Able magazine is the UK's most widely distributed consumer/lifestyle magazine aimed at disabled people, as well as their families, carers/enablers and the health/social care professionals who work with them. In general, our content is focused on the positive personal experiences of disabled people and those close to them.
Each issue contains a mixture of news, regular opinion columns, interviews, profiles and features highlighting the positive aspects of disability in modern day Britain: subjects covered include holidays, motoring, sports, leisure activities, product reviews and personal relationships. Please note that, while Craven Publishing Limited is based in Glasgow, Able magazine is distributed across the whole of the UK and its content reflects this.
Able magazine follows the "social model" of disability -- in this, people are disabled by barriers and prejudice and exclusion by society (either purposely or inadvertently), not their impairments. More specifically, in terms of writing style and vocabulary, we follow the guidelines as set out within "Hacked Off: A Journalist's Guide To Disability", originally published by Scope in conjunction with the National Union of Journalists. A PDF copy of this can be downloaded from the Scope website: www.scope.org.uk/disablism/downloads/hackedoffguide.pdf
Able magazine currently features the work of various freelance contributors. Whenever possible, we try to support and nurture the careers of disabled writers and journalists. However, we also accept submissions from non-disabled writers if it is clear they have real experience/understanding of disability and related social and cultural issues. Articles are normally commissioned at 500, 1,000 or 1,500 words.
Our "My Story" is a popular strand within the magazine; each issue we focus on an individual disabled person who describes how disability has affected them and their life. This is either written by the individual concerned, in-house by ourselves or is – very occasionally -- supplied by a freelance writer. We usually look for between 800 and 1,000 words, told in the first person. We would also expect the subject to provide at least one reasonably large image of themselves to illustrate the article.
Because we already have a relatively large "bank" of articles for the My Story strand, it is advisable to contact Paul Cockbun with some information on your proposal.
Able magazine does not publish fiction or poetry.
All freelance queries, pitches and submissions should be sent in the first instance to
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or posted to:
Paul F Cockburn,
Able magazine,
Craven Publishing,
15-39, Durham Street,
Kinning Park,
Glasgow,
