An innovative publication that focuses on the achievements of people with disabilities has earned the Now gold at the Ma Murray awards.

Possabilities won the gold award in the Special Section category, circulation 25,000 and up, at the BC and Yukon Community Newspapers Association awards gala Saturday night at the River Rock Casino in Richmond.

Publisher Marlyn Graziano said Possabilities has already been warmly embraced by readers and advertisers.

"To have the judges acknowledge it as a 'stand-out special section' is an honour indeed," Graziano said. "I'd like to thank all the wonderful people who have allowed us to share their stories with our readers. They have helped us make Possabilities a publication that really does open doors and eyes."

The cross-disability themed publication is one of the first newspapers to provide such a broad range of disability related information, said editor Beau Simpson.

"We are very proud to be able to share such heartwarming and inspiring stories with readers," said Simpson, whose sister Tiffany has autism and severe developmental delay.

"It also feels really good to be recognized by our peers for it."

Possabilities is published quarterly inside the Now. The name of the publication is deliberately misspelled to put an emphasis on the abilities - not the disabilities - of an inspiring segment of the community. It is distributed across the Lower Mainland and throughout parts of the province.

Possabilities advertising consultants Kim Rose and Margot Gauley accepted the award, along with Graziano.

The next issue of Possabilities is scheduled to appear in the Now on May 15. You can see past issues of Possabilities online at thenownewspaper.com.