In this Issue of Abilities...

By Raymond D. Cohen

In this issue of ABILITIES, the discerning eye (or ear, for you audio-cassette subscribers) may note the fact that there is a little reference with each member of our Board of Directors on the masthead -- explaining a little about what each of them does in life -- and, through extrapolation, what each person brings to the ABILITIES board. The reason for this is to bring the Canadian Abilities Foundation, the organization responsible for publishing ABILITIES, out just a little further into public view.

One reason for doing this is to sensitize you to the fact that the organization behind ABILITIES is an organization with a mission -- a job to do. That job is to keep you informed -- informed about products, programs and opportunities; informed about some of the things other people with disabilities are up to; informed about what’s happening locally, nationally and (sometimes) internationally (and very occasionally, intergallactically!).

ABILITIES, in printing a minimum of 50,000 copies four times a year, is one of the most powerful mediums of its kind in the world. Many, many individuals, along with consumer associations, professional organizations and every level of government, all regularly contribute their information to our literary melting pot.

And, needless to say, numerous product manufacturers and service providers regularly use ABILITIES to offer people with disabilities, their friends, families and the professionals working in their service a vast array of product and service opportunities.

Our most recent survey tells us that 85% of our subscribers read ABILITIES from cover to cover, 73% keep an issue at home or at the office indefinitely, 73% refer back to ABILITIES between two and six times (or more) and 65% report that between two and five people (or more) read a "passed-along" issue in their home or office.

What does this tell us? It tells us that ABILITIES continues to meet a very important need in communities across Canada -- and we know from the demographics that this need will continue to grow in the years ahead.

Our mission is an expensive one. We, regretfully, have had to adjust our subscription cost. It will remain very reasonable ($22.00 for 8 issues per individual subscription -- that’s two full years of ABILITIES!) but this is, nevertheless, an increase. The actual costs of subscribing are specified in the form below (major hint).

If you are already a subscriber, this increase will not affect you until it is time to renew. If you are living on a fixed income and cannot afford to subscribe, why not drop us a line and let us know what you can afford -- nobody will be refused ABILITIES because of financial limitations.

On the other hand, ABILITIES too could use a helping hand. Our non-profit charitable status allows us to offer tax-deductible receipts for donations. We would be happy to provide such a receipt for any donations of $25.00 or more.

Why not take a few moments to fill out the form below? In so doing you will be assuring yourself of a top-rung magazine four times a year -- and providing support to a not-for-profit organization absolutely committed to meeting your information requirements.