Services Introduction

Disability, daringly. We are a Disability and Person of The Global Majority-owned) Disability Justice business that helps socially conscious brands divest from ableism and enact Disability liberation, by integrating Disability culture. 

For us, it's about equity as a foundation rather than equality because "... Equity is giving everyone what they need to be successful, whereas equality is treating everyone the same. Equality aims to promote fairness, but it can only work if everyone starts from the same place and needs the same help. Equity may appear unfair, but it actively moves everyone closer to success by 'leveling the playing field.' But not everyone starts at the same place, and not everyone has the same needs..." If you're interested, read this fascinating article on why equity is needed.

However, for us, justice is our tool, and liberation is the goal of how we work every single day. Ultimately, our mission is to support the (re)imagining of every socially conscious brand into a fully anti-ableist organisation, all in aid of collective liberation in business and society.

 
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DIVERSITY should be a given; INCLUSION is our practice; EQUITY is our tool; JUSTICE is our mission; so that LIBERATION is our GOAL.”
— Collette Philip and Sulaiman R. Khan, March 2022
 

Services Overview

Some organisations (and people) are clandestine about their pricing. Not us. If you don't have the budget, that's okay. There are hundreds of others who can meet your budget - some for free. But we are not that organisation. Our ethos is to be transparent and lead by example when it comes to our investments (fees) without apology.

Foremost, ThisAbility® Limited own all rights and IP to all work. At no point is there to be any recording of any work nor any downloading, copying or distribution of any deliverables, whether in-person, hybrid, or virtually. If a recording is required, then a licensing agreement can be discussed, but in further full transparency, this will require an additional investment.

Also, for greater full transparency, our payment terms are as follows: 50% payment upon confirmation of any work, with the balance to be paid 7 days before we deliver any work. 

And we have the ability to flex and be flexible around our payment terms that will apply differently to different businesses. This flexibility is dependent on the size of the organisation, the demographic of the organisation, the values of the organisation, and composition of the organisation, et cetera. 

To be clear for current and future potential partners and accomplices, we will always (re)centre love with (not for) minoritised and marginalised businesses, especially businesses ed and owned by those who sit at the intersection of multiple systems of oppression. For example, we have different payment terms for small Black-owned or Disability-led businesses than for large multi-national corporations. Regardless, every organisation will have our full transparency, communication, and love.

Our payment terms are in line with our access needs as the owners of a Disability and Person of the Global Majority-owned Disability Justice business.

Additionally, here is what to expect when working with Sulaiman.


“We are not afraid to adopt a revolutionary stance — if, indeed, we wish to be radical in our quest for change — then we must get to the root of our oppression. After all, radical simply means ‘grasping things at the root.’”

– Angela Y. Davis.

Below are details about our services and respective investment for each service:

Cheat Sheet on Disability:

To get your free cheat sheet on Disability. Sign up here.


“Brain Picker” Calls:

One hour at £498 VAT inclusive. These Private Coaching or “Brain Picker” Calls are with our Founder and Chief Radical Officer, Sulaiman. They are limited in availability each month so once they are gone, they’re gone. And these calls are specifically designed for professionals and small businesses who want to “pick his brain” or want to experience the "Sulaiman Sunshine Sensation” to daringly integrate Disability, but can’t invest in our full consulting yet. You can book and pay here. Upon booking, you agree if you cancel or reschedule with less than three working-days notice then no refund is available. So, you must rebook and pay again.


Speaking:

From £5,000 plus VAT for anything up to an hour, excluding expenses. We don’t do panels; each talk is bespoke with care and curiosity for each client. Whether it's a keynote, a seminar or a fireside chat, it's still the same fee. Whether it's live or virtual, it's still the same. This includes our access fee to ensure full accessibility needs, which differentiates us from others because we truly care about our work. The only people who don't pay this are the selected charities and social enterprises we love and choose to work for a reduced investment. We speak on sustainability, technology, design, Disability, and creativity. It's the same investment for Disability History Month, International Men's Day, Pride Month, business weeks, justice and liberation conferences, off-site visits, in-house events or virtual summits.


Consulting:

Premier consulting; like our speaking services, our consulting services are bespoke with care and curiosity for each client, and the investment will be advised accordingly. For socially conscious brands who are ready to make the full investment to go from ableism to Disability Liberation and integrate Disability Culture to (along with anti-racist) become a fully anti-ableist organisation. Charged at a premium. Below is our process for how we work with all of our clients.  

Wheel 1 – IMAGINE: In a safe and brave space with no shade and judgment, imagine what is possible without filters or restrictions. We’ll take a look and see where you are about Disability and anti-ableism.

Wheel 2 – INVESTIGATE: Doing 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.

Wheel 3 – IDEATE: Creating solutions and applying 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.

Wheel 4 – IGNITE: Amplify the solutions to have the most impact, as well as 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.

Wheel 5 – 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 evaluating effectiveness. We will facilitate critical thinking on how to identify progress and build impact measures to track and evaluate over time. Disability Liberation will be our North Star.

*From imagine to interpret, this is our circular way of working with all our clients to solve their critical need to become an anti-ableist organisation.

Taking the lead from Sulaiman, we’re wheeling away with zero tolerance to all systems of oppression. Sulaiman has never been able to walk and doesn’t want to ever walk, so as a power wheelchair user, “wheeling away” is his cheeky take on “walking away.” As Sulaiman says: [Open Quote] “Standing and walking are SO overrated! Xx” [Close Quote]

He no longer tolerates 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 heteronormative patriarchy’s armour for bullying, and oppression’s pawn for harm. His ancestors and descendants demand and deserve better from him and for him.

Testimonials

 
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What they say. A few selected quotes about us:

Cindy Gallop (Consultant + Founder/CEO, MakeLoveNotPorn):

“I cannot recommend Sulaiman Khan and ThisAbility Ltd too highly as a crucial consultant and business partner for any brand and company genuinely committed to diversity and inclusion, who understands that that is a direct strategic path to increased revenue growth and profitability. Sulaiman's unique insights as a disabled creative mean that working with him to implement full accessibility and inclusion, drives better experiences and better business for everyone. Hiring Sulaiman and ThisAbility to work with you on a fully accessible future is not a business nice-to-have, it's a business imperative.”

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Es Devlin (Artist and Designer):

“We should look to people such as Sulaiman Khan, founder of the consultancy ThisAbility, which helps disabled creatives into work. The lockdown has turned our attention to the experience of those who are always working within limited physical parameters. We should turn to and value Sulaiman’s expertise in practising infinite imagination within physical limitations.”

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Sereena Abbassi (Equity, Inclusion & Diversity Consultant, Facilitator, Trainer & Keynote Speaker):

“Sulaiman is an activist, connector and visionary. His activism is fuelled by his radical curiosity of the world, his enormous and empathetic heart – as well as the fire that sits within his belly. Sulaiman has transformed the way we see the world. I feel very honoured to have him in my life, not just as a peer, though also as a dear friend.”

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Mel Exon (Writer & CEO):

“There are few people who bring Sulaiman's sharply observed, intersectional perspective and bold ideas to any task focused on equity and the future of work, civil rights and society as a whole. Sulaiman is gracious but never holds back from speaking truth to power in his writing, speaking and business interactions. Big bluechip company leaders want to hear him speak and heed his advice. The work he does tirelessly helping those looking for insight and direction is legendary and much needed across so many dimensions, particularly in tackling the issues of structural ableism and racism. As Audre Lorde said: ‘There is no thing as single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.’ Sulaiman embodies that thought with every fibre of his being. He refuses to be defined by anyone but himself. I am proud to call him my friend.”

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Nicola Kemp (Editorial Director, Creativebrief):

“I first met Sulaiman when I was the Trends Editor of advertising industry magazine Campaign. I interviewed him in his role as founder and chief radical officer of ThisAbility, which exists to ignite, invest in, and amplify disabled creativity across the world for a Just tomorrow. I was immediately impressed with his depth of knowledge and his unique ability to communicate complex problems. Sulaiman is a brilliant oral and written communicator and takes a collaborative approach. He is an expert in his field, and he can communicate his ideas to a broad audience. 

I have also worked with Sulaiman on events, and he’s spoken at some of the most significant events in the advertising industry calendar. At each of these events, I was struck by Sulaiman’s intellectual curiosity and innovative approach to making the creative industries more inclusive. Sulaiman’s leadership in this space is recognised, and his place amongst the industry’s leading thinkers and leaders is very well deserved. Sulaiman is unique in his ability to bring people together and take a new perspective on the challenges surrounding diversity and inclusion.

He is both open-minded and committed, and his efforts have made him one of the leading thinkers and forces for change in the UK creative industries. Sulaiman is a huge supporter and advocate for the creative industries and incredibly talented. The success of drive to make the industry more inclusive and to pave the way for more disabled creative talent has been down to his sheer determination and commitment. I would not hesitate to recommend Sulaiman for any client and believe firmly he has the experience, knowledge and attitude to bring so much to any project.”

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Karen Stenning (Head of Engagement & Events, Hatch Enterprise) :

“Sulaiman recently spoke at a diversity and inclusion talk called Championing Diversity in Entrepreneurship for Hatch Enterprise. Sulaiman gave thoughtful and impactful insights into the complex issue around diversity and inclusion. During the event, we had four speakers, representing four areas in entrepreneurship - female founders, ethnic minority businesses, LGBTQ and disabilities. Sulaiman was an excellent champion and advocate for championing disability in small businesses and entrepreneurship.

He raised many important topics and gave the audience unique insight into the life of a disabled entrepreneur. His fresh perspective surrounding the struggles and challenges that so many disabled entrepreneurs face and why so many disabled people have to enter into the self-employed or freelance sector as companies discriminate, was an alarming perspective that was presented to the audience. I can't recommend Sulaiman highly enough as a speaker.”

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Mark van der Heijden (Entrepreneur, Speaker - TEDx, Self-Awareness Coach, Creative Director at Inner Peace Network):

“Sulaiman is the real deal. A man of truth, courage, vulnerability and leadership who fights the good fight for a more inclusive world. On top of his heart of gold and brilliant mind, he is one of the funniest and most down to earth people I know. If someone deserves your business, it’s Sulaiman who literally devoted his life to help as many people as he can as a true warrior.”

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Tim Mitchell (Executive Search, Coaching, Talent management, Generalist HR - Timothy):

“When you work with Sulaiman you're taking a first step towards being better. Through his business, ThisAbility (the consultancy he founded), and his many speaking, judging and consultancy commitments, Sulaiman is changing how the creative industry sees and works with disabled people. No one is doing more to show the non-disabled agency world what true equity and inclusivity in the workplace really means, as well as the positive impact it has. No one is working harder or with such energy, style, grace, humour and generosity of spirit.

I've had the privilege of knowing Sulaiman for over ten years and I can say through experience that when you or your business gets the opportunity to work with him, you should take it, because he will educate and challenge in equal measure, and he'll show you how to become a better version of yourself - a version that's more effective, more empathetic, aware and open, and ultimately more creative.”

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Tim Lindsay (Chairman, D&AD):

“Sulaiman Khan is a remarkable man. He writes wonderfully about our business; speaks inspiringly and movingly, as he did at D&AD inaugural Festival in 2016; constantly exposes himself to positive stimulation - in terms of people, content and culture; and within all this manages to be D&AD's number one fan, constantly and reassuringly present at all D&AD events. He does all this and more in the face of considerable physical obstacles and without a trace of self pity.”