About Our Founder
Sulaiman R. Khan – سلیمان راشد خان
So, who is Sulaiman, our Founder & Chief Radical Officer? Read more about Sulaiman in his biography (Google Doc).
Image Description: Sexy, spicy, and sacred. Black and white portrait of Sulaiman (a wholeheartedly Disabled AF, British-Pakistani man with buzzcut black hair) by the legendary Rankin and team at the Art Car Boot Fair in London on 16 September 3023. He's in his power wheelchair since walking and standing are SO overrated. Sulaiman smiles, feeling joyful and badass in his radically bold, wild, fearless existence. He wears a pure silver chain and pendant from his late Nanaji (maternal grandfather). It was made for Sulaiman when he was 15 and was rediscovered early in 2023. The pendant says "Raja Sulaiman" in Urdu, which his Nanaji called him. Sulaiman wears this pendant to remember and honour his late Nanaji, ancestors, and descendants. Sulaiman understands (and respects) that he is the link between his ancestors and descendants. It deliberately faces backwards, flipped towards his heart. Sulaiman wears his sequin biker jacket via Phix Clothing and Party Leopard Meggings via Kapow Meggings.
Be brave and driven by purpose. Don't be a DICK. (On creative work and environment.)
— Laura Jordan Bambach
He's ignited by Disability creativity, technology, regeneration (beyond sustainability), design, justice, collective/community care, activism (even before it became a hashtag, primarily Disability Justice and Environmental Justice), storytelling, rest, fungi, trees, oceans, nature, interdependence, Revolutionary LOVE®, and collective liberation.
Here's Sulaiman's story in his own words:
[Open Quote]
As a Disabled AF Oracle, British-Pakistani man, creative, active (non-optical) intersectional accomplice-in-progress, socially impactful entrepreneur, continual work-in-progress, I struggled to break into the "wonderful world of communication" (particularly in the advertising industry) despite having intense passion and relentless energy. However, I no longer believe that creativity only lives in the advertising industry and now aim to work with the broader creative industries and beyond. I am frustrated by the lack of support for me and others (who are more talented than me) in the same situation to participate in the creative industries.
I am tired of waiting for change and feeling alone. So, what public problem am I working to solve and why?
Problem: In part due to the accepted narratives around creativity and Disability, there is a severe lack of intersectional Disabled creatives in the creative industries.
Why: I'm part of what the UN calls the "world’s largest minority," a group currently at 1.4 billion people and counting, an emerging market greater than China. This market, according to Return on Disability Group's PDF report "Design Delight from Disability" from September 2020… Yet, we're one of the world's most minoritised communities. Our needs have consistently failed to be addressed, even though anyone could join this "minority" at any point in their lives. You're not-yet-Disabled or Pre-Disabled. So, the potential of Disabled creativity is enormous and infinite. However, I'm no longer interested in commoditising Disability and Disabled people.
ThisAbility® Limited was born out of frustration at the lack of representation of Disabled creatives in the creative industries. As Stella Young famously coined, we are treated as "inspiration porn" at best – that's not good enough.
We're life hackers by nature – because we have to overcome physical, social, attitudinal, economic and daily barriers.
On a personal level, I will be who I needed to be when I was a youngster. I have decided to be that brave change and lead this meaningful and purposeful rebellion by positively being a socially impactful entrepreneur.
I will do as the (Founder and) Chief Radical Officer: Read more about my thoughts on updating my title to Chief Radical Officer in November 2022. I'll be radical with a sense of "who" and "why". My ambition is to build, take ownership and have a tangible impact through my activities. I will act as a mentor to my team and our community, and they will be allowed to build a shared sense of alignment, investment, and community care through interdependence and Revolutionary LOVE®.
I started in October 2016 in the UK (but with global efforts to connect with Disabled creatives globally). Due to the isolation, ableism, racism, inaccessibility, manipulation, and trauma I faced (and often still face), I felt compelled to start this adventure after writing a blog post on Medium about Disability and the media in 2015. I don't know what lies ahead, but I am ready and not afraid to embrace any challenge I may face. So, join ThisAbility® Limited – Disability, daringly, with me, and see where this adventure leads us.
Welcome to a new era of visibility. Cindy Gallop says it best:
"You will never own the future if you care what people think."
Stay tuned for further updates. Onwards and Upwards.
[End Quote]