make the total Abilities experience
Want to add some exciting new activities to your life? Abilities Expo showcases a wide range of events that not only entertain you - they also give you the opportunity to try new things, expand your interests and discover ways to be more involved in the local San Jose area.
- Try a variety of adaptive sports
- Transform your face at the face painters
- Learn how to work with assistance dogs
- Break out your dancing wheels
- Find out what horses can do for people with disabilities
There’s a lot going on at Abilities Expo! Be sure to also check out the Free Workshops.
Here's what we did in 2012. Stay tuned for 2013!
All Day, Every Day
All Day, Every Day
Adaptive Rowing Demonstrations and the RowOfLife Ocean Rowing Boat
Angela Madsen, California Adaptive Rowing Programs and RowOfLife
Try an adaptive rowing machine and discover how it can open up the 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. Angela and other disabled rowers will be on hand to assist you. Hear what Angela has achieved as a disabled athlete - she is the only person with a disability to have rowed across 2 oceans (Atlantic and Indian), is a 2008 (Beijing) and 2012 (London) Paralympian, and a World Rowing Record Holder. Learn more at www.rowoflife.com.
Friday, November 16, 2012
12:00pm - 12:30pm
Children's Puppetry and "Showboaters" Performances
Children's Puppetry and "Showboaters" Performances
Presented by the College of Adaptive Arts
Meet these talented, excited and inspired students as they share their love of entertaining. The College will present two touring ensembles - Children's Puppetry and the "Showboaters." They'll be presenting their newest performances to Taylor Swift, the Beach Boys, Mama Mia and more. Attendees will be invited to join them for some impromptu performance fun. The College of Adaptive Arts offers programs in the performing and visual arts to adults with differing abilities. Learn more at Learn more at www.collegeofadaptivearts.org.
1:00pm - 1:45pm
Dance Performance and InMotion Workshop
Presented by AXIS Dance Company
as seen on FOX's So You Think You Can Dance!
Join us for a very special dance performance by AXIS Dance Company, one of the world's most acclaimed and innovative ensembles of performers with and without disabilities. They will change the way you think about dance and the possibilities of the human body! Following a performance members of the company invite attendees to join them for a dance workshop. AXIS Dance offers studio dance classes for adults with and without disabilities regardless of experience. A similar program also exists for youth of all abilities. Come learn more at this live event or visit www.axisdance.org.
Click here to learn more.
2:00pm - 2:45pm
Team Hotwheelz Dance Performance
Presented by Walk and Roll Foundation
See a performance by the brand new dance group Team Hotwheelz - made up of seven young women who use wheelchairs and share a passion for dance. The Team is excited to share their brand new hip-hop dance routines with Abilities Expo attendees. Following the performance everyone will have a chance to get out on the dance floor and learn some moves. Follow the Team and learn more about them at www.Facebook.com/TeamHotwheelz.
Click here to learn more.
3:00pm – 3:30pm
Assistance Dogs Demonstration
Presented by Canine Angels Service Teams
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. To learn more visit www.canine-angels.org.
3:45pm – 4:30pm
Horse Boy Method and Horsemanship for Everyone
Presented by Joell Dunlap, Founder, The Square Peg Foundation
Discover that anyone, regardless of ability level, can get involved with horsemanship and reap the many benefits. The team from Square Peg will also demonstrate Horse Boy Method, the innovative approach that draws out communication in children with autism. You will see real horses in action, learn about these approaches, and gain some insight into why horses can be so effective in general. After the demo stick around to meet the horses and take photos! Horse Boy Method merchandise (books, DVDs and apparel) will also be available for purchase! Discover more at www.squarepegfoundation.com.
Click here to learn more.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Wheelchair Tennis
IMPAKT Adaptive Sports and South Bay Smash
Players from the Bay Area 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. It is also one of the few wheelchair sports that is well integrated with the able-bodied community -- our
players will be demonstrating UpDown and encouraging participation. 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. There are a number of organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond that offer opportunities to play tennis. To learn more about this amazing sport, visit USTA Wheelchair Tennis.
1:00pm – 3:00pm
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.
Click here to learn more.
1:15pm – 1:45pm
Changeling Dance Theatre Demonstration
Presented by the College of Adaptive Arts
Changeling Dance Theater offers classes for students of all ages with special needs. A performing ensemble of their talented dancers with differing abilities will share a piece or two followed by several group dances with any attendees who would like to give it a try. Learn more about their work at www.changelingdance.org.
2:00pm – 2:30pm
Team Hotwheelz Dance Performance
Presented by Walk and Roll Foundation
See a performance by the brand new dance group Team Hotwheelz - made up of seven young women who use wheelchairs and share a passion for dance. The Team is excited to share their brand new hip-hop dance routines with Abilities Expo attendees. Following the performance everyone will have a chance to get out on the dance floor and learn some moves. Follow the Team and learn more about them at www.Facebook.com/TeamHotwheelz.
Click here to learn more.
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 San Jose area. Learn more about power soccer at www.powersoccerusa.net.
3:45pm – 4:30pm
Horse Boy Method and Horsemanship for Everyone
Presented by Joell Dunlap, Founder, The Square Peg Foundation
Discover that anyone, regardless of ability level, can get involved with horsemanship and reap the many benefits. The team from Square Peg will also demonstrate Horse Boy Method, the innovative approach that draws out communication in children with autism. You will see real horses in action, learn about these approaches, and gain some insight into why horses can be so effective in general. After the demo stick around to meet the horses and take photos! Horse Boy Method merchandise (books, DVDs and apparel) will also be available for purchase! Discover more at www.squarepegfoundation.com.
Click here to learn more.
4:35pm - 4:55pm
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 Colours~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!
Sunday, November 18, 2012
12:00pm – 12:45pm
Wheelchair Lacrosse Demonstration
Nor Cal Slingers Wheelchair Lacrosse Program
Wheelchair lacrosse is the newest full contact adaptive sport to hit the scene since rugby started in 1977. It combines the speed and finesse of soccer and basketball with the bone jarring hits of wheelchair rugby. Members of the local Nor Cal Slingers will play a scrimmage to demonstrate the sport for Expo attendees. Then it's your turn! Join the team members out on the floor to learn how to pass the ball and shoot on goal. For more information follow the Facebook group, search for Wheelchair Lacrosse:NorCal Team.
1:00pm – 3:00pm
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.
Click here to learn more.
1:00pm – 1:30pm
Team Hotwheelz Dance Performance
Presented by Walk and Roll Foundation
See a performance by the brand new dance group Team Hotwheelz - made up of seven young women who use wheelchairs and share a passion for dance. The Team is excited to share their brand new hip-hop dance routines with Abilities Expo attendees. Following the performance everyone will have a chance to get out on the dance floor and learn some moves. Follow the Team and learn more about them at www.Facebook.com/TeamHotwheelz.
Click here to learn more.
2:00pm – 2:30pm
Assistance Dogs Demonstration
Presented by Canine Angels Service Teams
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. To learn more visit www.canine-angels.org.
2:45pm – 3:30pm
Horse Boy Method and Horsemanship for Everyone
Presented by Joell Dunlap, Founder, The Square Peg Foundation
Discover that anyone, regardless of ability level, can get involved with horsemanship and reap the many benefits. The team from Square Peg will also demonstrate Horse Boy Method, the innovative approach that draws out communication in children with autism. You will see real horses in action, learn about these approaches, and gain some insight into why horses can be so effective in general. After the demo stick around to meet the horses and take photos! Horse Boy Method merchandise (books, DVDs and apparel) will also be available for purchase! Discover more at www.squarepegfoundation.com.
Click here to learn more.
* Please note dates and times of events are subject to change without notice. Please check the schedule at the show for final times and events. Abilities Expo is not responsible for the materials or opinions of the speakers.
