Thousands of people with disabilities, their families, caregivers, seniors, wounded veterans and healthcare professionals are expected to attend Abilities Expo on July 31-August 2, 2015 at NRG Center (formerly Reliant Center), Hall E. Admission is free and show hours will be Friday 11 am to 5 pm, Saturday 11 am to 5 pm and Sunday 11 am to 4 pm.
The Houston Abilities Expo will feature an impressive line-up of exhibits, workshops, events, celebrities and activities to appeal to people of all ages with the full spectrum of disabilities—including physical, learning, developmental and sensory disabilities.
"It's not just that we provide a forum that showcases essential technology to bridge the gap between ability and disability," said David Korse, president and CEO of Abilities Expo. "The Expo is always new and exciting with a host of all-inclusive, adaptive activities."
Complimentary loaner scooters and wheelchair repair will also be available during show hours.
"The Expo provides the community of people with disabilities access to life-enhancing products, education, resources and fun," said Korse. "Most of all, it's a celebration of what you can do, not what you can't."
The Latest Products and Services
Attendees will experience cutting-edge products and services for people with a wide range of disabilities. They will find mobility products, devices for people with developmental disabilities, medical equipment, home accessories, essential services, low-cost daily living aids, products for people with sensory impairments and much more. Some especially exciting products to find at Abilities Expo: the MXV, BraunAbility's new mobility crossover vehicle, a power chair with an iLevel tech by Quantum and the ReWalk Exoskeleton by ReWalk Robotics. The Assistive Technology Showcase, sponsored by the Texas Technology Access Program, will also feature an array of devices for attendees to experience hands-on.
Relevant Workshops
A series of compelling workshops which address pressing disability issues will be offered free-of-charge to all attendees. Sessions will focus on bionics, information about Autism, travel, wellness, technology, the benefits of therapeutic cannabis and that is just for starters.
Sports, Dancing, Ride-Along Racing and More!
Abilities Expo does not merely inform, it engages and it entertains. Attendees of all levels of ability can test their skills at martial arts and play a host of adaptive sports like quad rugby, power soccer, tennis, sled hockey and boccia ball. They'll learn the latest dance moves and release those happy hormones through therapeutic toga. Expo-goers will experience ride-along racing where "captains" ride a chair, "angels" push from behind and everybody wins. Kids will love the face painting too.
Caregiver Day
Presented by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Caregiver Day on August 2 will feature a series of special workshops designed to support the loved ones who give so much.
Meet the Animals
Animals have become an intrinsic part of the disability community. Some are essential to the healing process, while others help their human partners become more independent. Expo-goers will enjoy assistance dog demos and learn how horses can change the lives of families with Autism. The Horse Boy World Team will demo mini horses as well as a small disabled ibex named Pudding.
Celebrity Encounters
The hip-hop diva Auti Angel will introduce attendees to the physical and emotional benefits of wheelchair dancing. Auti recently starred in Push Girls, a Sundance Channel docu-series which traced the lives of four dynamic women who happen to be in wheelchairs.
Rupert Issaacson's new book,The Long Ride Home—the long-awaited sequel to his international best-selling The Horse Boy—will be available for the first time in the U.S. Expo-goers can meet Rupert at his book signing and learn how his Horse Boy Method can help other families with Autism.
Come and get an autograph from Paralympians Kyle Huckaby and Rico Roman, who helped to bring home the gold in for the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
Jennifer French, silver medalist for Sailing at the 2012 Paralympian Games and the 2013 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year, will lead a workshop on the accessibility of bionics and conduct a book signing for her latest work, Bionic Pioneers, and her autobiography, On My Feet Again.
A Unique Life Fully Lived, written by Karen Kain, is her journey with her medically fragile, yet unbelievably courageous daughter Lorrin, who was vaccine-injured at 6-weeks-old. Her books and sage advice can be found at her Lorrin's World booth.
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