Activities, Demonstrations, and Special Events!
Abilities Expo showcases a wide range of events so you can try sports and dance, discover ways to be fit, and connect to programs in the local area.
All events take place in the Auti Angel Events Arena unless otherwise noted.
There's a lot to explore at Abilities Expo New York Metro! Check out the Exhibitors and Workshops!
* The dates, times, topics, and speakers for these events are subject to change without notice. The opinions presented at the events are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Abilities Expo. Event content should not be considered as a replacement or substitute for the services of trained professionals in any field, including, but not limited to, financial, medical, or legal matters. We encourage you to seek the advice of professionals, as appropriate, regarding the evaluation of any specific information presented in these events.
All Day, Every Day
Adaptive Climbing Wall
Presented by: Coloplast and Mark Wellman, No Limits
Location: #547
Come climb on an indoor climbing wall! Adaptive climbing is possible for people of ALL abilities! Meet the best person to learn adaptive climbing from - Mark Wellman! Mark has a spinal cord injury (SCI) and is an adventure athlete, speaker, and author. Climb the wall at Abilities Expo Dallas using Mark's innovative adaptive climbing techniques and gear! Learn about climbing's benefits: building confidence, developing goal-setting skills, increasing strength, and improving flexibility. It's fun!
Learn more at Mark's website nolimitstahoe.com.
Assistive Technology Showcase
Presented by: Advancing Opportunities
Location: Booth #243
Explore how assistive technology can help you or your loved ones bridge the gap between ability and disability! See and try a selection of assistive technology, with options for all disabilities. Ask questions and discuss recommendations to find the most appropriate technology for your abilities and needs. The AT Network at Ability Tools expands the accessibility of tools, resources and technology that will help increase independence, improve personal productivity, and enhance the quality of life for all Californians.
Learn more at abilitytools.org.
Emergency Preparedness Resource Booth
Presented by: Emergency Preparedness NYC and NJ and EAD & Associates
Location: Booth #844
Meet representatives of disability and emergency management organizations who are active in emergency planning and are working to ensure the NY Metro region will be more resilient when disaster strikes. Gain vital personal preparedness tips to help you create realistic plans to meet your needs, maintain your independence, and recover from emergency and disaster situations. Share your questions and concerns! Pick up free information and resources!
Learn more at ready.gov/disability (federal resources) and eadassociates.com (regional resources).
Manual Wheelchair Skills for Everyone
Presented by: Empower Spinal Cord Injury
Location: Booth #753
What tricks do you use to get yourself off the ground? How are your curb-hopping skills? Are you able-bodied and want to learn some manual wheelchair skills? We can help! Brush up on old skills and learn new ones from others. The Manual Wheelchair Skills booth will be staffed with both manual wheelchair-users and able-bodied staff. 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 the booth.
Learn more at empowersci.org.
Friday, May 3, 2024
12:00pm – 12:45pm
All About Service Dogs
Presented by: Kristin Hartness, Executive Director, CDK
Location: Events Arena
Service dogs can help you achieve more independence in your life. Assisting with all types of tasks, from picking up a cell phone to providing physical stability to counting money, and more! Service dogs are available for people with many different disabilities, including vision and hearing loss, mobility, Autism, and seizure/allergy alert. Learn about how one acquires a service dog, the support available to assist with covering the costs, and what to expect from your service dog provider organization.
Learn more at CDK's website.
1:00pm - 1:15pm
Help Hope Live Adaptive Bike Giveaway
Presented by: Sonny Mullen and Kelly L. Green, Help Hope Live
Location: Booth #435
Stop by to see Help Hope Live will surprise 5-year-old Nyla with a customized Freedom Concepts adaptive bike.
Due to Nyla's periventricular leukomalacia, a brain injury experienced in the NICU, she now has weakness on her right side and encounters challenges with movement and coordination. Nyla is not independently walking or talking. She is also living with epilepsy and asthma.
Her favorite activity at school is riding the adaptive bike during gym class, and now she'll have one a home to help strengthen her muscles and improve her mobility, control and coordination!
Learn more about Nyla and Help Hope LIve.
1:00pm – 1:45pm
Adaptive Golf
Presented by: Gianna Rojas, The One Handed Lady Golfer and Founder, AdaptiveGolfers.org
Location: Events Arena
The game of golf provides a wonderful recreation opportunity for all. But golf is so much more than just a leisure game or a sport. It can be a therapeutic activity for individuals with different (not dis-) ABILITIES. Adaptive golf means understanding how to apply one's own ABILITIES to enjoy golf by making modifications (big or small) to how the game is learned, swing techniques, equipment used, and the delivery of instruction to allow an individual to play golf to their fullest potential. Come try the sport at this interactive demo!
Learn more at adaptivegolfers.org and watch a video about the journey of adaptive golf.
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Tennis for All!
Presented by: Presented by: Henry Viscardi School Wheelchair Tennis Program
Location: Events Arena
Come discover how tennis offers opportunities for anyone to play and enjoy the sport! Join us to try both wheelchair tennis and adaptive tennis. Learn how you can play wheelchair tennis in the NY metro region. All ages and abilities are welcome!
Learn more at henryviscardischool.org/for-students/clubs-and-activities.
3:30pm - 4:00pm
Dance with The Rollettes!
Presented by: The Rollettes Los Angeles
Sponsored by: IndeeLift, The People Picker Upper
Location: Events Arena
Join us for a high-energy, live performance by The Rollettes - the incredible team of wheelchair dancers from Los Angeles! These women have created a community that redefines what it means to be strong, female, and resilient. With dance, community outreach, education programs, and content creation they dazzle and push barriers out of their way. It's not just a performance; it's also your turn to get out on the dance floor and learn some moves! Come fulfill your dreams to dance!
Learn more at rollettesdance.com and follow The Rollettes on Instagram and TikTok @Rollettes_LA.
4:15pm - 4:45pm
Wheel With Me Adapt Fit
Presented by: Jesi Stracham and Nikki Walsh, Wheel With Me Adapt Fit
Location: Events Arena
Wheel With Me Adapt Fit is helping wheelchair users and non-wheelchair users achieve their health and fitness goals! This event is a place to provide education surrounding nutrition and fitness, as well as to build a community where we can all celebrate each other and encourage each other to live our best lives! We also offer a fitness application in the iOS and google play store.
Learn more: https://wheelwithmeadaptfit.com/
Saturday, May 4, 2024
10:30am - 11:15am
Special Rollettes Dance Performance
Presented by: The Rollettes Los Angeles
Sponsored by: IndeeLift, The People Picker Upper
Location: Workshop
This Special Rollettes Performance on Saturday is full. If you would like to get on a waiting list, please click here.
You'll love this high-energy, live performance by The Rollettes - the incredible team of wheelchair dancers from Los Angeles! These women have created a community that redefines what it means to be strong, female, and resilient. With dance, community outreach, education programs, and content creation they dazzle and push barriers out of their way. It's not just a performance; it's also your turn to get out on the dance floor and learn some moves! Come fulfill your dreams to dance!
Learn more at rollettesdance.com and follow The Rollettes on Instagram and TikTok @Rollettes_LA.
11:00pm - 5:00pm
Face Painting
Presented by: NJFacePainting.com
Location: Next to Events Arena
Face, arm, and hand painting are great ways for children to dress up - no costume required! Kids delight in this opportunity to transform their appearance! Painting is complimentary and paints are approved professional face paints that will wash off with soap and water. Just for kids aged 18 and under. Based on availability. Face painting is a popular activity, and we recommend you arrive early to ensure a spot. Please note the line for face painting closes 30 minutes prior to the close of face painting for the day.
Learn more at NJFacePainting.com.
12:00pm – 12:30pm
Every Body Dance!
Presented by: Center for Modern Dance
Location: Events Arena
Join the Center for Modern Dance Education (CMDE) for a short performance featuring a physically integrated cast of dancers, followed by an interactive dance workshop for all ages and abilities! Stretch your body and your imagination through the language of dance. Founded in 1962, CMDE is an award-winning nonprofit organization with the mission to make dance available to everyone.
Learn more at cmde.org.
1:00pm – 1:30pm
Never Miss a Chance to Dance
Presented by: Envision Dance Exchange (EDE) and Artistic Director, Susan M. Coutts
Location: Booth #435
Enjoy a live dance performance by the members of Envision Dance Exchange and choreographed by Artistic Director Susan M. Coutts. Then it's your chance to participate! Join the dancers and discover their spirit of dance! Dance Innovations and Envision Dance Exchange is proud to once again be a part of the Abilities Expo and look forward to seeing you all there! Get a sneak peak of the dancers in this video.
Learn more at http://www.danceinnovations.org/dipf and this video.
2:00pm - 2:30pm
Wheel With Me Adapt Fit
Presented by: Jesi Stracham and Nikki Walsh, Wheel With Me Adapt Fit
Location: Events Arena
Wheel With Me Adapt Fit is helping wheelchair users and non-wheelchair users achieve their health and fitness goals! This event is a place to provide education surrounding nutrition and fitness, as well as to build a community where we can all celebrate each other and encourage each other to live our best lives! We also offer a fitness application in the iOS and google play store.
Learn more: https://wheelwithmeadaptfit.com/
2:45pm – 3:45pm
Adapted Wheelchair Basketball
Presented by: Henry Viscardi School Wheelchair Basketball Program
Location: Events Arena
Try adapted wheelchair basketball - a game built so anyone can play! The Adapted Wheelchair Basketball Program was created to afford children of all levels of physical abilities, the opportunity to play together as a team and to reach their highest potential as athletes. The game is structured to allow each child to be as independent as possible while playing wheelchair basketball. The program allows children with disabilities to have fun and enjoy themselves. The program teaches the players to respect each other's individual needs and limitations as well as providing guidance for learning individual skills, team skills and good sportsmanship. Our goal is to encourage individuality, heighten self-esteem and provide a safe environment for each basketball player involved.
Learn more at henryviscardischool.org/for-students/clubs-and-activities.
4:00pm - 4:30pm
Dance-Based Exercise for Self-Care and Mindfulness
Presented by: ZCO/Dance Project
Location: Events Arena
Explore dance-based exercises that work on both cognitive and physical skills to replenish the body. Class participants will be guided on ways to break old habits, find new pathways, and discover their own movement conceptions. Open to people of all ability levels and presented by Zazel Chavah O'Garra, a professional dancer who has also experienced disability as a result of a benign brain tumor.
Learn more at https://www.zcodanceproject.com/.
Sunday, May 5, 2024
All Day
Stevie Hopkins Day
Presented by: Abilities Expo
In loving memory of our dear friend, every Sunday of the 2024 Abilities Expos will be Stevie Hopkins Day. We invite all who knew and admired Stevie to proudly wear their 3E Love apparel, featuring the Wheelchair Heart that has become emblematic within the disability community.
Learn more about Stevie Hopkins.
11:00pm - 3:00pm
Face Painting
Presented by: NJFacePainting.com
Location: Next to Events Arena
Face, arm, and hand painting are great ways for children to dress up - no costume required! Kids delight in this opportunity to transform their appearance! Painting is complimentary and paints are approved professional face paints that will wash off with soap and water. Just for kids aged 18 and under. Based on availability. Face painting is a popular activity, and we recommend you arrive early to ensure a spot. Please note the line for face painting closes 30 minutes prior to the close of face painting for the day.
Learn more at NJFacePainting.com.
11:45am - 12:30pm
Power Wheelchair Floor Hockey
Presented by: Philadelphia Flyers Powerplay
Location: Events Arena
Power Hockey is essentially floor hockey for power wheelchair users. The sport follows the rules and regulations of the United States Electric Wheelchair Hockey Association (USEWHA) and is open to all competent power wheelchair users. The Philadelphia Flyers Powerplay team is made up of about 30 players with various disabilities including Muscular Dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy, and Spinal Cord Injuries. There are no age restrictions and both male and female participants are welcome! Come watch a demo game, meet the players, families and see how they play!
Learn more at philadelphiapowerplay.com.
1:00pm – 1:30pm
Tap-Dancing Hands Down
Presented by: Mary Six Rupert and Tap: On Tap - An All Abilities Tap Ensemble
Location: Events Arena
Experience all-abilities tap dancing! Learn how Tap-Dancing Hands Down works. Join in by tapping with the performers using your own abilities. Next, divide into groups to learn and have fun with "follow-ups" and "call and response" (standard tap-dancing skills). There will be a challenge between a tap dancer and a dancer using Tap Dancing Hands Down. The Tap: On Tap Dance Company conclude with a performance combining Tap-Dancing Hands Down with traditional tap dancing.
Learn more at tapontap.org.
2:00pm – 2:30pm
Michael Jackson Dance Program for Special Needs
Presented by: MJXpressions and Stefan Hercel, CEO and DDD NJ Provider
Location: Events Arena
Students of all ages and all abilities will perform the most famous Michael Jackson dances from the Moonwalk to Thriller. All original choreography is taught by a professional Michael Jackson Tribute Artist. Come enjoy the performance and learn some of the most popular Michael Jackson dances of all time.
Learn more at mjxpressions.com/#programs.