Monique Beech

Throughout most of his life, John Bramblitt, 39, turned to drawing or writing whenever his seizures became too much to bear. Creating something offered him respite from the disruptive convulsions, that were part of growing up with severe epilepsy. But when Bramblitt lost his vision 10 years ago because of damage caused by the disorder, he thought that his ability to create and enjoy art was gone forever. Then one day in 2002, Bramblitt decided to start painting again. He considered doing something that is regarded as visual to be almost an act of defiance—and he was ready to defy expectations.
October 2011

As soon as Luca “Lazylegz” Patuelli begins contorting and twisting his body, a chorus of cheers erupts. To the 300 schoolchildren gathered here at a seniors’ home in Toronto for the Abilities Arts Festival, Patuelli is more than just a celebrity. He’s a role model. Most of the children watched Patuelli steal the hearts of Canadians on the hit show So You Think You Can Dance Canada this past August. The professional dancer, who has competed around the world with breakdancing crews, made it to the top 90 on the show, a first for a contestant with a disability.
June 2011