Commissioning

A special thanks to all the artists, illustrators and writers who have made Able Zine great. To see more of their work, order your own copy at Able Zine.com

An illustration of a tarot card deck featuring disability and surveillance inspired cards titles "The Censor", "The Algorithm", "Community" and "The All Seeing Eye."
A tarot card-inspired digital collage. The card is labeled "Community".

This digital tarot card series, created by disabled artist Matilda Sabal, was commissioned for Issue 2 of Able Zine, to accompany an article written by Sarah Tucker, about the various barriers facing disabled social media users today. The cards explore various themes present in the age of social networking, such as censorship, algorithms and surveillance.

An illustration depicting built environments, both accessible and inaccessible to disabled people such as concerts, swimming pools and public apartments surrounded by staircases.

These digital illustrations, created by artist Kirsten Hatfield, were commissioned as title pages for Issue 2, which was themed around ‘Environment’. Both environments highlight the realities, as well as idealised environments for disabled people. The built environment holds more barriers to inclusion, it is more jagged and linear, whereas the natural is more curvaceous. One can see apartments only accessible by stairs, a concert happening without a viewing platform for wheelchair users, and a pool only accessible to those who can climb ladders. The natural environment serves as more of a safe haven in an ongoing pandemic, with open air and a wheelchair-accessible dock. However, humanity’s own environmental impact can be seen through the transparent water holding various debris, the garbage can overflowing with disposable face masks and the bush fire that can be seen in the distance.

An illustration depicting "natural environments". In this one you see a lake setting with mountains in the background. Disabled people sit and explore the area with guide dogs, mobility aids and picnic blackets.
a black and white digital artwork of a girl in a wheelchair. On the back of the wheelchair the handles are covered in spikes, and there is lettering stitched on which reads ‘just ask, don’t grab’

This illustrated series, created by Alice Ella, was commissioned to accompany the article ‘Power Dynamics on the Pavement’ written by Sophie B. The article explores the challenges facing disabled pedestrians as they go about their daily lives. One illustration features admired disability activist, Dr Amy Kavanagh, founder of the #JustAskDontGrab campaign.

The illustration shows Dr Amy Kavanagh, a visually impaired activist, walking down the street using a white cane. There are signs saying ‘Stop! Your ‘help’ can harm’ and ‘Disabled women are 2⁣ X as likely to be sexually assaulted".
A black and white illustration that shows a car dashboard with a hidden disabilities lanyard and blue badge. The blue badge shows a photo of a middle finger in the air beside the quote " a lot of disabilities are invisible.Your reaction to them isn't
A futuristic illustration of a disabled figure sat at a desk with hundreds of CV's some of which are flying away into a digital landscape.

These illustrations, created by Natalee Decker, were commissioned to accompany an article, written by Cambell Plant, that explores the use of AI in modern hiring/recruitment practices and how this technology can further contribute towards biases against disabled people and other intersectionalities.

An illustration of a digital futuristic environment in which people sit at an interview desk surrounded by CV's and other applicants. The illustration represent AI being used in recruitment and hiring.

For issue 1, Able explored the landscape of reproductive health in the UK, speaking to three women, comedian Rosie Jones, crochet designer Luci Wilden and embroidery artist Hannah Hill about their experiences within the NHS. These illustrations by Jess Ebsworth accompanied the article.

An artistic illustration of a womanly figure from above. Her head is open at the back and out spills geometric lines and swirls representing mental health.
An artistic illustration of a mouth and information flowing into the ear of another. It features strong red and pink lines and colours to represent period information.
A three page spread from Issue 1 entitled "Doctor Patience" It features an illustration of doctors and nurses in imaginary scenarios. And text by Bella Milroy.

This article and illustration series was created to discuss the obstacles and strategies patients can have in order to access better relationships with their healthcare providers. Illustrator, Clever Cunst, collaborated on these hand drawn recreations of medical scenes, one of which illustrates a tongue-in-cheek scenario of a board room full of male doctors and executives discussing their “latest study” on Endometriosis and it’s effects on the sex lives of male spouses.

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