ThisAbility Limited Founder & Chief Purpose Officer, Sulaiman Khan [he/him/his/Disabled], coined the term #CriticalCripshipStudies (and started this platform) in January 2021 to mark out a new field that brings critical Disability theory and Regeneration studies into closer contact. [Cripship is a merging of the words Crip (Disabled) and Kinship (highlighting the “rich” relationship that Disabled people have between each other, humanity, and Mother Earth).] Broadly, Critical Cripship Studies traces the role of power and privilege in shaping *holistic* Disabled experience of Regeneration studies—our integrated experience of mind, body, spirit, environment, and nature with the historical, social, cultural, political, and more in Regeneration (beyond sustainability). Though the term is new, it describes an extant body of work produced by scholars and non-scholars who draw on genealogies of knowledge that span centuries and geographies.

Moving beyond sustainability, it’s critical to go into Regeneration and be regenerative in everything we do. Regeneration is crucial in everything (and everyone), and society will not survive without it being at the forefront of every solution. But there is no regeneration without inclusion, and all voices must be included in this conversation. We would like to make a case for why Disabled individuals, who are experts in dealing with limitations and finding imaginative solutions, are potentially a goldmine of solutions for regeneration challenges.

Despite this, it is most often Disabled people who are left out of conversations and solutions. Even though we care just as much about Regeneration and purpose/transformation as anyone else, if not more. For example, plastic straws equate to only about .03% of the 8 million metric tons of plastics in oceans per year, but everyone is banning straws as no one is thinking of life and death real consequences of such actions to disabled people. We must include Disability and other marginalised groups into the conversation and ensure no one is left behind in a post-purpose, regenerative world.

[SIDE-NOTE: After being excluded in these regeneration conversations (and problem-solving opportunities), Sulaiman’s belief is solidified that inclusion is not enough when it comes to Disabled people across the world too. Instead, moving into 2021 (and beyond), we must work towards Anti-Ableism (and Anti-Racism), focusing on justice and intersectionality. Moving beyond sustainability, Sulaiman now understands that it is critical to work towards Regeneration. Sulaiman, for one, will continue to work towards this as his lifetime commitment to himself. Critical Cripship Studies is core to this. The new field coined (and led by) Sulaiman will guide and inform the research and solutions into all his personal and professional future projects. This is a record for his future research and solutions going forward.

With Sulaiman’s leadership, our interdisciplinary research interests:

• Regenerative Systems Thinking.

• Indigenous Earth Thinking.

• Disability Justice in Regenerative Design.

• Regenerative Leadership/Culture

• Regenerative Economics.

• Accessible Nature Spaces.

• Accessible Ecology.

• Mycelial Human Interaction; Mycelium/Mycology.

• Agricultural Regeneration.

• Ocean Justice Psychology.

• Decolonised, Post-Capitalist Ecology.

• Regenerative Mental Health.

There is No Regeneration Without Disability Liberation. Radical answers require Radical questioning. So the radical question of my interdisciplinary research:

How can we create more radical, worldbuilding, holistic, healing, compassionate, abundant, loving, dignity-giving, life-affirming, safe, liberated, interdependent, imaginative, grieving, joyful, ecological, sustainable, decolonised, Post-Capitalist, Anti-Ableist, Anti-Racist, accessible approaches to regenerative practice conversations and solutions that centre Disabled people, especially Disabled Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC)? When we say Indigenous, we don’t mean the definition of Indigenous that white supremacy adopts for its propaganda and what we sometimes see as violent and hateful action.

However, this is not a one-man rave. Sulaiman does not want the story to be about him, though the story starts with him. Nothing is ever achieved alone nor in isolation. Sulaiman (like many Disabled people across the world) knows that Regeneration is about people’s long term, holistic wellbeing, not just climate change. Sulaiman understands that interdependence (with each other and Mother Earth) is more significant than independence. So, in (crip) time, Critical Cripship Studies will bring Cripjoy and Disability Pleasure into this new field.]

Critical Cripship Studies is collective of transnational, majority-Black, Ingenious, and People of Colour (BIPOC), Disabled (and radical) academics, activists, advocates, agitators, artists, adventurers, community leaders, pod builders, healers, psychologists, doctors, teachers, architects, engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs, and creators where Regeneration is at the heart of everything for a future fit for integrating all of us. Our roots are Disability Justice, Disability Solidarity, Transformative Justice, Healing Justice, Reproductive Justice, Indigenous Justice, Ocean Justice, and Environmental Justice.

Also, Critical Cripship Studies wholeheartedly has its foundation that is Anti-Ableist (Ableism based on the definition of the word by Talila “TL” Lewis), Anti-Racist, and not adding the system(s) of oppression. And Disability and Regeneration is the future and here to stay.

We also created a logo for Critical Cripship Studies based on an Adinkra symbol. “Adinkra are symbols from Ghana that represent concepts or aphorisms. Adinkra are used extensively in fabrics, logos and pottery. They are incorporated into walls and other architectural features... The symbols have a decorative function but also represent objects that encapsulate evocative messages that convey traditional wisdom, aspects of life or the environment. There are many different symbols with distinct meanings, often linked with proverbs.” Our logo emphasises how we see this new field of study, as Disability and Regeneration are not just western ideologies. Moreover, we are not bound by any bound by any Capitalist, supremacist, Ableist, Racist, Colonial, hegemonic, heteronormative, patriarchal, toxic, oppressive, dated structures or practices nonsense and noise.

Our logo features the Adinkra symbol ASASE YE DURU that can be directly translated to mean “the earth has weight.” It’s a symbol of providence and the divinity of Mother Earth. This symbol represents the importance of Mother Earth in sustaining life. We must take care of Mother Earth to leave a safer, cleaner, and Regenerative environment for the coming generations. We believe this is the perfect symbol that embodies everything we stand for.

Critical Cripship Studies is beginning something beautiful too. We are excited about where we will take this adventure. The Ashanti proverb (Ghana) best goes: “Do not follow the path. Go where there is no path to begin the trail.”

Watch this space.

YƐn kɔ!

In the Twi language from Ghana 🇬🇭, this means “let’s go!” ✊🏿


NOTA-BENE: This account and project will be based in Crip Time (a term created by, for, and used by the Disabled community).