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 2012. Stay tuned for 2013.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 2012

12:00pm – 3:00pm
Hand Cycling
Presented by Adaptive Sports Department, TIRR Memorial Hermann
Hand cycling is a form of adaptive cycling that enables athletes of all abilities to ride a “bike” exclusively using the upper body. Unlike many other adaptive sports handcycling works to create integrated cycling opportunities for wheelchair users and athletes with lower-mobility impairments. Enjoy this opportunity to try a hand cycle for yourself!

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4, 2012

12:00pm – 12:45pm
Wheelchair Tennis
Presented by USTA Texas Section and Houston Tennis Association
Local Houston players will be on hand to demonstrate wheelchair tennis and teach attendees who would like to learn more. 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. Adaptive sports like wheelchair tennis offer people with all types of disabilities an outlet to play sports competitively and in recreational programs.

12:00pm – 3:00pm
Hand Cycling
Presented by Adaptive Sports Department, TIRR Memorial Hermann
(Description above.)

1:00pm – 1:30pm
Adaptive Bike Demonstration
Presented by Freedom Concepts
Discover bikes that are available for people with disabilities such as Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Angelman's Syndrome, impaired vision, and more! Learn how cycling can provide recreation, therapy and most of all ... fun and freedom! The folks from Freedom Concepts will demonstrate some of their adaptive bicycles. Bikes will be available for attendees to check out. Information on how you can get a bike will also be provided. Learn more at www.freedomconcepts.com.

2:45pm – 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 Houston area. Learn more about power soccer at www.powersoccerusa.net.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 5, 2012

12:00pm – 12:45pm
Quad Rugby Demonstration
Presented by TIRR Texans
Competitive wheelchair rugby is one of the fastest growing wheelchair sports in the world. The TIRR Texans will be on hand to demonstrate the sport for you. It’s a cross between wheelchair basketball, ice hockey, and soccer! A theme for quad rugby is “smashing stereotypes one hit at a time” and the sport is proving to be a life changer for those who play it. Learn more at this demo, meet the players, and find out how you can get involved. Learn more at www.quadrugby.com.

12:00pm – 2:00pm
Hand Cycling
Presented by Adaptive Sports Department, TIRR Memorial Hermann
(Description above.) |

2:45pm – 3:15pm
Sled Hockey Demonstration
Presented by Texas Sled Hockey
Sled Hockey (also known as Sledge Hockey) was invented in Sweden in the early 1960s by a group of people with disabilities. Members of Team Texas will be on hand to demonstrate the sport and give attendees a chance to play. Come learn about this sport which follows most of the typical ice hockey rules with the exception of modifications to the equipment and the use of the sleds. The sport is normally played on ice but sleds with wheels will be used for this demo. Learn more at www.texassledhockey.org.