An Anti-Ableist Framework
A framework guide (re)imagining an anti-ableist socially conscious brand.
Hey, friends!
Following the (re)imagination and (re)introduction of ThisAbility Limited, let’s discover our revolutionary guide to creating a socially conscious brand that is committed to eliminating ableism and embracing Crip Time1. This framework will help you reimagine your brand’s purpose and values to reflect a more just and liberated business and society. Join the movement towards a radical, restful, regenerative, interdependent, and loving world.
Anti-ableism framework
We’re (re)imagining an anti-ableist socially conscious brand. So, we created a framework Guide.
The Pioneer: Sulaiman R. Khan – سلیمان راشد خان
Daringly integrating Disability. As a Disabled Oracle, I’m the visionary behind this framework for socially conscious brands to create anti-ableist organisations. I’m (re)imagining and (re)visioning what this could look like in interdependence and love.
I’m wheeling away with zero tolerance for all systems of oppression. I have never been able to walk and never want to walk. So, as a power wheelchair user, “wheeling away” is my cheeky take on “walking away.” Walking is so overrated! Xx
I no longer tolerate being capitalism’s plaything, ableism’s commodity, racism’s tool for power, colonialism’s puppet for violence, white supremacy culture’s fetish for manipulation, cis-able neocolonial-racist-supremacist heteronormative patriarchy’s armour for bullying, and oppression’s pawn for harm. My ancestors and descendants demand and deserve better from me and for me.
Seven wheels to becoming an anti-ableist socially conscious brand*
Vacuum noise. Audit where we are and build a foundation about Disability.
Seeding access. Embed accessibility as a necessity, not a luxury.
Plant decolonial flowers. Deep work on anti-ableism and anti-racism.
Wait patiently. Understand genuine intersectionality and dismantle white supremacy culture while you wait.
Share flowers. Distribute harvest fairly by financial investment in the Disabled Community long-term and by rooting Disability Justice.
Embrace the Sun. Release into the universe and feel the warmth and love of Disability. Disability liberation is our North Star.
Trust the Universe. If our work is authentic and loving, have faith in it and stand by it. And do better tomorrow. Progression over perfection, always.
* You can only become an anti-ableist socially conscious brand by actively doing radical deep work daily, having a shared Community Commitment, and creating a long-term active praxis with unconditional interdependence and love, always. X
The Praxis: Revolutionary LOVE®
Revolutionary LOVE® is the practice we use to create anti-ableist organisations. Love is the most powerful tool for creating such organisations, and Revolutionary LOVE® is the ultimate way to show us how.
[Open Quote] “Conformity, palatability, and dehumanisation are built on fear, hate, intolerance, scarcity, and injustice. Revolutions are made with community care, collective liberation, interdependence, and, most critically, revolutions are built on love. Revolutionary LOVE is the only way forward for our (collective and loving) thriving beyond surviving. Healing is interdependent and intertwined. We choose Revolutionary LOVE as our North Star for the collective liberation of all of our kin (by blood or bond, our human and more-than-human kin, and our inner and outer selves). I will be my own North Star by existing infinitely through Revolutionary LOVE” [Close Quote]
– Me, Sulaiman R. Khan - سلیمان راشد خان
The Process: ThisAbility® Limited
ThisAbility® Limited is the consultancy that will guide you away from obliviousness and ableism and lead you to consciousness and self-awareness to become an anti-ableist organisation. This strategy allows us to work towards Disability liberation.
We may be limited in name, but we are unlimited in imagination.
Five-wheel process*
![Image description: An infographic with five circles in different colours representing the five-wheel process. From left to right: (1) an orange circle depicting a head in a side profile with stars emerging from its open mind. The word underneath reads “Imagine”. (2) A yellow circle with a magnifying glass containing a depiction of a magnifying glass, with the word “Investigate” underneath. (3) A blue circle depicting a glowing light bulb symbol with the word “Ideate” written underneath it. (4) A purple circle depicting a comet trailing fire, with the word “ignite” underneath it. (5) A pink circle depicting a notebook and pen with the word “Interpret” underneath it. End Image description: An infographic with five circles in different colours representing the five-wheel process. From left to right: (1) an orange circle depicting a head in a side profile with stars emerging from its open mind. The word underneath reads “Imagine”. (2) A yellow circle with a magnifying glass containing a depiction of a magnifying glass, with the word “Investigate” underneath. (3) A blue circle depicting a glowing light bulb symbol with the word “Ideate” written underneath it. (4) A purple circle depicting a comet trailing fire, with the word “ignite” underneath it. (5) A pink circle depicting a notebook and pen with the word “Interpret” underneath it. End](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F45b2345a-66cd-4682-9d55-96cf83f42fb8.heic)
Imagine
We will imagine what is possible without filters or restrictions in a safe and brave space with no shade or judgment. We’ll look and see where you are about Disability and anti-ableism.
Investigate
We will do the research into solutions to become an anti-ableist organisation. We love a good audit! The next wheel helps all know where you are, your current Disability perceptions in your culture, and, most importantly, why things are how they are when it comes to Disability.
Ideate
We will create solutions and apply the solutions to become an anti-ableist organisation. Once we’ve conducted the audit, we’ll develop a custom work plan to embed accessibility, do deep work on anti-ableism and anti-racism, understand genuine intersectionality, dismantle white supremacy culture, and financially invest in the Disabled community rooted in Disability Justice.
Ignite
We will amplify the solutions to have the most impact and refine and improve these solutions for continual progress to become an anti-ableist organisation. Following ethical co-creation, it will be time to develop the actions, refine them, and share actions with the universe.
Interpret
Progression over perfection. We will discuss how we will evaluate the implementation and your subsequent relevant outputs, ensuring that it drives you to become an anti-ableist organisation. There is no one way of measuring success or assessing effectiveness. We will facilitate critical thinking on identifying progress and building impact measures to track and evaluate over time. Disability liberation will be our North Star.
* From “imagine” to “interpret”, the five-wheel process is our circular way of working with all our clients to solve their critical need to become an anti-ableist, socially conscious brand. You will gain an actionable framework for making your brand not only socially conscious but also socially impactful.
![Image description: Bold, wild, fearless existence. In the middle of an abstract dark blue background is a photo of Sulaiman (a wholeheartedly Disabled AF and British-Pakistani man) lying in bed on his right with a nasal ventilator mask over his face as the sun is shining over his beautiful face. The sun glistens through his eyes with a joyful smile, allowing the viewer to experience the universe through his sexy, spicy, and sacred brown eyes. Sulaiman is wearing his “I Love Plants” Oodie (“like a jumper crossed with a blanket crossed with a cloud”) in green featuring various personified and playful plants via @the_oodie, and he feels calm. End. Image description: Bold, wild, fearless existence. In the middle of an abstract dark blue background is a photo of Sulaiman (a wholeheartedly Disabled AF and British-Pakistani man) lying in bed on his right with a nasal ventilator mask over his face as the sun is shining over his beautiful face. The sun glistens through his eyes with a joyful smile, allowing the viewer to experience the universe through his sexy, spicy, and sacred brown eyes. Sulaiman is wearing his “I Love Plants” Oodie (“like a jumper crossed with a blanket crossed with a cloud”) in green featuring various personified and playful plants via @the_oodie, and he feels calm. End.](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0a9ef349-4d5a-41c5-92ca-163333dcef0e.heic)
We’re for you if…
+ You are a socially conscious brand.
+ You care about people and the planet, including flora, fauna, and funga.
+ You understand that ableism is connected to other systems of oppression (racism, colonialism, capitalism, etc., in particular).
+ You understand that Disability is a human experience, and if we’re lucky enough to live to old age, we’ll all become Disabled (whether we accept it or not).
+ You lack confidence in talking about and addressing ableism.
+ You’re aware that you have societal advantages but are unsure how to actively, consistently, confidently, and meaningfully effect change.
+ You want to use the knowledge and power you have earned for meaningful action.
+ You are ready to do the deep work needed to thrive with an open mind and heart, (re)learning in interdependence and love.
We’re not for you if…
- You’re looking for surface-level D&I work.
- You’re looking for a DEI Consultant.
- You’re unwilling to holistically invest (financially, culturally, and spiritually).
- You want a tick box service.
- You expect us to deliver a one-off quick session.
- You want to use the wisdom and richness you gain from us to shame and harm other people.
- You want a prize for doing the right thing.
- You don’t want to be championed, challenged, and celebrated to transform.
Why Us
Here’s why we are the right partners in supporting you to become an anti-ableist organisation:
Radical.
Over four decades of lived experience of Disability and over a decade and a half of experience in the creative industries.
Multiple award-winning communications practitioners and social justice activists.
Changemaker energy.
Equitable and intersectional.
Interdependent, just, and loving liberatory collaborators.
Insatiably curious, compassionate, and courageous.
Human (and more-than-human) and humorous approach.
Unlearning (and relearning) every single day.
Open-hearted and open-minded.
“You deserve to work with me.”
– Me, Sulaiman R. Khan – سلیمان راشد خان
Founder & Chief Radical Officer
About Us
Disability, daringly. ThisAbility® Limited is a Disabled and Person of The Global Majority2-owned Disability Justice business. Being Certified B Corporation™ means we’ve made a legally binding agreement to put the needs of our staff, clients, community, and the planet (including flora, fauna, and funga) before the needs of our shareholders.
Our mission is to help socially conscious brands divest from ableism and enact Disability liberation, by integrating Disability culture. We help (re)imagine them to aid collective liberation in business and society.
Our services include public speaking, consulting, creating accessible and liberated ecosystemic design, and creative strategy.
With our innate sense of solidarity and desire for justice and collective liberation, we work tirelessly to ignite, amplify, and invest in Disabled creativity across the globe for a liberated future for Disabled people. In everything, we always centre Disability, daringly.
Our business may be limited in name, but we are unlimited in imagination.
![Image description: Bold, wild, fearless existence. In the middle of an abstract dark blue background is a photo of Sulaiman (a wholeheartedly Disabled AF and British-Pakistani man) lying in bed on his right with a nasal ventilator mask over his face as he works on his MacBook Pro laptop. On the grey case of his MacBook Pro are 7 stickers on the back of the screen via Sulaiman himself and his Disabled global kin (by bond) – Jennifer White-Johnson, Alice Wong, Sandy Ho, and Mia Mingus. Sticker 1 is a circular pink sticker with red text that says “Cripjoy.” Sticker 2 is a sticker with a white background featuring a gradient black to purple text that says “Create More Anti-Ableist Spaces” in capital letters. Stickers 3 and 4 are of cursive text that says “Radical Joy,” one a sticker of pink text with a black outline and the other a colourful holographic sticker. Sticker 5 is a graphic of the black power fist against a white background with the infinity symbol and the words “Black Disabled Lives Matter” written in bold white font placed down the wrist of the fist. Sticker 6 is a graphic of the black power fist against a white background with the infinity symbol for neurodiversity in bold white lines placed down the wrist of the fist. Finally, sticker 7 is an extensive rectangular white background with black text over 4 lines; on lines 1 to 3, the text says, “Access is… Solidarity is… Disability Justice is…” and on line 4, the larger text says, “Love” in capital letters with the “o” replaced with a red heart emoji. Sulaiman is wearing his Bunny Oodie (“like a jumper crossed with a blanket crossed with a cloud”) in purple via @the_oodie, and he feels calm as he works on his MacBook Pro. At the top middle of the image is cursive white text that says, “Sulaiman R. Khan.” Below it, in all caps, white text is “Daringly Integrating Disability.” At the bottom right corner of the image is the social logo of ThisAbility Limited in all white featuring the Adinkra symbol for interdependence. End. Image description: Bold, wild, fearless existence. In the middle of an abstract dark blue background is a photo of Sulaiman (a wholeheartedly Disabled AF and British-Pakistani man) lying in bed on his right with a nasal ventilator mask over his face as he works on his MacBook Pro laptop. On the grey case of his MacBook Pro are 7 stickers on the back of the screen via Sulaiman himself and his Disabled global kin (by bond) – Jennifer White-Johnson, Alice Wong, Sandy Ho, and Mia Mingus. Sticker 1 is a circular pink sticker with red text that says “Cripjoy.” Sticker 2 is a sticker with a white background featuring a gradient black to purple text that says “Create More Anti-Ableist Spaces” in capital letters. Stickers 3 and 4 are of cursive text that says “Radical Joy,” one a sticker of pink text with a black outline and the other a colourful holographic sticker. Sticker 5 is a graphic of the black power fist against a white background with the infinity symbol and the words “Black Disabled Lives Matter” written in bold white font placed down the wrist of the fist. Sticker 6 is a graphic of the black power fist against a white background with the infinity symbol for neurodiversity in bold white lines placed down the wrist of the fist. Finally, sticker 7 is an extensive rectangular white background with black text over 4 lines; on lines 1 to 3, the text says, “Access is… Solidarity is… Disability Justice is…” and on line 4, the larger text says, “Love” in capital letters with the “o” replaced with a red heart emoji. Sulaiman is wearing his Bunny Oodie (“like a jumper crossed with a blanket crossed with a cloud”) in purple via @the_oodie, and he feels calm as he works on his MacBook Pro. At the top middle of the image is cursive white text that says, “Sulaiman R. Khan.” Below it, in all caps, white text is “Daringly Integrating Disability.” At the bottom right corner of the image is the social logo of ThisAbility Limited in all white featuring the Adinkra symbol for interdependence. End.](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff85b45a3-f04a-491b-a64c-42583178affb.heic)
Conclusion
Are you a socially conscious brand? Be bold, be wild, be fearless.
Are you curious, compassionate, and courageous enough to become an anti-ableist organisation? Be brave and centre Disability, daringly.
Are you in? We got you x
Please feel free to contact us at info@ThisAbility.net if you have any questions or if you’re ready to centre Disability, daringly, and become an anti-ableist organisation.
Note: This framework is the property and proprietary information of ThisAbility® Limited and Sulaiman R. Khan. It can’t be copied, edited, reproduced, or shared in whole or in part without the sole permission of ThisAbility® Limited and Sulaiman R. Khan. Commercial sharing is not permitted, but personal research and sharing via social media or directly with individuals in full with total credit to ThisAbility® Limited is allowed. Though it’s a continual work in progress, we worked hard to create this framework, and we are holding grace for ourselves to own the work and publicly acknowledge it.
Thank you. Onwards and upwards x
May we create radical, restful, regenerative, accessible, easeful, healing, nourishing, abundant, conscious, intentional, impactful, caring, compassionate, courageous, liberated, interdependent, and loving adventures together! We got you x
I live, work, exist, play, and love in Crip Time. In short, Crip Time is the bending of time (and time travel) that Disabled people are experts in practising, and centres Disabled bodies and minds by and for Disabled people through interdependence and Revolutionary LOVE®.
People of the Global Majority: coined by Rosemary M. Campbell-Stephens MBE is “a collective term that first and foremost speaks to and encourages those so-called, to think of themselves as belonging to the majority on planet earth. It refers to people who are Black, African, Asian, Brown, dual-heritage, indigenous to the global south, and or, have been racialised as ‘ethnic minorities’. Globally these groups currently represent approximately eighty per cent (80%) of the world’s population, making them the global majority now, and with current growth rates, notwithstanding the Covid-19 pandemic, they are set to remain so for the foreseeable future. Understanding that singular truth may shift the dial, it certainly should permanently disrupt and relocate the conversation on race.” (R. Campbell-Stephens, 2020). This aligns wholeheartedly with my Disabled AF, British-Pakistani existence. It is my way of wheeling away from all systems of oppression. It is my way of no longer being capitalism’s plaything, ableism’s commodity, racism’s tool for power, colonialism’s puppet for violence, white supremacy culture’s fetish for manipulation, cis-able neocolonial-racist-supremacist heteronormative patriarchy’s armour for bullying, and oppression’s pawn for harm.