38 | The Writer • April 2020
LITERARY SPOTLIGHT
BY MELISSA HART INSIDE LITERARY MAGAZINES
A
man with dementia strug-
gles to remember the pro-
cess of filling and hanging a
hummingbird feeder while
dealing with rage and then sudden sal-
vation as his wife looks on.
A woman navigates a romantic
relationship with a man baffled by
behaviors brought on by her obses-
sive-compulsive disorder.
The sister of a man with an intellec-
tual disability surveys childhood pho-
tographs and reflects on the challenges
and joys of growing up in her particu-
lar family.
Since 1979, Kaleidoscope has pub-
lished fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and
art that explores the intersection of dis-
ability and fine arts. Submissions come
from around the world, from writers
whose lives have been touched by dys-
lexia and autism, visual and hearing
impairment, traumatic brain injury
and bipolar disorder.
“We look at everything that’s sent to
us, and we appreciate each contributor’s
effort. It’s always exciting to see new
pieces that express different perspec-
tives on disabilities that might be unfa-
miliar to people,” editor-in-chief Debra
Johanyak says. She notes that she’s also
open to considering pieces that have
appeared in other publications.
Tone, editorial content
Kaleidoscope editors look for work that
avoids sentimental depictions of people
with physical and intellectual disabili-
ties. “We have stereotypical perspectives
from previous widespread literature and
movies,” Johanyak says. “We’re looking
for a more balanced approach that’s
Kaleidoscope
This journal has welcomed contributors wishing to explore the experience of
disability via writing and art for more than four decades.objective and accurate, and provides
valuable insight into a person’s experi-
ence as disabled or insight into a rela-
tionship with someone who has a
disability. We’re eager to hear these sto-
ries and share them with readers.”
The Winter/Spring 2020 issue
includes a piece by Deanna Altomara
titled “Taco Tuesday.” Written from the
perspective of a high school girl on the
autism spectrum, it explores her first
job as a restaurant server – employment
she navigates with therapy and assis-
tance from her parents. “It really helps
readers to see and appreciate this girl
from her perspective when she overre-
acts or makes a mistake or drops some-
thing on the job,” Johanyak explains.
The same issue includes a nonfictionpiece titled “Remembering Ronnie” by
Anita G. Gorman, commemorating the
passing of a local man with Down syn-
drome. Johanyak describes the essay as
a heartwarming piece about how the
man – Ronnie – did volunteer work and
became an integral part of Gorman’s
community.Contributors
“We have contributors who have never
been published, who’ve lived alone for
decades writing poems and stories,”
Johanyak says. Their work appears
alongside that of seasoned novelists