From rejection to illustration
Shani’s path to turning into a number one voice in incapacity inclusion wasn’t simple. After struggling to seek out work in her teenagers, she shortly realised that disclosing her incapacity on job functions was resulting in rejection.
“I used to be making use of for jobs sharing I had a incapacity and wasn’t listening to something again,” she mentioned. “I assumed that was regular. However then I took that one sentence off, and I obtained provided an interview immediately.”
It was a harsh lesson, however one which pushed her in direction of greater training and ultimately right into a profession in occasions administration. “I by no means thought I used to be intelligent sufficient to go to uni,” she admitted. “However I assumed, proper, I’ve to go to uni to outlive.”
After a decade working in occasions, Shani transitioned into incapacity advocacy full-time, touchdown a job at Virgin Media as a incapacity programme supervisor. “I didn’t realize it may very well be a job. I didn’t know the best way to receives a commission for it and never simply do it on the evenings and weekends.”
That function grew to become a springboard for her to work with different corporations and ultimately arrange her personal consultancy. “I’m on my third profession now and I’m nonetheless excited for what I’m gonna do subsequent.”
Religion, meals and festivities
Shani’s Sikh identification is a supply of energy and inspiration in her activism. “Being raised in a really religious Sikh family 100% formed who I’m, my values,” she defined. “Dwelling by these rules and being taught that from a really younger age – I believe that’s why I discover activism so snug.”
That connection to her tradition is particularly seen throughout Vaisakhi, one of the vital festivals within the Sikh calendar. Shani is about to host ‘Vaisakhi on the Sq.’ in London for the second 12 months operating. “It’s such an honour to host such an enormous occasion for our neighborhood, proper within the coronary heart of London,” she mentioned. “I imagine I’m the primary visibly disabled host for the occasion as properly, which additionally means an important deal to me.”
The day is a vibrant celebration of Sikh religion and tradition, with meals enjoying a central function. “It’s free meals,” Shani mentioned. “Within the Sikh religion we’ve one thing referred to as langar, which is a free communal kitchen. Any gurdwara you go to, you’ll be capable of have a sizzling vegetarian meal that’s ready by volunteers.”
Shani’s mum is a daily volunteer within the kitchen, and her speciality is making jalebi – a candy, deep-fried deal with soaked in syrup. “She takes them out the oil and dunks them right into a sugary syrup,” Shani defined. “I’m the individual that dunks them within the syrup after which takes them out. It’s actually tasty.”
She additionally introduced in one other conventional candy for us to strive – laddoo. “It’s made out of gram flour. The combination is made, then it’s put via a sieve so that you get little droplets of batter. That’s then fried, put in a syrup and left to dry. Then you definitely make it right into a ball.”
These sweets aren’t simply reserved for festivals. “We’ll have these on many joyful events, and even at funerals,” she mentioned. “On the gurdwara, individuals will ask to make jalebi as a manner of celebrating that particular person’s life.”
Creating change via visibility
Though Shani’s activism is now her full-time work, she’s more and more utilizing broadcasting to succeed in wider audiences. “I’m actually having fun with my broadcasting period in the meanwhile,” she mentioned. “I’ve a present on BBC Asian Community referred to as The On a regular basis Hustle. I’m visitor internet hosting it in the meanwhile.”
She’s additionally appeared on exhibits like Rip Off Britain and Unfastened Ladies, and sees media illustration as a key method to shift perceptions. “We have now actually poor illustration of disabled individuals,” she mentioned. “The illustration could be very sensationalised. Often you solely see disabled individuals speaking about incapacity or complaining in regards to the lack of accessibility.”
Shani believes that growing visibility is crucial for inclusion. “In the end, we have to simply perceive that disabled persons are individuals with the identical rights and tasks as non-disabled individuals.”
She factors out that 83% of disabled individuals within the UK weren’t born with their situation. “We aren’t designing for our future selves in any manner,” she mentioned. “Accessibility advantages all people.”
Meals as consolation and connection
Meals is a giant a part of Shani’s life – each as a cultural anchor and a inventive outlet. “Good meals to me is about consuming meals that makes you’re feeling good, that’s going to do one thing good to your physique,” she mentioned. “But it surely’s additionally tied to so many alternative experiences. Meals is love. Meals brings individuals collectively.”
Her favorite dish of all time is her mum’s combined lentil dal. “I’ve tried and tried and tried, however I can’t get it the identical,” she laughed. “With chapati, purple onion, mango pickle, yoghurt – that’s my favorite meal.”
Since transferring out of dwelling and residing independently, Shani has change into extra assured within the kitchen. “I went on Nadia Hussain’s present Time to Eat as a result of I used to be actually lacking my mum’s meals,” she mentioned. “Nadia taught me the best way to make a jackfruit curry. That gave me a lot confidence simply to get within the kitchen and take a look at.”
She’s additionally identified amongst family and friends for her mac and cheese and enchiladas. “These are my two requested dishes,” she smiled. “However I like my cheese sauce extra saucy than tacky – I’m very fussy with how I like my cheese.”
Regardless of not having an accessible kitchen, Shani finds methods to make it work. “I truly don’t have an accessible dwelling,” she mentioned. “So how I make it accessible in the meanwhile is thru plenty of stools and stepladders, which is actually harmful as a result of I’ve brittle bone illness.”
She’s working in direction of having her personal accessible dwelling at some point. “I can’t await that day to come back.”
A mission that’s removed from over
Whether or not she’s internet hosting a pageant, consulting with companies or sharing her story on nationwide tv, Shani’s mission stays clear: to make society extra inclusive, accessible and equal for everybody.
“I need to be a part of the change that I need in society,” she mentioned. “And which means serving to individuals perceive that accessibility and inclusion should not only for disabled individuals – they profit us all.”
