Want to add an exciting new activity to your life? Abilities Expo showcases a wide range of special events that not only entertain, they also give you the opportunity to test your own skill, expand your interests and find out how you can become involved in the local Chicago area.

More events added each week. Check back for details!

• Try a host of different adaptive sports
• Transform your face at the face painters
• Learn how to work with assistance dogs
• Experience the future of assistive technology today
• See the newest features available for manual and power wheelchairs

* Please note dates and times of workshops are subject to change without notice. Abilities Expo is not responsible for the materials or opinions of the speakers.

Events & Activities At-A-Glance

Friday, July 9, 2010

12:30pm - 1:00pm
Assistance Dogs Demonstration

1:30pm - 2:00pm
Fitness Fun!

2:00pm - 2:30pm
Competitive Billiards Demonstration

2:30pm - 3:00pm
Table Tennis Demonstration

3:00pm - 4:00pm
Wheelchair Super X Fun Course

Saturday, July 10, 2010

11:00am - 11:30am
Assistance Dogs Demonstration

12:00pm - 12:30pm
Creative Movement and Dance Session

12:30pm - 1:00pm
Table Tennis Demonstration

1:00pm - 1:45pm
Power Soccer Demonstration

1:00pm - 3:00pm
Face Painting

2:00pm - 2:30pm
Competitive Billiards Demonstration

2:30pm - 3:00pm
Music and Comedy with B.J. Davis

3:30pm - 4:30pm
Wheelchair Super X Fun Course

Sunday, July 11, 2010

12:00pm - 1:00pm
Quad Rugby Demonstration

12:30pm - 2:30pm
Face Painting

1:00pm - 1:30pm
Table Tennis Demonstration

1:30pm - 2:15pm
Kids Adaptive Sports - Boccia!

2:15pm - 2:45pm
Competitive Billiards Demonstration

2:45pm - 3:45pm
Wheelchair Super X Fun Course

Events & Activities Descriptions

** More events added each week. Check back for details!

FRIDAY, JULY 9, 2010

12:30pm - 1:00pm
Assistance Dogs Demonstration
More than ever assistance dogs are meeting the needs of people with different disabilities. Meet several assistance dogs and their human partners. Watch them demonstrate the many ways they work together to achieve independence in various areas of their lives. Following the demo, join us to learn some of the basic commands for the dogs.
Presented by MidAmerica Service Dogs' Foundation

1:30pm - 2:00pm
Fitness Fun!
Pam Ferris, Adaptive Fitness Specialist, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago
Come and join a fun and energetic fitness event that is suitable for all attendees regardless of age or disability. Discover how much fun fitness can be and how it can help with weight loss, self-esteem, and mood. Exercises can be done either seated or standing. The class will feature a warm-up, cardiovascular/strength training portion and cool down and will be accompanied by upbeat music. Bring your work out shoes!

2:00pm - 2:30pm
Competitive Billiards Demonstration
Presented by Hydred Makabali, Semi-professional Pool Player
Sponsored by Colours Wheelchair
Meet semiprofessional pool player Hydred Makabali as she shows of her skills playing pool, a sport that has recently gained recognition for it's pure recreation value. Hydred, who uses a wheelchair, began playing pool as part of her therapy following her injury. Hydred will demonstrate adaptive techniques for the sport, play against several other players and give attendees a chance to try the game for themselves. It's a lot of fun, picking up a pool stick, shooting the array of balls and practicing over and over to get the shots just right!

2:30pm - 3:00pm
Table Tennis Demonstration
David Lega, LegaWear
David Lega was born with AMC, a serious disability which means he is paralyzed in both arms and lacks muscles in his legs. The doctors told his parents that it was unlikely that he’d ever be able to sit up by himself without support. But David started training and today he is a two-time Paralympian in swimming with multiple world records. David is also an entrepreneur and recipient of “The Outstanding Young Person of the World” award. David will demonstrated one of his favorite pass times, adaptive table tennis, which he learned to play at the age of 12. This game is one of the also most enjoyable sports on the Paralympic Games program.

3:00pm - 4:00pm
Wheelchair Super X Fun Course
Presented by Trevair Chair and Trevor Snowden
Sponsored by Fornos Law Firm, Chloe Magazine, PMW, X-Core, Ralph's Riders, Abilities Expo and Trevair Chair
This event is fun and open to everyone regardless of ability! Enjoy yourself as you ride around this cool obstacle course. Use your own chair or transfer to a Trevair Chair with Electric Scooter. Trevair Chairs, developed by wheelchair athlete Trevor Snowden, are active lifestyle wheelchairs that are specially designed with more suspension to reduce the shock and strain to your back. Trevor himself will be on hand to demonstrate the course and assist attendees with questions and skills. Wheelchair X provides a great opportunity to try out a different type of wheelchair!

SATURDAY, JULY 10, 2010

11:00am - 11:30am
Assistance Dogs Demonstration
More than ever assistance dogs are meeting the needs of people with different disabilities. Meet several assistance dogs and their human partners. Watch them demonstrate the many ways they work together to achieve independence in various areas of their lives. Following the demo, join us to learn some of the basic commands for the dogs.
Presented by MidAmerica Service Dogs' Foundation

12:00pm - 12:30pm
Creative Movement and Dance Session
Laura Downey, Dance Educator, Dance/Movement Therapist, Certified Movement Analyst and Community Outreach Coordinator
Assisted by Students
Department of Dance/Movement Therapy & Counseling, Columbia College Chicago
Discover how the joy and benefits of creative movement. Join us to learn movements that are accessible to you and find out more about their therapeutic benefits. This event will include a movement warm up, rhythmic movement portion, and exploration of locomotion. The event is suitable for all attendees and you can participate from a chair or standing.

12:30pm - 1:00pm
Table Tennis Demonstration
David Lega, LegaWear
David Lega was born with AMC, a serious disability which means he is paralyzed in both arms and lacks muscles in his legs. The doctors told his parents that it was unlikely that he’d ever be able to sit up by himself without support. But David started training and today he is a two-time Paralympian in swimming with multiple world records. David is also an entrepreneur and recipient of “The Outstanding Young Person of the World” award. David will demonstrated one of his favorite pass times, adaptive table tennis, which he learned to play at the age of 12. This game is one of the also most enjoyable sports on the Paralympic Games program.

1:00pm - 3:00pm
Face Painting
Presented by iiimagine that!
Kids will delight at the opportunity to transform their face into a beautiful butterfly, a swashbuckling pirate, or a sweet kitten! Stop by the face painter's stand between 1:00pm and 3:00pm for a complimentary face painting. Select designs only. Paints are FDA approved professional face paints and wash off with water. Just for kids, ages 18 ad under.

1:00pm - 1:45pm
Power Soccer Demonstration
Presented by U.S. Power Soccer Association
Watch and learn as the best local teams demonstrate and train attendees on the techniques of power wheelchair soccer.

2:00pm - 2:30pm
Competitive Billiards Demonstration
Presented by Hydred Makabali, Semi-professional Pool Player
Sponsored by Colours Wheelchair
Meet semiprofessional pool player Hydred Makabali as she shows of her skills playing pool, a sport that has recently gained recognition for it's pure recreation value. Hydred, who uses a wheelchair, began playing pool as part of her therapy following her injury. Hydred will demonstrate adaptive techniques for the sport, play against several other players and give attendees a chance to try the game for themselves. It's a lot of fun, picking up a pool stick, shooting the array of balls and practicing over and over to get the shots just right!

2:30pm - 3:00pm
Music and Comedy with B.J. Davis
Presented by B.J. Davis
Singer/Songwriter/Comedian B.J. Davis shares his music and comedy with a mini-concert that is guaranteed to make you laugh, touch your heart and soothe your soul! You don’t want to miss this special performance! For more information about B.J. visit www.bjdavis.org

3:30pm - 4:30pm
Wheelchair Super X Fun Course
Presented by Trevair Chair and Trevor Snowden
Sponsored by Fornos Law Firm, Chloe Magazine, PMW, X-Core, Ralph's Riders, Abilities Expo and Trevair Chair
This event is fun and open to everyone regardless of ability! Enjoy yourself as you ride around this cool obstacle course. Use your own chair or transfer to a Trevair Chair with Electric Scooter. Trevair Chairs, developed by wheelchair athlete Trevor Snowden, are active lifestyle wheelchairs that are specially designed with more suspension to reduce the shock and strain to your back. Trevor himself will be on hand to demonstrate the course and assist attendees with questions and skills. Wheelchair X provides a great opportunity to try out a different type of wheelchair!

SUNDAY, JULY 11, 2010

12:00pm - 1:00pm
Quad Rugby Demonstration
Presented by the RIC Bears
Competitive wheelchair rugby is one of the fastest growing wheelchair sports in the world. The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Bears will join us to demonstrate the game which is a cross between wheelchair basketball, ice hockey and soccer. The main message of quad rugby is "Smashing Stereotypes One Hit at a Time" and the sport has proven to be a life changer for those who start playing it. Find out more at this demo and learn about opportunities to get involved for yourself.

12:30pm - 2:30pm
Face Painting
Imagine That Facepainting
Kids will delight at the opportunity to transform their face into a beautiful butterfly, a swashbuckling pirate, or a sweet kitten! Stop by the face painter's stand between 1:00pm and 3:00pm for a complimentary face painting. Select designs only. Paints are FDA approved professional face paints and wash off with water. Just for kids, ages 18 and under.

1:00pm - 1:30pm
Table Tennis Demonstration
David Lega, LegaWear
David Lega was born with AMC, a serious disability which means he is paralyzed in both arms and lacks muscles in his legs. The doctors told his parents that it was unlikely that he’d ever be able to sit up by himself without support. But David started training and today he is a two-time Paralympian in swimming with multiple world records. David is also an entrepreneur and recipient of “The Outstanding Young Person of the World” award. David will demonstrated one of his favorite pass times, adaptive table tennis, which he learned to play at the age of 12. This game is one of the also most enjoyable sports on the Paralympic Games program.

1:30pm - 2:15pm
Kids Adaptive Sports - Boccia!
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago & Caring for Kids
Discover Boccia, a sport which can be adapted for many levels of disability. In addition to being a lot of fun, the game tests your muscle control, concentration and accuracy, and can help increase hand-eye coordination. Local athletes and fitness specialists from the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago will be demonstrating the game. Join in the fun and try it out for yourself!

2:15pm - 2:45pm
Competitive Billiards Demonstration
Presented by Hydred Makabali, Semi-professional Pool Player
Sponsored by Colours Wheelchair
Meet semiprofessional pool player Hydred Makabali as she shows of her skills playing pool, a sport that has recently gained recognition for it's pure recreation value. Hydred, who uses a wheelchair, began playing pool as part of her therapy following her injury. Hydred will demonstrate adaptive techniques for the sport, play against several other players and give attendees a chance to try the game for themselves. It's a lot of fun, picking up a pool stick, shooting the array of balls and practicing over and over to get the shots just right!

2:45pm - 3:45pm
Wheelchair Super X Fun Course
Presented by Trevair Chair and Trevor Snowden
Sponsored by Fornos Law Firm, Chloe Magazine, PMW, X-Core, Ralph's Riders, Abilities Expo and Trevair Chair
This event is fun and open to everyone regardless of ability! Enjoy yourself as you ride around this cool obstacle course. Use your own chair or transfer to a Trevair Chair with Electric Scooter. Trevair Chairs, developed by wheelchair athlete Trevor Snowden, are active lifestyle wheelchairs that are specially designed with more suspension to reduce the shock and strain to your back. Trevor himself will be on hand to demonstrate the course and assist attendees with questions and skills. Wheelchair X provides a great opportunity to try out a different type of wheelchair!