Adaptive Arts

When that old English playwright said the pen was mightier than the sword, it’s safe to assume that he’d never considered the paintbrush. Especially not Dwayne Szot’s style of paintbrush. Because had the writer ever witnessed the profound effect on the children whose wheelchairs have been literally transformed into giant paintbrushes, that play would have gone…

By Dwayne Szot, Zot Artz Arts for All Ever since I was a kid living in a foster home with children of all abilities, I’ve been coming up with ways to utilize technology in order to allow people with disabilities to better engage and express their inner artist. Now, at Abilities Expo Los Angeles from February…

These days it seems like anybody whose anybody is covering or doing a parody of Pharrell Williams’s “Happy,” quite possibly the catchiest tune ever to grace the airwaves. And why not? Its funky, upbeat rhythm and ubber-positive message have been topping the charts worldwide. Lampooning musical icon Weird Al Yankovic couldn’t resist bestowing his signature…

Making its second appearance at the Abilities Expo Los Angeles is the Emmy® submitted web series Donna On The Go starring Abilities Expo Ambassador Donna Russo. The show was first conceived of by creator Peggy Lane to raise awareness for people with challenges. Donna On The Go is a light hearted look at some of them. Funny…

Less than one month ago, the Toy Like Me Facebook group laid down the gauntlet. Launched by a band of parents in the U.K., #ToyLikeMe issued a shout-out to toy manufactures: Make toys that our children—and the more than 150 million children with disabilities worldwide—can relate to. Photo credit Facebook “If toys are designed to educate us…

By Brittany Déjean, AbleThrive We all want to see ourselves represented in media and society. AbleThrive’s #ThisIsHowI campaign is bringing visibility to people with disabilities and their families by shedding light on how people are living their lives around the world.  AbleThrive’s Curated Disability-Focused Content Shares Know-How Kicked off in December 2016 on the International Day of People…

Meet the talented young Talaura Cothran. This high school senior is a 12-year veteran girl scout, an accomplished bagpipe player and has recently set something remarkable in motion. In pursuit of the coveted Girl Scout Gold Award, Talaura created the Special Beauties Pageant, an event that will impact the lives of children with disabilities for years…

It turns out that frustration is the mother of invention too. When Dianalynn Varin was diagnosed with CIDP, an autoimmune disease that affects the nervous system, she realized that she would have to drastically change her work habits. She needed to stay in a home environment where she could remain productive, while better accommodating herself, her…

Geekdom has taken the world by storm lately. Superhero movies have been blockbuster staples since Marvel’s Iron Man in 2008. Of course, for hardcore fans, this is the golden age. One where dressing up in costumes has evolved into an art form known as cosplaying. Cosplayers, those who fearlessly wear their fandoms on their sleeves,…

By Misa On Wheels, Cosplayer The term “cosplay” is the combination of the words “costume” and “play.” It, quite literally, means dressing up and having fun! But, cosplay is so much more than just dressing up in awesome outfits.  The True Magic of Cosplay Some may see cosplay as an escape, but to me, it…

By Julienne Dallara, Abilities Expo My heart aches for Riia Talve’s parents. Due to an unexpected illness, Pennie and Henry Talve’s baby girl had to be induced early or die. To the overwhelming joy of this British Columbian couple, it was a success and the diminutive Riia was born at 1lb 13oz. To make matters…

What do you do when your whole life changes in an instant? How do you cope? What about your sense of self when everything is changing? Where can you turn? Ask Chris Rohan. She knows, because it has happened to her again and again. Just look; she has the stubborn grin to prove it. “I…