Meet the Event Speakers!
Here are 2024 Abilities Expo presenters. Check back to find out what's in store for 2025.
Meet the speakers for the activities, demonstrations, and events at Abilities Expo Dallas! They bring years of experience and knowledge to the events they will share with you. Many are recognized regionally and nationally for their ongoing work with the disability community.
All Abilities Expo speakers have apparent or non-apparent disabilities, work in the disability field, or are the sibling or parent of a person with disabilities.
There's so much to explore at Abilities Expo! Don't miss 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.
Wheelie Babes
Introducing Wheelie Babes — a wheelchair dance team and adaptive event group that gathers monthly for activities & to uplift one another! Join us for adventure, camaraderie, & empowering experiences.
Event: Wheelie Babes Dance & Community
Ayita Wheelchair Dance
Ayita Wheelchair Dance is a dance class for children who use wheelchairs. Their mission is to inspire, encourage, and build confidence. The dancers were part of the Rollettes Experience, presented annually in Los Angeles by Chelsie Hill and The Rollettes. At the Boundless Talent Showcase (part of the Rollettes Experience) the ladies won for their group performance and Mayli won for entertainment! Ayita offers dance classes at their Fort Worth, TX dance studio.
Event: Ayita Wheelchair Dance Performance and Class
Dallas Stars Adaptive Sports / Sledhockey
The Dallas Stars Adaptive Sports Sledhockey program is open to all individuals that do not have the ability to play stand up hockey. We have a youth and adult program available for all to participate.
Social Media
Event: Sledhockey
Dallas-Fort Worth Stampede Wheelchair Lacrosse
The Dallas Stampede Wheelchair Lacrosse team strives to make the sport of wheelchair lacrosse accessible to all that wish to participate.
Social Media
Event: Wheelchair Lacrosse
Justin Graham, NASM-CPT, FNS
Justin Graham, creator of WOW Wheelchair Fitness, is a Certified Personal Trainer who has been working with the disability community since 2018. He has taught classes with Paralyzed Veterans Association (PVA), Triumph Sports Festival, Ability360 in Phoenix, Spina Bifida Association, and the Abilities Expos shows around the country. His dynamic charm attracts everyone to join his wheelchair fitness classes, combining strength training with dance, pom-poms, and just plain fun! Justin teaches fitness classes daily on the virtual platform WOW Wheelchair Fitness, which provides consistent, organized fitness and personal training via online sessions to increase healthy happiness in the disability community! Whether seated, standing or rolling, W.O.W. is designed for everyone to use! Justin excels at enticing even the shyest student to play along and get valuable exercise. Justin is based in Phoenix, AZ where he teaches live classes and one-on-one personal training in addition to his online classes. His joyous energy is a gift, bringing people of all ages and abilities together to dance with their peers.
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Event: W.O.W. Dance Fitness Party
Kristin Hartness
Public awareness and education are very important to CDK – so important that they travel the country to talk to students of all grade levels, civic groups, religious groups, and businesses about assistance dogs. CDK also offers different ways to help educate the public about service dogs including Educational Presentations, Booth Event Participation, Americans with Disability (ADA) consulting. Members of CDK staff and volunteers travel all over the country for these opportunities. Please contact us to learn more about how we might participate in your school, business, or community event.
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Event: All About Service Dogs
Jasmine's Beat Adaptive Dance Company
Jasmine's Beat Adaptive Dance Company is an adaptive dance company for persons of all abilities. They aim to empower people of all ages, sex, race, and ability to embrace the power of dance and healthy movement. They work to increase awareness about the avenue of dance for health, emotional self-esteem, and social and physical well-being. They aspire to enable the fusion of any cultural music and dance. They provide education on rhythm, beat and sequence of intercultural dance, as well as promote creativity and self-expression through dance. They formulate goals with customers in terms of time used, type of dance learned, final production, and the means to enlighten others about adaptive dance beyond obstacles. The team at Jasmine's Beat will assist in facilitating exhibitions of dance creations as well as rehabilitative goals. Finally, their ambition is to be skilled at having fun through dance and to share this skill as a continued passion in the community.
Event: Adaptive Dance Workshop and Performance
Lone Star Adaptive Soccer
Lone Star Adaptive Soccer Association knows that our strength lies not only in the words we stand by but most importantly through the actions of our initiatives. Back in 2018, our Non-Profit Organization realized that by working together we could overcome our challenges much more efficiently, and that is why we ultimately decided to launch Lone Star Adaptive Soccer Association.
Social Media
Event: Adaptative Soccer
Gianna Rojas
For Gianna Rojas, no obstacle is too daunting to tackle. Born without fingers on her left hand, Gianna is known world-wide as the "One Handed Lady Golfer." She strives to bring attention to golfing success stories people with physical, cognitive, sensory, health, and age-related challenges. She does not like the word "disabled." "We are all able, just differently ABLED," says Gianna. Despite her own challenges, she inspires and motivates others to "get out of bed, and out of their head." By sharing her own story she hopes to inspire others who may question their own abilities. Named by the LPGA as one of the TOP 22 Women "Disrupters" in the golf industry, Gianna is the epitome of adaptive empowerment through golf. Today, Gianna collaborates, sits on committees, and is an active member of many organizations. She represents the USAGA as their Director of Global Brand Awareness. She is an adaptive athlete and a two-time division winner in the Adaptive and Para Long Drives and is a member of the USA Disabled Team participating in International and National Events. Find her online by searching for "One Handed Lady Golder" or at her website, adaptivegolfers.org.
Event: Adaptive Golf
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RISE Adaptive Sports
The mission of RISE Adaptive Sports is to assist persons with physical challenges to "Reover, Inspire, Succeed, and Empower" themselves and others by providing inclusive adaptive recreational sports programs. To accomplish the RISE mission at the highest level possible, all RISE programs are FREE of charge for persons with physical challenges and family members or friends.
Event: Sports Zone
United Spinal Association - North Texas Chapter
The North Texas chapter of the United Spinal Association is dedicated to becoming an informational hub and programming resource for persons with spinal cord injury in North Texas. We centralize the local resources of groups currently assisting our consumers, improve independence via programming and community activities, help gain employment, encourage advocacy, and foster social growth.
Events: United Spinal Association - North Texas Chapter - Pickleball Demo and Wheelchair Tennis: Your New Favorite Sport!