As we travel through this life, with all its twists and turns, it can be satisfying to look back and reflect on how far we’ve come. As a magazine, Kaleidoscope just celebrated its forty-fifth anniversary, so it seems fitting to take a moment to consider how we started. Our parent agency launched an in-house publication in 1979 to highlight the creativity of adults with disabilities who participated in our programs. Since we started by featuring those in the Akron area, we decided to take a closer look to see what local artists we could find for this issue. Our search revealed two visual artists, a ballet dancer, and an inclusive orchestra, all in our own backyard, and we are excited to share their talents with you.
In our featured essay, “My Legs,” Bonnie Ruane Wheeler takes a closer look at her lower limbs and contemplates the ways they have carried her for more than half a century. Beginning in the womb with a mere flutter, she eloquently recounts memories of legs that performed pirouettes, climbed, paced, and even buckled beneath her. These snapshots through time transport readers to the present day, and a diagnosis she might not be able to outrun.
This issue also includes contributions from Gail Brown, Mimi Eagar, Mio Aoki-Sherwood, Brenda Beardsley, Diane Bell, Meg Eden, Katharine Yusuf, Lisa Zimmerman, Heather Wicks, Elliott Gorski, Anne Mikusinski, Tim Murphy, Dixie L. Partridge, Roselyn Perez, Val Valdez, Zach Pietrafetta, Hearts For Music, Lily Sargent, Linseigh Green, Mary Harwell Sayler, Gabriel Hull, Virginia Isaacs Cover, Elly Katz, Philip Andrew Lisi, M.S. Marquart, H. McCrystal, and Mia Herman.
Whether it is literally taking inventory of your physical body and what it is telling you, looking inward to do some soul-searching, or examining the world around you and those in it, look closely. Things aren’t always as they seem. Looking at a situation from someone else’s perspective can provide insight, and you might be surprised by what you discover. In this issue where relationships, parenting, aging, neurodiversity, chronic illness, ableism and resilience are all examined, you may see a reflection of yourself represented. Take a closer look. What do you see?
Click here for the screen reader friendly version of Issue 90.