Game on!

It’s no secret that physical activity is essential to over good health regardless of whether or not you have a disability. Adaptive sports are focused on cultivating a person’s ability and provide enjoyable, yet therapeutic, activities in a non-treatment setting.

Abilities Expo is honored to present a variety of interactive, health-enhancing, confidence-building adaptive sports. Come and test your skills and expand your experiences at the following fun events.

Here's what we did in 2013. Stay tuned for 2014! 

ALL DAY, EVERY DAY

Adaptive Climbing Wall
Presented by HDIS, Home Delivery Incontinent Supplies Co, Inc.
Adaptive climbing is not just for the experienced athlete. This activity is for anyone, including those with disabilities, who has the desire to explore and try something different. There's no better person to learn from than Mark Wellman of No Limits. Mark has SCI and is an adventure athlete, speaker and author, and he will be on hand to demonstrate his innovative adaptive climbing techniques and adaptive sports gear. Using Mark’s custom climbing equipment, anyone with a disability can participate! Climbing has tremendous benefits including building confidence, developing goal-setting skills, increasing strength and improving flexibility. And it's fun! Mark is a former Paralympian and Park Ranger, and is the first paraplegic to summit El Capitan and Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. He dedicates his time to improving the quality of life for adults and children with disabilities including our disabled war veterans. Learn more at www.nolimitstahoe.com.

Adaptive Rowing Demonstrations
Presented by Southeastern Adaptive Scullers / Atlanta Rowing Club
Try an adaptive rowing machine and discover how it can open up the world of adaptive rowing for you. This is a sport that is accessible to most people with disabilities. Learn about the many benefits of rowing, such as exercise, fitness, improving self-esteem, setting goals and the sense of accomplishment that comes from your hard work. Disabled rowers will be on hand to assist you.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2013

12:00pm – 12:45pm
Wheelchair Basketball
Presented by BlazeSports
In the early days of the sport wheelchair basketball was only played by men with spinal cord injuries. Today it's changed significantly with both men and women and a variety of disabilities, competing in the sport. Many of the same rules from able-bodied basketball apply in the wheelchair game. The plays and strategies are similar. In addition there are special rules in place to adapt to disability. The National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) governs all aspects of the game in the United States. Learn more at www.blazesports.org.

1:00 – 1:30pm
Boccia
Presented by BlazeSports
Local athletes will demonstrate Boccia, where athletes throw, kick or use an assistive device to propel leather balls as close as possible to a white target ball (call the jack). Boccia is a test of muscle control, concentration and accuracy, and the game helps to increase hand-eye coordination. Learn more at www.blazesports.org.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2013

12:00pm – 12:45pm
Beep Kickball
Presented by Athens Inclusive Recreation and Sports
Beep kickball is a new sport for all people with vision loss. Simply explained, it is played with a ten-inch soft foam beeping ball. There are just 2 buzzing bases, no second base, no throwing the ball, no pitcher or catcher, one sighted field spotter, and 6 players per team. Blindfolds allow partially sighted players to compete on an equal footing with blind players. Attendees will have an opportunity to watch a demo of the game as well as try it out for themselves. Learn more at www.airs-ga.org, an organization that encourages inclusive sports.

2:45 – 3:30pm
Power Soccer Demo
Presented by the U.S. Power Soccer Association
Watch and learn as US Power Soccer Association Team USA members demonstrate and train attendees on the techniques of power wheelchair soccer. Discover this very active and growing sport that is open to power wheelchair users of all ages. See how players combine their skills as wheelchair users with the speed and power of the chair itself, to participate in this extremely challenging game similar to soccer. Then try the sport out for yourself and learn where you can get involved in the Atlanta area. Learn more about power soccer at www.powersoccerusa.net.

3:45pm – 4:30pm
Wheelchair Tennis
Presented by Athens Inclusive Recreation & Sports
Players from the Atlanta Area will be on-hand to demonstrate Wheelchair Tennis and teach attendees who would like to learn more. A focus of this year's demonstration will be the inclusiveness of tennis with a Run/Roll Exhibition that pairs a wheelchair user with an able-bodied partner in a doubles format of play. Wheelchair Tennis is one of the fastest growing wheelchair sports in the world. It follows the same rules as able-bodied tennis except the wheelchair tennis player is allowed two bounces of the ball. There is a growing demand for Adaptive Sports like Wheelchair Tennis, which offer people of all abilities an outlet to play sports both recreationally and competitively. Resources will be provided for where attendees can play in the Atlanta region. For more information visit http://www.airs-ga.org.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2013

12:00pm – 12:45pm
Goal Ball Demonstration
Presented by Athens Inclusive Recreation and Sports
In the sport of Goal Ball participants compete in teams of three, and try to throw a ball that has bells embedded in it into the opponents' goal. Teams alternate throwing or rolling the ball from one end of the playing area to the other, and players remain in the area of their own goal in both defense and attack. Players must use the sound of the bell to judge the position and movement of the ball. Blindfolds allow partially sighted players to compete on an equal footing with blind players. Attendees will have an opportunity to watch a demo of the game as well as try it out for themselves. Learn more at www.airs-ga.org, an organization that encourages inclusive sports.

2:30pm - 3:30pm
Power Soccer Demo
Presented by the U.S. Power Soccer Association
See details above.