We are inviting disabled artists and arts educators to be guests and guest hosts on ABLE Voices. Today's guest host is Briana Raucci.

Briana is a Connecticut-based artist, writer, and photographer with multiple disabilities, including cerebral palsy, epilepsy. endometriosis, ADHD, and more. Over the years, Briana has self-described as a photographer, photojournalist, writer, graphic designer, UX & product designer, social media manager, artist, etc., but feels none of those titles alone fully embody the creativity she is constantly trying to express in new ways. After in-depth creative exploration, doing both full-time and freelance work for over 13 years, Briana is now freelancing full-time, utilizing all her creative abilities. Being a multi-passionate individual, this has allowed her to balance all of her creative endeavors and add a few more! Since this interview, she has begun fundraising to support her disability advocacy work. Today Briana will be speaking with Akes.

Akes is UK based rapper, vocalist, businessman, online content creator, social media personality, and entrepreneur, also known as MrSickWidit. Deriving his stage name from the aches caused by his lifelong cerebral palsy condition, the young wordsmith has always hoped to show others in a similar position that they can chase their dreams in music, even when the odds seem stacked against them and has been an outspoken advocate for individuals with cerebral palsy, and the wider disability community. Particularly renowned for his grime output, Akes has worked with some of the rap genre’s biggest names including BPI Gold-certified producer Preditah, N.A.S.T.Y Crew legend Nasty Jack and the inimitable Flirta D, and has released two grime EPs to date – 2014’s War and 2018’s Sickwidit. "Been through the aches and pains,” West Midlands penman Akes asserts on the autobiographical title track from his latest EP. It’s a direct nod to the inspiration behind his stage name—growing up with cerebral palsy, he’s all too acquainted with its physically taxing nature; plus the alias speaks to the ‘pains’ of testing times, too.