The Viscardi Center, a network of non-profit organizations that educate, employ, and empower children, adults, and veterans with disabilities, announced a mission-based strategic acquisition of Able Newspaper, a monthly periodical founded in 1991 by Publisher Angela Miele Melledy. A unique publication, Able brings the reader information about the disability community. The newspaper is read by individuals with disabilities, their caregivers and families, and professionals who serve people with disabilities. It currently features national, state and local news through a disability perspective; legislation impacting the disability community; related programs/services, events and sports; and columns by experts in their disability-related fields.
Aligning with The Viscardi Center’s “3Es” (educate, employ, empower), the acquisition of Able offers an opportunity to enhance and expand upon the Center’s programs, services and advocacy. From an education standpoint, it presents experiential learning opportunities for students and program participants. Career exploration, internships, work-readiness activities, as well as paid employment and a platform for employers to post job openings are among the ways in which Able positions Viscardi to deliver on its commitment to increase pre- and tangible employment opportunities for people with disabilities. A means for broadening the organization’s advocacy efforts and impact, and a medium to amplify disability lifestyle, culture and resources, ties to the Center’s empowerment pillar.
“We congratulate Angela Miele Melledy on a historic career as the founding publisher and editor of Able, the ‘newspaper of record’ for New York’s disability community,” said Dr. Chris Rosa, President & CEO, of The Viscardi Center upon the announcement. “We are humbled that Angela has entrusted the stewardship of this cherished news source to The Viscardi Center. In building upon Angela’s remarkable legacy, Viscardi is excited to leverage dynamic content and platforms to take Able to new places and levels of accessibility, all the while ensuring it delivers news by, for, and about New York’s disability community.”
“After 33 years of publishing Able Newspaper, I am delighted to have found a wonderful home for it,” said Angela Miele Melledy. “I know The Viscardi Center, with its many years of excellent work for people with disabilities, is the perfect match for the paper and will be able to continue and build on our history of informing the disability community.”
Presently, Able has a print and online presence with a Long Island edition and an online presence with a New York edition. It is also delivered to key locations where people with disabilities frequent and distributed at major disability-related shows including the largest end-user NY-metro event – The Abilities Expo. Well-known by the disability community in New York state, Able has received local, regional and national awards and commendations from government officials and disability organizations. In addition, since 1991, the Library of Congress has curated issues of Able in its archives.
Able will be rebranded under The Viscardi Center umbrella and relaunch in early 2024. The future will include an accessible, dynamic web presence and the introduction of new digital/video content. With 61 million Americans with a disability (1 in 4 individuals), and a global disability community combined disposable income of $1.2 trillion, the multi-faceted Able media platform offers forward-thinking, DEIA-focused disability-oriented and mainstream companies access to a niche market to advertise their products and tap into an often-overlooked talent pool of qualified candidates with disabilities.
About The Viscardi Center
The Viscardi Center, a network of non-profit organizations based in Albertson, NY, provides a lifespan of services that educate, employ, and empower people with disabilities. Its programs and services include Pre-K through High School education (to age 21), school-to-work transition services, vocational training and job placement, digital accessibility services, entrepreneurship, veteran employment and workforce diversification assistance for children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities and businesses. It was founded in 1952 by Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr. who himself wore prosthetic legs, served as disability advisor to eight U.S. Presidents, from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Jimmy Carter, and became one of the world’s leading advocates for people with disabilities.