| Editors | Managing Editor Gillian Friedman, MD Editors Paula Fitzgerald Renne Gardner Pamela K. Johnson Sylvia Martirosyan Lia Limón Martirosyan Molly McGovern Josh Pate, PhD Maya Sabatello, PhD, JD Nancy Shi Health Editors E. Thomas Chappell, MD Larry Goldstein, MD Moses de Graft-Johnson, MD Web Editors Alhaji Conteh Marge Plasmier Mary Shafizadeh |
|---|---|
| Writers | Contributors George Covington Ashley Fiolek Geri Jewell Regina Hall Myles Mellor Paul Pelland Betsy Valnes David S. Zimmerman Danielle Zurovick, PhD Humor Writers Jeff Charlebois George Covington, JD Gene Feldman, JD |
| Media | Multi-Media Helki Frantzen Stanya Kahn Graphics Scott Johnson Melissa Murphy |
| Editor-in-Chief | Chet Cooper |
| Transcriptionist | Sandy Grabowski |
| Photographer | Nancy Villere |
| Categories | Health and Disability |
| Frequency | Bimonthly |
| Publisher | Chet Cooper |
| Founder | Chet Cooper |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Country | United States of America |
| Based in | Santa Ana andCosta Mesa, California |
| Website | abilitymagazine |
| ISSN | 1062-5321 |
| OCLC | 502282231 |
Ability is an American bimonthly magazine founded byChet Cooper[1] in1990, and launched as the first newsstand magazine[citation needed] focused on issues ofhealth anddisability.Ability is ranked in the Top 50 Magazines in the World.[2] It is distributed byTime Warner and has offices inSanta Ana andCosta Mesa, California.
Ability covers on health, environmental protection, assistive technology, employment, sports, travel, universal design, mental wellness. Magazine covers issues include theAmericans with Disabilities Act,[3]civil rights advancement, employment opportunities for people with disabilities, andhuman interest stories. Cover interviews consist of movie and TV celebrities, business leaders, sports figures, presidents, first ladies, and more. Each cover story ofAbility showcases a public figure who either has a disability or a connection to a disability-related cause.
Ability is dedicated to promoting accessibility in bothcontent andform and is the first to embed VOICEYE (a high-density matrix barcode system) on its editorial pages to hear print through smartphones and tablets — giving good access to people with low vision, blindness or reading challenges in 58 languages.[4]
Ability frequently participates in international conferences, public awareness events and opportunities to affect policy surrounding issues of disability; and has partnered with theUnited Nations in efforts to raise awareness.[5][6]
Throughout the years, many entertainers and celebrities representing important causes have been featured on the cover ofAbility. Notable musicians, such asRay Charles,[7]Andrea Bocelli,[8] andAvril Lavigne;[9] and actors, such asRobert Patrick,[10]Mary Tyler Moore,[11]Kirk Douglas,[12]Jack Lemmon,[13]Laura Dern,[14]Holly Robinson Peete,[15] andFran Drescher,[16] have shared their stories withAbility. Other famous faces include actor and advocateChristopher Reeve,[17] talk show hostMontel Williams,[18] comedianRichard Pryor,[19] and entertainerDonny Osmond.[20] Most recently,Joe Mantegna,Kurt Yaeger,William H. Macy,Jennifer Esposito,Bobby Farrelly,Peter Farrelly,Andy Madadian,Amy Brenneman,Howie Mandel,Kirk Douglas,Stevie Wonder,Gary Busey,Austin Basis, andMax Gail have been featured in the magazine.[21]
Politicians featured inAbility have includedPresidentBill Clinton,[22] SenatorsTom Harkin,[23]Bob Dole,[24]Chuck Grassley,[25]Max Cleland,Harris Wofford,[26] CongressmanJim Langevin,[27] and First LadiesLaura Bush andRosalynn Carter.[28][29]
Issues ofAbility have also included a wide array of profiles of leaders in the world of business, includingMedtronic founderEarl Bakken,[30]Kinko's CEOPaul Orfalea,[31] andPanasonic CEO Don Iwatani,[32] and companies that embody "best practices" includingBoeing,Hewlett-Packard,Microsoft,Starbucks, andCVS Pharmacy.[33][34][35]
Ability received the 2014 Da Vinci Award for Accessibility and Universal Design.[36][37]
Ability is part of a diverse network of organizations geared toward advancement and inclusion of people with disabilities. These projects include:
Ability created an alliance with the China Press for People with Disabilities — providing the rights to publish each other's selected stories, artworks and articles, in an effort to bring both countries to experience human interest stories that otherwise would never be known.[citation needed]
Ability has partnered with theArc of the United States "to raise awareness about disability issues and the resources available to people with disabilities and their families."[41]
Ability is listed as an awareness resource by theUnited Cerebral Palsy organization[42] and has provided media for the Disability Rights Legal Center.[43]