Events and Activities make the total Abilities experience
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 your local area.
- Try a variety of different adaptive sports
- Discover how assistance dogs can support you
- Break out your dancing wheels
- Transform your face at the face painters
There’s a lot going on at Abilities Expo! Be sure to also check out the Free Workshops.
Here’s a few of the events we have planned. More will be added so check back for details!
* PLEASE NOTE dates and times of events are subject to change without notice. Abilities Expo is not responsible for the materials or opinions of the speakers.
Here's what we did in 2013. Stay tuned for 2014!
All Day, Every Day
Manual Wheelchair Skills for Everyone - Booth #1111 (across from the Events Arena)
Presented by Empower Spinal Cord
What is your favorite way to hop a curb? What tricks do you use to get yourself off the ground? Never sat in a manual wheelchair and have always wanted to try a wheelie? Stop by the Empower SCI table at the expo and we will help you brush up on old skills and learn new skills from others. The booth will be staffed with both manual wheelchair-users and able-bodied staff to offer education and opportunities to learn new wheelchair skills. Skills will include curb-hopping, fall recovery, wheelie management, wheelchair maintenance, and challenging transfers. Open to both wheelchair-users and able-bodied individuals, there will be several wheelchairs present for able-bodied individuals to try out these skills. Visit us for a personal "Learn New Skills" time where you can spend 15 dedicated minutes getting one-on-one assistance with a skill you'd like to master. Based on availability. Attendees can reserve specific times at Booth#1111.
Friday, May 3, 2013
1:00pm - 1:30pm
Martial Arts Therapy Demonstration
Presented by Rabbi Sensei Gary Moskowitz
Martial Arts Therapy offers emotional and spiritual support to children with disabilities or battling illness, and helps them to take an active role and become a partner in their own healing process. Students learn pain management, physical rehabilitation skills, and deep relaxation techniques. An eclectic approach is used, combining several forms of martial arts, modern medicine, religion, and psychology. The program offers children a chance to play, laugh, make friends and enjoy life. Learn more at www.martialartstherapy.org.
2:00pm - 2:30pm
Wheelchair Dancing Demo and Workshop
Presented by Auti Angel, Abilities Expo "Dancebassador"
Dancing is fast becoming a popular activity for wheelchair users. Auti Angel, the Abilities Expo "Dancebassador" will share a dance demonstration with attendees. Then it's your turn to try some steps as Auti leads you in a dance workshop. Auti is founder of the Colous~N~Motion wheelchair Hip-Hop dance crew and star of the film Musical Chairs and the TV series Push Girls. Attendees of all ages and mobility levels are welcome to learn basic dance steps. Dancing crosses the boundaries of age, gender, and physical ability; it includes individuals using both manual and power wheelchairs. You won't want to miss this unique demonstration and a chance to dance on your wheels!
3:00pm – 3:30pm
Assistance Dogs Demonstration
Presented by Darlene Sullivan, Executive Director, Canine Partners for Life
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. Learn more at www.k94life.com.
3:30pm - 4:15pm
Miniature Horse Therapy Demo
Presented by Christina Baxter, Program/Volunteer Coordinator, Riding With Heart
Miniature horses have been gaining attention for their strengths as therapy animals. This is your chance to meet some “mini’s”! Learn why they are called horses (and not ponies) as well as the types of tasks they can perform as service and therapy animals. Presenter Chris Baxter will also review some of the key benefits of working with horses. This session will include time for questions and answers, as well as an opportunity to meet the horses. Learn more at www.ridingwithheart.org.
Saturday, May 4, 2013
12:00pm – 12:45pm
Quad Rugby Demonstration
Presented by the New York Warriors
Competitive wheelchair rugby is one of the fastest growing wheelchair sports in the world. The New York Warriors will join us to demonstrate this exciting game - 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.
>12:00pm – 3:00pm
Face Painting
Presented by Masquerade Face Painting
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 for a complimentary face painting. Select designs only. Paints are FDA approved professional face paints and wash off with water. Just for kids age 18 and under. Learn more at www.masqueradefacepainting.com.
1:00pm - 1:30pm
Laughter Yoga for All Abilities
Presented by Beth Kaplan Bongar (aka Laughing Diva), Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher
Laughter Yoga is enhancing the lives of people with all types of disabilities, around the world. Laughter Yoga is a great solution for managing everyday stresses and challenges. Many people also experience a significant improvement in their physical and mental health. This workshop will include a presentation and a demonstration of Laughter Yoga and Yumm Meditation. For all ages and abilities. Discover more at www.laughingdiva.com.
2:00pm - 2:30pm
Wheelchair Dancing Demo and Workshop
Presented by Auti Angel, Abilities Expo "Dancebassador"
Dancing is fast becoming a popular activity for wheelchair users. Auti Angel, the Abilities Expo "Dancebassador" will share a dance demonstration with attendees. Then it's your turn to try some steps as Auti leads you in a dance workshop. Auti is founder of the Colous~N~Motion wheelchair Hip-Hop dance crew and star of the film Musical Chairs and the TV series Push Girls. Attendees of all ages and mobility levels are welcome to learn basic dance steps. Dancing crosses the boundaries of age, gender, and physical ability; it includes individuals using both manual and power wheelchairs. You won't want to miss this unique demonstration and a chance to dance on your wheels!
2:45pm - 3:30pm
Power Soccer Skills Demo
U.S. Power Soccer Association
Watch and learn as US Power Soccer Association Team USA members demonstrate how they train players in 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 Los Angeles area. Learn more about power soccer at www.powersoccerusa.net.
3:45pm - 4:30pm
The Horse Experience for Families with Autism and Special Needs
Presented by Allison Sipple, Allie's Kids
Get a sneak peek at the Allie's Kids equestrian program! Allie's Kids is for both children diagnosed with Autism and other special needs and their siblings. Students in the program learn horseback riding and other horsemanship opportunities such as grooming skills and barn management. Allie's Kids is a unique opportunity for both special needs and typical siblings to share an experience in which they will be working towards similar goals. After the demo stick around to meet the horses and take photos! Learn more at www.allieskids.com.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
11:45am - 12:15pm
Wheelchair Ballroom Dancing Demonstration
Nyemchek's Dance Center Presents Roll Call Wheelchair Dance
Music and dance combined bring people of all abilities together, and anything that brings people together is fun, social, and therapeutic. See a demo of wheelchair ballroom dancing and then it's your turn to learn learn some partner dance tips! This social dancing demo is for wheelchair users and non-users alike. Individuals and couples welcome. Wheelchair Dancing crosses the boundaries of age, gender, and physical ability and includes individuals using manual or power chairs with varying levels of ability. Learn more, visit Roll Call Wheelchair Dance on Facebook.
12:00pm – 3:00pm
Face Painting
Presented by Masquerade Face Painting
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 for a complimentary face painting. Select designs only. Paints are FDA approved professional face paints and wash off with water. Just for kids age 18 and under. Learn more at www.masqueradefacepainting.com.
12:30pm - 12:45pm
"Beautiful" Campaign Performance
Presented by singer Kebra Moore
Enjoy a special performance by Kebra Moore along with some time for audience members to join in the singing. Kebra uses her music to raise the awareness of the many men, women and children with disabilities. A mother, wife, and inspirational singer, she has spinal cord injury as the result of a car accident. Have SCI does not stop Kebra from pursuing her dream of becoming a singer. Her current single and video "Beautiful" is changing the lives of individuals throughout the world. In addition to an uplifting and exciting performance, Kebra will also be sharing a few singing tips with the audience!
1:00pm - 1:30pm
Wheelchair Dancing Demo and Workshop
Presented by Auti Angel, Abilities Expo "Dancebassador"
Dancing is fast becoming a popular activity for wheelchair users. Auti Angel, the Abilities Expo "Dancebassador" will share a dance demonstration with attendees. Then it's your turn to try some steps as Auti leads you in a dance workshop. Auti is founder of the Colous~N~Motion wheelchair Hip-Hop dance crew and star of the film Musical Chairs and the TV series Push Girls. Attendees of all ages and mobility levels are welcome to learn basic dance steps. Dancing crosses the boundaries of age, gender, and physical ability; it includes individuals using both manual and power wheelchairs. You won't want to miss this unique demonstration and a chance to dance on your wheels!
2:00pm – 2:30pm
Assistance Dogs Demonstration
Presented by Darlene Sullivan, Executive Director, Canine Partners for Life
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. Learn more at www.k94life.com.
2:45pm - 3:30pm
The Horse Experience for Families with Autism and Special Needs
Presented by Allison Sipple, Allie's Kids
Get a sneak peek at the Allie's Kids equestrian program! Allie's Kids is for both children diagnosed with Autism and other special needs and their siblings. Students in the program learn horseback riding and other horsemanship opportunities such as grooming skills and barn management. Allie's Kids is a unique opportunity for both special needs and typical siblings to share an experience in which they will be working towards similar goals. After the demo stick around to meet the horses and take photos!
Learn more at www.allieskids.com.
