Magazine on Disability: THE VOICE OF FOD

THE VOICE OF FOD is the oldest project undertaken by the Family Of Disabled. It was introduced with an aim to create awareness among the masses and make them sensitive about the various aspects of disability and about the people living with them.

Periodicals or magazines on variety of subjects catering to almost every section of society like cooking, women, men, sports, politics, health, business…are readily available. But it is quite difficult to find an issue on disability, thus leaving discontented the literate population amongst 10-crore disabled people, their associates and those interested in the issue of disability.

THE VOICE…, being published biannually since the inception of FOD in 1992, has been able to reach out to those people who for decades have been looking for a comprehensive publication on disability and has succeeded in assuaging their demand and need. It is the first publication of its kind in the country.

THE VOICE…is not a magazine on FOD but a magazine by FOD. It covers various issues comprehensively. It contains information about different organisations working in this field, success stories, inspiring poems, books and movie reviews, classifieds, events, news, etc. "Each of the well-received edition of THE VOICE…in India and abroad contains latest information and interesting material on disability."

The publication is considered to be educative, instructive and informative in nature and has been able to fill up the long felt void resulting from non-availability of literature on disability to a great extent. Over the period, the publication has improved in quality and quantity and this has gradually led to an increase in its readership too. In February 2002, the special 10th anniversary issue was released by Lt. Gen. Pankaj Joshi, CIDS (Chief of Integrated Defence Staff) in his office in South Block, Central Secretariat, New Delhi.

Unique features of THE VOICE…

1. It is the first effort of its kind in the country covering various aspects of disability in a magazine format. It is neither a newsletter of FOD nor a journal meant for academicians

2. Only magazine from North India, covering issues related to disability

3. Caters to the interest of people from all walks of life and not to a particular section of the society

4. The magazine reaches its readers from the bed of the editor who is confined to this state due to quadriplegia

Salient features of THE VOICE...

1. Is published, conceived and edited by an Occupational Therapist

2. Comprehensively covers issues related to disability

3. Released in January and July

4. Is registered with the Registrar for Newspapers of India

5. Contains articles, success stories, profiles of individuals and organisations, latest information, news, poems, inspiring quotations, classifieds, helplines, jokes/ cartoon strips... In fact, the magazine covers anything and everything on disability

6. The last 2 pages are devoted to the activities that take place at FOD in the six months prior to its issue so that the readers are updated with the latest on the organisation's front

7. Serves dual purposes of increasing awareness and sensitising the masses

8. Subscriber base includes individuals (disabled as well as non-disabled), their families; NGOs, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, universities and educational institutes, corporates, etc

Key Sponsor of THE VOICE...

Special thanks to Sh. V. Krishnan and his family who have been sponsoring issues of the THE VOICE… since 1997.