Youth: Articles

Abilities Magazine Archive

It's Playtime!
Variety in Ontario Introduces Children in Motion in Vaughan

By Markus Stadelmann-Elder

Children in Motion is an activity class that incorporates recreational and sports activities for young people between the ages of three and 12. Classes are adapted to the abilities of the children ...
73 Winter, 2007

Education: Making a Difference
Creating Full Lives for All the Children—All Means All

By Lynda D. Khan, Jack Pearpoint

The Marsha Forest Centre (MFC) collaborates to build a society where contribution, membership and belonging bring meaning and quality to each of our ...
68 Fall, 2006

When Something's Wrong
Helping Children and Youth with Mental Health Issues

By Krista Saleh

The CPRF has launched publications to educate about youth mental ...
66 Spring, 2006

Book Smarts
Breaking Stereotypes with Children’s Fiction

By Beverley A. Brenna

The author, a teacher, discusses positive books for and about children with ...
66 Spring, 2006

Fighting Spirit

For more than 28 years, Grandmaster Tae Eun Lee has provided Taekwondo instruction to children with disabilities in ...
65 Winter, 2005

MS in the Family
Supporting Children of Parents with MS

By Cristina Toporas

Multiple sclerosis affects not just the person diagnosed with the disease, but the entire ...
65 Winter, 2005

Dr. Mickey Milner Receives Honourary Doctorate

Congratulations to Dr. Mickey Milner of Toronto, who this year received an honourary Doctor of Science from Queen’s University. Morris (Mickey) Milner, Ph.D., P.Eng., C.C.E., is a board member of ...
61 Winter, 2004

Young Caring Citizens
Philia Dialogue Youth Strategy Inspires Connections

By Brian Smith

In September of 2002 I was asked to explore whether there was a place and a welcoming for young people with disabilities in the “youth movement.” What contributions could they make to youth-led ...
60 Fall, 2004

Destination North Pole

By the Canadian Abilities Foundation

Other 15-year-old boys may have spent their spring days enjoying the seasonal sunshine. But Janek Mela of Poland, who is a double amputee (arm/leg), spent the month of April trekking to the North ...
59 Summer, 2004

Post-Secondary Education
First Phase of School-to-Work Transition Study Completed

Many studies have confirmed that people with disabilities experience considerable barriers to obtaining post-secondary education and employment. Researchers have also found that people with ...
56 Fall, 2003

Young Girl Makes Political History

Roisin Hartnett is only 13, but she’s already made her mark in history. She has become the first page who is blind to serve in Ontario’s legislature. The highly competitive page program is offered ...
56 Fall, 2003

Sick about Searching
Is There a Doctor in the House?

By Catherine Steele

For most people, going to a family doctor for a check-up is a fairly ordinary activity. But recent research indicates that young adults with physical disabilities have an extremely difficult and ...
50 Spring, 2002

Urban vs. Rural Living
Which Has the Greener Grass?

By Catherine Steele

How do the healthy behaviours of urban dwellers with disabilities compare to their counterparts living in rural areas? The results might surprise ...
49 Winter, 2001

Battle of the Sexes
Are Males or Females Healthier?

By Catherine Steele

How does disability affect the health of males versus females? Here is a look at new research findings, and an invitation to help both males and females with disabilities win in the struggle for good ...
48 Fall, 2001

Those Teenage Years!
Helping to Prevent Substance Abuse

By Catherine Steele

While few youth with disabilities try smoking, alcohol or drugs, the number increases significantly as these youth become adults. Explore why this is, and find out how we can promote healthy living ...
47 Summer, 2001

The Ripple Effect
YMCA Youth Exchanges Canada

YMCA Youth Exchanges Canada provides an exciting intercultural opportunity for youth groups from across Canada to travel, host, share, learn and grow. And that’s just the beginning. The YMCA ...
47 Summer, 2001

The 2001 Canadian Youth Exchange
Healthy Active Living is the Theme

By Jane Arkell

Do you know a youth between 14 and 18 years of age with a disability? Do you think he or she would be interested in travelling to meet with other youth from across Canada? The Active Living ...
46 Spring, 2001

Falling off the Shelf?
The Transition to Adulthood

By Catherine Steele

When children with disabilities reach the age of 19, many supports and services suddenly disappear. Could this be why adults with disabilities are less happy with their lives, feel more lonely and ...
46 Spring, 2001

Cultivating Friendships
A Key to Good Health

By Catherine Steele

Friends are key to staying healthy and happy. But studies show that adults with disabilities often have significant fewer friends than youth with disabilities. This article offers ideas on widening ...
45 Winter, 2000

Do You Believe in Magic?
Connecting Children to a Community of Friendship

Imagine a magic electronic window, through which children and youth with disabilities or illness come to share stories, friendships and experiences. To be inspired to rise above their limitations. To ...
45 Winter, 2000

Ability Edge
An Extra Edge for Youth with Disabilities and Employers

By Sandra MacInnis

Although today’s university, college and high school graduates are facing significant obstacles in securing meaningful, career-related employment, Canada’s youth with disabilities are ...
45 Winter, 2000

The Teen Scene
Observations on Adolescence

By Maureen Bursey

This author wasn’t fully prepared for her little girl, who has Down syndrome, to hit puberty. But between the mood swings, discussions about having babies, and obsession with the Spice Girls, ...
44 Fall, 2000

The Federal Student Work Experience Program
Finding a Workplace of Choice

By Max Brault

“Where can a student with a disability find summer employment in today’s highly competitive market? Where can such a student gain valuable skills and work experience that could lead to meaningful ...
42 Spring, 2000

Growing Pains
Sexual Development in Teens with Disabilities

By Lynne Swanson

Andrew Doucette, 22, clearly remembers being a teenager with raging hormones. "It’s mind-boggling," he declares. "All of a sudden, things are happening that weren’t happening ...
38 Spring, 1999

Cheers!
Treating Alcohol with Respect

By Catherine Steele

"Cheers" - and clink go the glasses! This salutation is often heard when family and friends gather in homes, restaurants and pubs. But sometimes these good times turn bad if the glasses ...
38 Spring, 1999

Garaventa Accessability!
Letter Writing Competition ’98

In March of this year, Garaventa Canada Ltd. launched the AccessABILITY ’98 International Letter Writing Competition, to help promote better understanding of the many challenges that students ...
37 Winter, 1998

That Snack Attack
Keep Your Cravings Healthy

By Catherine Steele, Beth Ellen Rossen

Summertime, and the living is easy... lots more time to sit back and snack! What do Canadian youth choose for their snack attack? A survey asked 7,000 Canadian youth, aged 11 to 16 years, how ...
35 Summer, 1998

Internationa Letter Writing Competition
Improving Access for Students is the Focus

Access to many public and private educational facilities remains a significant obstacle for students of all ages with mobility-related disabilities. Garaventa (Canada) Ltd. is sponsoring ...
35 Summer, 1998

Getting Along with Parents
Keeping the Relationship Healthy

By Catherine Steele

Winter is coming! For many of us, winter is officially kicked off by the holidays. Mention of the holidays brings memories of friends, food and celebrations but, most of all, of family and parents. ...
33 Winter, 1997

What Will I Be?
Envisioning Life as a Grown-Up

By Catherine Steele

Everyone dreams of what they want to be when they grow up. Even after some are "grown up," they still dream of what they would like to be! But for young people, your decision of what to be ...
31 Summer, 1997

Summer Learning
Ideas from DiscoverAbility

People usually think of summer as a relaxing time. It is very important for everyone to have a break from routines and deadlines. But for students, summer is also a time to expand experiences and ...
31 Summer, 1997

Discoverability Makes Transitions Easier

By Danielle Svec

DiscoverAbility is an organization in the Toronto area that provides career planning programs and services for people with physical disabilities between the ages of 16 and 29. In my last year of ...
31 Summer, 1997

Eat Well... Live Well

By Catherine Steele

Parents, teachers, and health care providers have all told us to "eat properly." They have quoted the "Canadian Guidelines for Healthy Eating": - enjoy a variety of foods; - ...
30 Spring, 1997

Taking Action on Youth Employment
New employment strategy will give young people the experience they need.

More than 110,000 young Canadians will get work experience from the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy. This announcement was made on February 12 by Hon. Pierre S. Pettigrew, Minister ...
30 Spring, 1997

Discoverability
A Stepping Stone to the Work Force

Higher education, job skills training, employment, independent living... These are the concerns of all young people as they complete their years in high school. Planning for the future is a major ...
30 Spring, 1997

Let It Snow!

By Catherine Steele

"Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!" is from a song often heard during the winter season. But whoever wrote this cheery song probably did not have a physical disability! Now, snow is ...
29 Winter, 1996

Partnetships in Action
Retail Customer Service Youth Internship Program Provides Young People with Real Job Experience

By Ing Wong

It’s common knowledge. Finding a job in the 90s is a difficult task. Corporations are downsizing, and the public sector is shrinking. Young people with disabilities are finding it even harder to ...
29 Winter, 1996

Do You Like School?

By Catherine Steele

Well, it’s fall... cooler weather, coloured leaves and the beginning of another school year. There are some who really look forward to fall and school, while others wish summer would last longer ...
28 Fall, 1996

Summer... Time to Party!

By Catherine Steele

Ahhh... summer! No more pencils, no more books, no more... well, you know how that old rhyme goes! Summer is that wonderful time of year when youth, and teachers, can forget about school and have ...
27 Summer, 1996

Alcohol: The Most Abused Drug in Canada
... Get the Facts About Your Kids and Drugs!

With heavy weekend drinking growing rapidly among our nation’s youth, parents must teach kids at an early age that alcohol is, first and foremost, a drug... as dangerous as any illegal drug. ...
27 Summer, 1996

Spring... Time for Youth to Get Going!

By Catherine Steele

Spring is almost here! The ice and snow will soon be gone, and we will be able to get out and about much more easily! It’s time to think of going out and having fun! Do you know how much ...
26 Spring, 1996

To Your Health
Study explores lifestyles and health of youth with physical disabilities

A study performed by a research group in Toronto has opened a window onto the lifestyles of youth with physical disabilities, in an attempt to explore why this population has a high risk of ...
24 Fall, 1995

Discover Your Abilities!
Discoverability Gives Students a Chance to Plan for the Future

A student recently heard about "this new career centre that specializes in helping young people with disabilities with career counselling." She decided to check things out, and, after ...
24 Fall, 1995

Easy for You to Say
Talking to Teens

Teenagers are plagued by questions about sex, contraception, family, friends, school, body image, drugs, alcohol, and their career. A chronic condition like asthma, Crohn’s disease, spina bifida or ...
23 Summer, 1995