The Ride: The story of a true wheelchair (UPDATE)
My wheelchair was recently detained at Medina Airport, Saudi Arabia because it has batteries in it and I found out that I am never getting it back. This time I am not fighting anyone but will use my energy to celebrate the memories with this wheelchair though I sit here typing all of this while […]
10 Reasons I am quitting Motivational speaking
I have had and continue to have an amazing journey on two wheels. Many of you know me as a public speaker others know me as a motivational speaker. I have always enjoyed every moment of my work and above all hearing my own introduction being read on stage and it certainly makes one feel […]
Muniba and I are not friends – Tanzila Khan
And we don’t have to be to stand up or represent a cause together. Just like not all Asian Taxi drivers in UK are cousins. Muniba and I may have a common factor and guess what? We share that with your grandparents too. In fact it would be safer to hangout and travel with your […]
Disability Talk: Disability Models
I was invited to Berlin at the 15th International Dialogue on Population and Sustainable Development to deliver a session during rotating discussions on Disability Sensitization and UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Following is an extract from the Conference Magazine. When Tanzila Khan, a trainer and CEO of Creative Alley from Pakistan, […]
Sarahah doesn’t change anything – Tanzila Khan
So there is a fantastic new messaging service called Sarahah (Pronounced Sraha). Created by a Saudi Arabian developer which was also a surprise to me as our minds are wired to believe that the only thing Middle East can produce is oil. A big shout out to Zain al Abidin Tawfiq for producing this App […]
9 reasons why I cant get married and my disability isn’t one
Growing up in Pakistan with a disability is nothing less than having adventures. One of them is constantly having to prove that one is also a sexual being like everyone else and deserves the right to courting, love, marriage and parenthood. But that can be a little too hard in a society where ‘Tailor ruining […]
Disability: The photo prop of our ‘leaders’
The man entered the hall and everyone rose to their feet in respect. Not me, because I simply cant stand. Although this is something I would have loved to do if I could have as the exchange of respect makes the world go round. He started shaking hands with prominent personalities in a sequence and […]
Letter to the 16 year old Tanzila (10 years ago)
Dear Tanzila, Today your wish will come true. You will get what you had always wanted. Remember that Hair straightener set? Mum has got it for you. It has curlers too! But I have some bad news. You will forget about it within 3 years and never think about it again. Why? Because you will […]
Once upon a time in America in 1999
As I pack my bags, a halo of excitement floats above my head. Special Olympics Games is indeed a grand experience for every disabled and non-disabled around the world and I can’t congratulate Mr Timothy Shriver and his team enough for this great contribution. Plus being selected as one of the 120 young leaders for […]
The City of Confidence –And a simple question!
‘What’s the time by the way?’ Naureen asks as she helps me down the ramp backwards. ‘It’s 10: 45 pm’. I say casually resisting the high pitch of excitement in my voice. Naureen and I had met the same day. We both were from Pakistan and were attending the same meeting. It was time to […]