About Us
Ability Today: Empowering Disabled Individuals Through Education
Ability Today, a nonprofit organisation, is dedicated to training disabled individuals and providing pathways to employment. Launching the Roving Reporter program in 2018, the platform expanded to offer its first Academy training course in 2020 in partnership with the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). Now in its fifth year, Ability Today runs three courses in Journalism and SEO, with over 100 students now studying or having completed the programs.
Graduates have secured full-time positions at prestigious outlets such as the BBC, Newsquest, and ITV, while freelancers contribute to Metro, Radio Times, Lifestyle Magazine, Cosmopolitan, The Guardian, PosAbility Magazine and more. Partnering with the NCTJ has helped our student journalists prepare for the future, making education and training accessible to all.
In 2023, Ability Today teamed up with Novos to launch the Academy for Disabled SEO Specialists. Looking ahead in 2024, we will introduce academies in bookkeeping and coding through collaborations with a financial services company and a leading coding educator.
Remote work and study have transformed opportunities for disabled individuals, enabling them to participate actively and inclusively. Online tools such as Zoom, AI Captions, online stenography, notetakers, and OBS software facilitate the delivery of these classes. We have created a unique, online, and accessible teaching arena where students can manage their disabilities while engaging with peers in a supportive environment.
For those interested in joining or supporting the mission, please get in touch. grant@abilitytoday.com
Founder & CEO Grant Logan: A Journey of Resilience and Innovation
On a sunny September morning in 2003, Grant Logan’s life took a dramatic turn. Once a manager of artists and songwriters in the bustling music industry, a motorcycle accident left him with a crushed spine and the realisation that he would never walk again. The journey that followed was gruelling, with multiple surgeries and a lengthy rehabilitation period, but he always remembered a nurses words early on… “One day you’ll realise your one of the lucky ones!”. It didn’t make sense to him at first but later became a guiding mantra.
Returning home just before Christmas 2003, Grant faced the challenge of reclaiming his independence. Everyday tasks, driving with hand controls, and resuming work became new hurdles. The nature of his job in the music industry, which involved frequent travel, soon proved incompatible with his new reality.
Months later, his struggle intensified with a bout of MRSA, necessitating the removal of all reconstructive metalwork from his back. Supported by family and friends through this tough time, Grant began to research disability resources, inadvertently laying the groundwork for his future endeavours.
Grant’s first step towards redefining his life came through the Back Up Trust, a charity that helps people affected by spinal cord injury. A multi-activity course in the Lake District, followed by a skiing trip to Colorado, reignited his sense of adventure and achievement. Inspired, he launched his first website, The Wheel Life, a social network for wheelchair users that connected people worldwide and provided a platform for self-expression.
Realising the scarcity of accessible information for the disabled community, Grant went on to start Disability Today, later rebranded as Ability Today, to ensure that vital resources and opportunities were easily accessible, beginning as a news feed delivering disability news to his community.
In 2017, Disability Today became a social enterprise. By 2019, it transformed into Ability Today, with the mantra ‘Lets focus on what we can do, not what we can’t!’
Pre-COVID, Grant’s team of volunteers, all with their own disabilities, started out on the roving reporter programme, creating video stories of their adventures and travels, Steph went water skiing and gliding, Heather scuba diving, Khaleel flying, gliding and visiting attractions and interviewing staff along the way.
In 2020, Ability Today partnered with the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and secured National Lottery funding to launch the Academy for Disabled Journalists (ADJ). Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the academy thrived by moving classes online, reaching students across the UK.
Now in its fifth year, the ADJ offers both foundational and advanced journalism courses, with plans to expand into more work-from-home training solutions coming soon.
At 52, Grant Logan reflects on his rollercoaster journey with gratitude, truly understanding the nurse’s words from years ago: “I really am one of the lucky ones.”
Co Founder & Director Sarah Davison-Poltock – A Story of Resilience, Reinvention and Advocacy
Sarah embarked on a unique journey that reflects her diverse talents and unwavering dedication. Initially trained at the prestigious Elmhurst Ballet School, her path took a surprising turn as she switched gears to pursue chemistry at the London College of Printing (UAL). Later, she joined the family business, specialising in bespoke printing inks.
Sarah’s journey within the family business was marked by her determination and versatility. She acquired an HNC in Business & Finance while mastering various aspects of the company, progressing from a lab technician to eventually becoming a Director. Tragically, her father’s untimely demise prompted a career shift.
Subsequently, she reinvented herself, and an opportunity with her lifelong friend Grant emerged to join him and the Social Enterprise Ability Today. Sarah plays a pivotal role in supporting the founder Grant and her dedication and contributions led to her becoming a Director and Co Founder.
Today, Sarah is a passionate advocate for the disabled community, working to dismantle barriers within the media industry through her involvement with Ability Today and the Academy for Disabled Students. Her multifaceted journey shows resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to making a difference. As a devoted mother of three, she finds joy in family, relishes chocolate, indulges in shopping, savours good food, and, as a breast cancer survivor, she lives by the motto “carpe diem.”
Meet Our Assistant Editor Khaleel al-Soubur Chima: A Story of Resilience and Achievement
Khaleel was born in Glasgow on October 11, 1990, to a family of Pakistani and part Iranian heritage. At just nine months old, he was diagnosed with Glutaric aciduria type 1, a rare disorder affecting his limbs and vocal cords.
After moving to Slough, Berkshire, Khaleel attended The Avenue in Reading, a specialised school for children with disabilities. By the age of six, he was driving his first powerchair. He later transitioned to Priory School, which accommodated both special needs and mainstream students, and soon flourished, marking the beginning of his vibrant social life.
Khaleel pursued higher education at Kingston University, graduating in 2016 with an Upper Second Class BSc (Hons) degree in Mathematics. Reflecting on his journey, Khaleel says, “I consider myself very lucky and am thankful for becoming a confident, energetic, enthusiastic, and motivated wheelchair user with a hardworking and positive attitude. As proven in my academic and personal life, I have the courage, determination, and desire to succeed.”
His achievements include receiving the ‘Child of Achievement’ award in 1998 and a nomination for bravery. Khaleel’s interests are diverse, ranging from writing poetry to playing powerchair football in the national league for Reading Powerchair FC and now Farnham Powerchair FC.
In 2018, Khaleel joined Ability Today as a volunteer and quickly became a key team member. He was one of the pioneers of the Roving Reporter program, creating video stories of his adventures, which he films, produces, and edits himself. You can view some of his work here.
Khaleel’s story is a testament to resilience and the power of a positive attitude, showcasing his significant contributions both on and off the field.
Khaleel joined the inaugural year of the Academy for Disabled Journalists in 2020 and quickly distinguished himself, becoming only the second student to pass the qualification. He now serves as Assistant Editor at Ability Today.
Recently, Khaleel added another accolade to his impressive career by covering the World Cup in Qatar. Watch his coverage here: https://youtu.be/t33fm9Oo4Bo?si=XBKzbCxNAqZOQG2y
Meet Olivia Gallagher: From Record-Breaking Wheelchair Racer to Ambassador at Ability Today
Olivia Gallagher became our Ambassador in 2020, read on to learn more about Olivia’s inspiring journey.
Born prematurely at just 24 weeks and weighing only 1lb 11oz, Olivia was the sole survivor of triplets. She faced serious health challenges from the start, including breathing difficulties and a brain bleed, spending nearly six months in special care and needing home oxygen for a year. Diagnosed with athetoid cerebral palsy, severe visual impairment, and profound deafness by her first birthday, Olivia had a tough start in life.
Despite bullying at school, Olivia’s life took a positive turn in 2014 when her dad took her to a taster session at the Weir Archer Academy, founded by Paralympic legend David Weir and coach Jenny Archer. Inspired, she began wheelchair racing and never looked back. By 2015, she was a T33 wheelchair racer, breaking age records and representing England at the CPRISA World Games in Barcelona, where she won silver and bronze medals.
Attending a mainstream school and serving as an ambassador for Ability Today, Olivia says, “Sport has given me the opportunity to make friends who understand what I’ve been through. It’s a great support network, not just for me but for my parents too.”
In 2019, Olivia climbed the UK and world rankings, sitting at BRITISH No.1 across 100-800M and within the top 4 worldwide for T33 races. With a pathway to the Paralympics in sight, she aimed for Paris 2024. However, in November 2021, her Paralympic dream was shattered when her classification was removed from the program.
“I was devastated, thinking all those years of commitment were for nothing,” she recalls. Taking a year off to focus on her mental health, Olivia worked at a special needs camp in New York, an experience that broadened her perspective and appreciation for life back home.
After a summer of travel across the U.S., visiting cities like New York, Washington D.C., and Las Vegas, Olivia returned to London. Rejuvenated, she decided to return to wheelchair racing, aiming for major championships.
“It’s been lovely to reunite with everyone back home. The decision to get back into racing wasn’t easy, but I’m pleased to feel fit again and have something to aim for. Balancing university, training, and a social life is challenging, but it’s all heading in the right direction.”
Olivia’s journey has been a testament to resilience and the importance of taking time for oneself.
“I first met Grant from Ability Today at The White Lodge, where he was a trustee and I was an attendee. He invited me to join Ability Today as an ambassador to spread the message of focusing on ability, not disability. Ability Today is a brilliant organisation, supporting the disabled community with news, resources, and most importantly the education platform. In 2020, they launched the Academy for Disabled Journalists, which now has over 100 students across various courses.
Follow Olivia on her personal Instagram account @olivia_gallagher_
Meet Emily Davison – Ambassador at Ability Today: A Masterclass connection led to a position at Newsquest
Emily Davison, 30 is a London-based journalist and content creator living with a severe visual impairment.
Currently, she works as a multimedia journalist for Newsquest London and has freelanced for many publications, including Cosmopolitan, Posability Magazine and The Guardian. Emily studied with us for the Certificate in Foundation Journalism course and passed with flying colours.
It was a masterclass we were running with a Newsquest Journalist that really changed Emily’s world. She reached out to the journalist after the session and this led to her first apprentice role at Newsquest. Emily is now studying for the Diploma level with Newsquest and has become a successful part of their team.
Emily says “This is an absolutely fabulous and invaluable service; they really go out of their way to help every single journalist who studies on the course. I now have a job where I report on a number of different local affairs and I could not be more grateful. When I applied to study for a Certificate in Foundation Journalism I never imagined that a year later I would be starting my new job.” CFJ Alumni & Newsquest Journalist – Emily Davison
Meet Jamie Green: Ambassador at Ability Today and Rising Star at ITV
Jamie Green has broken down barriers and is now living his dream at ITV. As a Production Journalist at ITV Meridian, Jamie secured his role after completing the competitive ITV News Traineeship, where he was one of only twelve selected from hundreds of applicants. Reflecting on his journey, Jamie emphasiSes, “In the interview process, everyone who talked to me commented positively. There is no way I would have gotten to that point without Ability Today, so I really need to thank you guys.”
In May 2024, Jamie’s exceptional work was recognized with the RTS Southern award for Best Newcomer, followed by a second-place finish in the Best Newcomer category at the ITV News Awards in June 2024. With a keen interest in sports and disability issues, Jamie is dedicated to amplifying voices that might otherwise go unheard. “I wouldn’t be where I am without Ability Today,” he says. “Having their support to do the NCTJ diploma in a way that was accessible for me has made moving into journalism so much easier. I’d advise anyone looking to follow a similar path to get in touch with Ability Today—you won’t regret it!”
Jamie primarily focuses on finding and planning engaging stories for the Thames Valley region, acting as a vital link between the newsdesk and reporters. He has also occasionally taken on news editing roles and reported on a wide range of topics, from football to accessible housing. In the summer of 2022, Jamie was selected as one of the ECB’s Rising Reporters to cover The Hundred cricket competition, gaining invaluable experience in writing match reports for publication under tight post-match deadlines.
Jamie believes that the combination of the Ability Today’s support, the NCTJ diploma, and his experience at The Hundred has provided a solid foundation in journalism. He remains ambitious and excited about future career prospects, ready to continue making a significant impact in the field.
“I couldn’t have done it without Ability Today,” Jamie emphasises, underlining the crucial support he received on his journey.
Ability Today – Advisory Board
We are delighted to have established an advisory board which includes members from various sectors within industry that advise Ability Today on how to achieve its goals.
Grant Logan – CEO & Founder – Linkedin
Sarah Davison-Poltock – Director & Co Founder Linkedin
Jacqueline Winstanley – Chair – Linkedin
John Black – Linkedin
Damian Bradbury – Linkedin
Colin Betteridge – Linkedin
Lee Davison-Poltock – Linkedin
Phil Evans – Linkedin
Pete Kirtley – Linkedin
Craig Logan – Linkedin
Andrew Moody – Linkedin
Philppa Moody – Linkedin
& Brodie – Ability Today Mascot !
