Celebrating successes, Inspirations reaches into community for support

As Inspirations enters into a new phase in its evolution, I’d like to reflect on its beginnings and its future. 

 I am proud to have been part of the founding of this publication in 2008. I watched as it grew from a newsletter with a small niche following of mostly families of children with special needs to a bi-annual news magazine with a more widespread appeal. What started out as mainly an information resource has become a publication offering stories for a wider readership interested in learning about the realities of others. 

 This is a time when it’s hard to know where to turn for reliable information – and our sources are often dominated by bad news. Inspirations is different. It is both a valuable information resource and a source of inspiring stories about interesting people and organizations. 

 The English Montreal School Board (EMSB) was behind the launch of Inspirations, but its pages now reach way beyond the EMSB network. 

 With the introduction of the positive mental health section three years ago, we have broadened our following even more. This topic interests many outside of the special needs community and subsequently has expanded our readership. 

 As the head of the school board, I see the amazing work educators are doing with special needs students. Many of the writers who contribute to these pages are educators themselves – teachers, administrators or consultants who write insightful and informative pieces based on their own work and experiences. They write as volunteers because they believe in the value of sharing information – and the idea that what they write about could inspire others in similar positions. 

 At the beginning, it was parents and educators most engaged with Inspirations. Over the years, others have joined with interest in having their stories told - business owners, employers, heads of foundations, camp directors and many others. And many of these new voices focus on areas that include ways that neurodiverse individuals and differently abled people are suited for certain jobs, skills, sports or activities. 

 It’s the successes we want people to learn about, not just the challenges. 

 Until recent years, Inspirations has funded itself thanks to our advertisers and sponsors. As Inspirations’ parent organization, the EMSB has provided valuable in-kind support. In order to keep moving forward, we have embarked on a fundraising and philanthropy initiative. 

 We hope you will join us in ensuring the rich future of Inspirations, filling these pages with information and stories about our special communities.  

 Nick Katalifos is the director general of the English Montreal School Board. He is the father of two young adults, one of whom is autistic.