Opinion

My Word!

80 Issues and Going Strong!

By Raymond D. Cohen

Welcome to Issue 80 of Abilities Magazine! Yes, that’s right – 80 issues have rolled off the press since Abilities was born in 1986 on my kitchen table in Calgary, Alberta. Stop me if you’ve heard this one before…

The inspiration for Abilities came from my work at the time as founding director of the Department of Child Care in Gordon Townsend School in Alberta Children’s Hospital.

That was a fascinating facility for many reasons. One was that it existed at that point where the worlds of education and rehabilitative medicine merged – some may say collided. The students there, all of whom required at least three of the therapies the hospital provided, were compelled to leave school at age 18. They found themselves essentially falling off of a cliff – forced to transition from a wonderfully resourced facility into the open environment – where very little in the way of opportunity awaited them. I was also leading a parents’ support group at the time – and the anxiety which surrounded each participating family as “graduation day” grew closer was palpable.

So, I became increasingly obsessed with the dilemma and made it my business to seek out sources of information, inspiration and opportunity for these folks – and soon came to realize that this was not a Calgary-specific problem, rather this was a national, even international (perhaps even intergalactic!) issue – and I wanted to do something with all of the wonderful information I was accumulating.

Thus, with the help of a few volunteers and a newly minted board of directors and the guidance of Fleming Nielsen, my publishing mentor, Abilities Magazine was created under the banner of the Canadian Abilities Foundation (CAF).

That was twenty-four years ago – and CAF and Abilities Magazine have been on a wild ride ever since. With the support of a wonderfully committed board of directors, great staff and the participation of countless volunteers, we have been tackling the important topics of the day, seeking out life-enhancing opportunities, supporting advocacy and service organizations; providing a venue for an increasing number of enlightened service providers, manufacturers and retailers in their quest to reach the disability community and, frequently, trying to keep our own heads above water so that we can continue to provide service – and grow to do so more effectively.

You can help! Please take the time to subscribe to Abilities Magazine and/or make a donation to support us in our work. In this way, for the coming years, we will be able to continue to say, Stay in touch!

Raymond D. Cohen is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the Canadian Abilities Foundation and publisher and editor-in-chief of Abilities
(See more by this writer)

Comments

You must be logged in to add a comment. Log in

Abilities Magazine

• Cover Photo by Jason Paul Roberts

• Abilities Digital Issue - Spring 2012

Directory of Disability Organizations in Canada - Browse or search the most comprehensive database of disability organizations in Canada
Access Guide Canada - Your guide to accessible places in Canada
Donate online - Help support the work of the Canadian Abilities Foundation
Subscribe - Order a subscription for yourself, and a gift subscription for a friend
Write for us - Read our writers' guidelines
Advertise with us - See our rate card (PDF)

Promo graphic: Proud sponsors of the Canadian Abilities Foundation

CAF Forum

A Life Transformed

Abilities Centre

Access 2 Entertainment

Discover Canada's Paralympic Super Athletes!

Family Caregiver Tax Credit

Integrated Access

Lost in Translation

March Is Brain Awareness Month

ParaGolfer

Sports Are For Everyone

The Next Wave

Your account

With an account at abilities.ca, you can join the conversation, and you can use the website to manage your subscription to the magazine. Signing up is free and easy!
Forgot password? | Create account

Email bulletin signup

The Abilities Bulletin is free, monthly, and packed full of news and information you can use.

Article Tools

Send a letter to the editor
Printer friendly