Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime?

By Raymond D. Cohen

Okay, I admit I am a child of the sixties, not the thirties – but that great old song in the headline above resonates for me nonetheless.

As many of you may already know, I first thought about starting ABILITIES when I was working at the Alberta Children’s Hospital as Director of the Department of Child Care. All of the kids being served by my department had multiple disabilities. The hospital was blessed with many resources, and this allowed the children to enjoy what seemed like a good life – for as long as they were “patients” in the hospital.

However, once they were out in the real world, they suddenly found themselves totally cut off from resources. It was tantamount to being thrown from a cliff. They were lost without the support, information and opportunities they had enjoyed while enrolled in hospital programs.

As I watched this trend grow, my concern increased, not only for these young adults but for others as well. What about those people who were integrated into community schools or those who obtained a disability later in life? How did they learn out about relevant information? Where would they find inspiration and opportunity outside of an institutional setting?

I began to realize that this problem extended way beyond Calgary – that this was, in fact, more of a national, perhaps international, issue.

I became a little (all right, a lot) obsessed with the need to address this problem! I really felt people had a right to know that inspiration and opportunity were out there. If only people could be pointed in the right direction!

I knew that I could provide this service, but I would have to commit myself to finding the information. So, I took a leap of faith. I quit my safe and secure job and ventured off to fulfill my mission.

In 1986, ABILITIES magazine was conceived, and two years later it was born! (I’m a guy – birth does not come naturally – so it takes a bit more time!) Truthfully, at times the labour was painful, but I know it was all worth it. Many people over the years have told me that the services of the Canadian Abilities Foundation have made a difference in their lives.

The magazine is no longer published off my dining room table. In fact, a dedicated staff and a supportive board have joined me in making sure that the organization continues to fulfill its mission. And over 800 volunteers this year alone helped out from coast to coast.

And now, here we are. Sixty issues later. Wow!

Over the years, the Canadian Abilities Foundation has grown. With a mission to provide information, inspiration and opportunity to people with disabilities and their families and friends, we are making a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of Canadian with disabilities. The foundation publishes 45,000 copies of ABILITIES, four times a year. Over 40,000 visitors come to our website monthly. Our electronic newsletter is requested by over 5,400 individuals. 20,000 copies of resource guides and books have been published and distributed. Hundreds of information requests are responded to each week.

But the truth is that the Canadian Abilities Foundation needs support to keep on doing what it does best. Demand is constantly increasing for our services. But the challenge is that financial support is lower than it’s ever been.

If you can give to help thousands of people with disabilities, please do so by filling out the form on page 10 and sending in a donation. The Canadian Abilities Foundation truly needs your help to continue on with what we do.

This issue of ABILITIES leads up to the Paralympics, which will take place in Athens, Greece, from September 17 to 28. Canada has a team to be proud of – we are ready for some gold! Our special feature highlighting this event starts on page 22.

Also in this issue: an important story on personal safety (page 36). In celebration of our 60th issue, check out our blast from the past on page 16. And don’t miss some informative contributions in this issue’s Forum section – including a look at the opportunities presented by our new minority Liberal government, from both the Council of Canadians with Disabilities (page 48) and the Canadian Association of Independent Living Centres (page 49).

All this and much more – we hope you feel as inspired reading ABILITIES as we do when we put it together! And please don’t forget to turn to page 10 to learn more about the Canadian Abilities Foundation and how you can help us carry on.

Together, we can make a difference.

Thanks in advance!