Montana magazine "Apostrophe" for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities hits newsstands

Can’t and shouldn’t. Those words too often turn into “could have” and “should have” – regrets about lost opportunities.

Apostrophe, a new magazine for, about and by people with developmental disabilities, intends to help turn “can’t” and “shouldn’t” into “can” and “should.”

The 48-page, full-color quarterly was mailed to more than 4,300 potential subscribers this week. The magazine also went on sale at Hastings stores and other outlets throughout Montana.

“We’ve learned a lot about developmental disabilities since we started putting the magazine together six months ago,” said editor Jim Tracy.

“Those words contain lots of syllables and carry loads of meaning.

But one important lesson we’ve learned is that big words and labels can get in the way of understanding people.”

Apostrophe, a concept developed by AWARE Inc. http://www.aware-inc.org/ CEO Larry Noonan, advocates for people with developmental disabilities and gives them another way to advocate for themselves.

Among the articles in the first issue is an editorial by People First of Montana President Rocky Hughes of Kalispell. Hughes writes about the goals of People First members, including learning to speak for themselves. Lately People First has been speaking out about the “marriage penalty” – punitive regulations that make it nearly impossible for some people to enjoy the basic right and simple human desire to marry the person they love.

“It’s just a stupid rule,” Hughes says.

Apostrophe also took a cue from People First in speaking up about other issues.

Disability Rights Montana http://www.mtadv.org/ lawyer Tom Dooling writes in the first issue about the Olmstead Act, a court decision that requires states to administer their services, programs and activities “in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities.” The decision was a promise made to people with disabilities, but that promise hasn’t always been kept, according to Dooling.

Tim Plaska, Community Services Bureau Chief for the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services Developmental Disability Program, talks about disabilities from the supply side with a column about services and supports people need to live as independently as possible in the community.

Those are weighty matters. But not everything in Apostrophe is serious.

You can read about the Special Olympics Montana 2008 State Summer Games in this issue and check out the photos taken by Gregg Edelen of Butte.

Special Olympics athlete Anton Veverka of Richey is the subject of our cover story. Veverka excels in long-distance running, cross-country skiing and basketball.

Running and skiing and playing hoops make up a big part of Anton’s life, but you’ll read in Apostrophe how he has succeeded – sometimes against the odds – to become successful in the other parts of his life.

In a section called “Three Months in Montana,” you can find out about fun things to do and places to visit during the summer. We’ll publish seasonal versions of the guide in the fall, winter and spring.

In other departments you can learn:

§ how to get a job through the Job Service Navigator program;

§ how to make marinara sauce;

§ how to re-pot a house plant;

Future issues will include fashion tips and how-to’s on keeping fit, saving and investing, and buying a home.

Staff besides Tracy are Tim Pray, deputy editor, and Dan McClafferty, advertising manager.

Oh, about the name of the magazine.

Apostrophe, a concept developed by AWARE CEO Larry Noonan, means more than just punctuation. The title comes from a song by the late rocker Frank Zappa. In 1974, Zappa wrote and performed a tune about a man talking to his dog, Fido. We all can relate to that. But in the song, Fido talks back.

“You can’t say that!” the man tells the dog in disbelief. “I do it all the time,” Fido replies. He talks, he says, even with all the apostrophes thrown his way: can’t, won’t, don’t, hasn’t, isn’t, shouldn’t and couldn’t.

People with disabilities face the same apostrophes. Too often they’re told what they can’t do. The Apostrophe emphasizes what they can do.

To learn more, contact Tracy at 406/563-8117 ext. 38, or [email protected].