea is clear: music became his way to organize experience into purpose, blending art with activism to challenge ableist assumptions and advance anti-ableism—without pity framing.
Writing and recording happened alongside cancer-treatment schedules and administrative hurdles; responses from listeners affirmed the message, while his ongoing advocacy for fair wheelchair services reflects a shift toward the social model of disability that places responsibility on systems to remove obstacles.
By framing creativity as a route to voice and solidarity, the piece points toward practical design choices—building a disability-friendly future where access is built in so people don’t have to fight for basics one case at a time.
Read the full feature: “I live with cerebral palsy and survived bladder cancer — music is hope.”
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