FREE workshops!
Take advantage of Free Workshops that focus on many topics from how to pay for everything you see at the show, to interabled dating and marriage, traveling with a disability, and much more!
There's no need to register in advance for the workshops. Just arrive early to each session to get your seat!
There's a lot going on at Abilities Expo! Be sure to also check out the Exhibitors and Events.
Professionals:
- Certificates of participation are available for all workshops. Please see the Accessibility Help Desk during the show for information on how to obtain a certificate. Certificate recipients must be registered attendees at the show.
* Workshop dates, times, topics, and speakers are subject to change without notice. The opinions presented at the workshops are those of the presenters and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Abilities Expo. Workshop 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 workshops.
Friday, September 6, 2024
10:00 – 11:00am
Empowering Participation: Mobility Device Air Travel Considerations
Presented by: Alex Chesney, OTR, ATP/SMS, Quantum Rehab
Location: Meeting Room 1
Individuals with chronic medical conditions and long-term disabilities who have a permanent need for a wheelchair require a comprehensive, detailed evaluation of their physical, functional and environmental needs to allow clinicians and ATP suppliers to make appropriate Assistive Technology recommendations for a successful outcome.
This course will examine the feasibility in which one utilizing a customized/complex mobility and seating system allows the end user to return to work or leisure activity involving air travel. Following the course, you will be able to describe the significance of air travel challenges specific to consumers who utilize a wheelchair as a primary means of mobility and identify options for clients to protect and manage their equipment and utilize certain positioning devices during travel.
The session is complimentary, but registration is required. Attendees can earn .1 CEUs. For more information, click here.
11:00am – 12:00pm
Transportation & Community: Participation Among Power Wheelchair Users
Presented by: Alex Chesney, OTR, ATP/SMS, Quantum Rehab
Location: Meeting Room 1
Individuals with chronic medical conditions and long-term disabilities who have a permanent need for a wheelchair require a comprehensive, detailed evaluation of their physical, functional and environmental needs to allow clinicians and ATP suppliers to make appropriate Assistive Technology recommendations for a successful outcome.
This course will examine the feasibility in which one utilizing a customized/complex mobility and seating system allows the end user to return to work or leisure activity by being able to transport their prescribed equipment. Following the course, you will be able to describe the transportation challenges specific to customers who utilize a wheelchair as a primary means of mobility and identify personal transportation options that allow for transporting a power wheelchair.
The session is complimentary, but registration is required. Attendees can earn .1 CEUs. For more information, click here.
11:45am – 12:45pm
Disability Stereotypes: Built-In Beliefs
Gary Karp, Author / Speaker / Educator
Location: Workshop Area
The ways our culture views disability has its roots in hundreds of years of history — and perspectives that seem to make sense from the point of view of NOT having a disability. As they gradually evolve in a new era of modern disability, understanding what they are and how they work is key to getting society up to speed with the real lives of people committed to independence and adaptation in a radically changed world.
Learn more at: www.garykarpspeaks.com
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Inter-abled Dating and Marriage
Presented By: Steph and Ty Roach
Location: Workshop Area
Steph and Ty Roach share their inter-abled relationship perspective. They have been together for over eight years, married for 3, they share a real-life account of the ins and outs of what a loving and realistic inter-abled relationship looks like. This workshop is an opportunity to engage in community discussion, as well as answering questions that anyone may have!
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Disability & Special Needs Planning Made Easy
Presented By: Andre Sam, Disability/Special Needs Planner - Disability & Special Needs Project
Location: Workshop Area
An informative and educational workshop for family members with loved ones of all ages with physical and/or intellectual disabilities or special needs! Many topics will be covered in this workshop. Including: guardianship, alternatives to guardianship, micro boards, wills, family trusts, special needs trusts, SSI (Supplemental Security Income), Social Security Retirement and Survivor Benefits, Social Security Disability, Medicaid/Medicare, ABLE Accounts, budget planning, and transition planning. Learn why these disability and special needs planning documents are important to have and how they complement each other in an estate plan designed to protect yourself, your family, and/or your loved one's current and future quality of life and care. Don't be afraid to plan, be afraid if you don't plan.
Learn more at: https://projectdsnp.com/
3:45pm – 4:45pm
Accessible Home Design: Kitchens & Bathrooms!
Mark Thompson, Department of Architecture, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA)
Location: Workshop Area
How can my kitchen be made more accessible? Can kitchen appliances be more user-friendly? Could I retrofit my bathroom to include a spacious roll-in shower? Where should plumbing fixtures be located, and what type? Who should I hire to make sure my home renovation project will fit my needs? Whether it's a new accessible residence or retrofitting your existing home, learn ways to improve the accessibility of your kitchen and bathrooms. Information will be presented from several chapters of PVA's book, Accessible Home Design: Architectural Solutions for the Wheelchair User, with real examples and case studies.
Learn more at pva.org/research-resources/accessible-design and the popular book from PVA: Accessible Home Design: Architectural Solutions for the Wheelchair User, Second Edition (available for purchase online).
Saturday, September 7, 2024
11:45am – 12:45pm
Wheelchair Seating Solutions for Kids
Presented By: Heather R. Price, OTR/L, ATP/SMS
Location: Workshop Area
This workshop is meant to provide families and caregivers of children who use various types of wheeled mobility devices with an overview of the different types of common seating and positioning devices. It will cover what each item is designed to do as well as specific considerations for children. Several topics will be discussed including why seating and positioning is so important for children, differences between adult and pediatric seating, steps you can take to ensure that your child is properly positioned in their current system, a systematic review of common seating and positioning devices.
Learn more at https://stealthproducts.com/
1:00pm – 2:00pm
The Art of Complex Caregiving
Presented By: Linda M. Schultz, PhD, CRRN
Location: Workshop Area
For both individuals receiving care and those providing it, juggling a complex medical situation with a disability can become challenging. Pain management, bladder and bowel routines, skin care, and more all compete for attention and trying to prioritize tasks can be exhausting. In this workshop, attendees will hear from Linda Schultz, Ph.D., known best as "Nurse Linda" from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation's National Paralysis Resource Center. She will discuss ways to manage complex caregiving with simplicity, compassion, and grace. Attendees will leave this session having gained tips and strategies for preventing and managing stressful situations before they happen.
Learn more at christopherreeve.org/todays-care/living-with-paralysis/for-caregivers.
1:30pm – 2:30 pm
Pride Mobility Consumer Roundtable
Presented by: Pride Mobility
Location: Meeting Room 1 outside of the Main Entrance
Pride Mobility® wants to hear from you at the Phoenix Abilities Expo!
Our Consumer Roundtable is a dedicated, hour-long session that provides an opportunity for you to speak with our expert staff and give direct feedback about your mobility products.
If you are interested in sharing your ideas and experiences, we encourage you to register here for the Pride roundtable by Sunday, September 1. If you are chosen to participate, you will be contacted via email by Wednesday, September 4. Those who are chosen to participate will receive a $25 gift card for their time and input!
Should the Pride team have any additional questions, you will be contacted via email.
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Traveling with a Disability
Presented By: Jenny Smith, M.Ed., Disability Support and Education - Paraclete/Jenny Smith Rolls On
Location: Workshop Area
Do you want to travel but think it's impossible? Don't dismiss the thought. While working with nonprofit organizations to distribute wheelchairs to people in developing countries, Jenny Smith has traveled to Latin American, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and several European countries. In this workshop, Jenny will share 10 tips on how to get the most out of your travel experience. With the proper preparation and an open mind, it's possible to experience an incredible adventure!
Learn more at www.jennysmithrollson.com
3:45pm – 4:45pm
WTF? (What's The Focus?) Photographing the Unseen with a Progressive Disease
Presented By: Heather C Markham-Creasman, MS CS, MS RST, RESNA ATP, ICC Accessibility Inspector, CEO - Making Waves for Good
Location: Workshop Area
It's been said that photography shows us how little we see with our own eyes, capturing what we miss at first glance. Heather uses her camera to focus on the unusual to reveal the unseen, showing viewers the beauty in the stillness of life that most rush right past, and has exhibited her photos around the world. Join her as she talks about her photography, the places it has taken her, and how she continues to pursue her passion for photography despite the 30-plus year progression of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. She will offer tips, tricks, and techniques for getting great shots from unusual angles, advice on where to get camera gear that fits your budget, and how disability doesn't have to rob you of your joy.
Note: Book signing from 3:30pm – 3:45pm and 4:45pm – 5:00pm
Learn more at https://www.makingwavesforgood.com, https://www.justforthelove.com, https://www.heathercmarkham.com
Sunday, September 8, 2024
11:45am – 12:45pm
Discover How to Pay for Everything You See Today
Presented By: Help Hope Live
Location: Workshop Area
Did you know that you can fundraise to cover the costs of everything you see at Abilities Expo? From power wheelchairs to accessible vehicles, from adaptive bikes to home modifications. And more! Help Hope Live wants to help make this happen! Come find out how the Help Hope Live non-profit organization works closely with Abilities Expo exhibitors and others – to get our clients on their way to independence!
1:00pm – 2:00pm
What to Know About Service Dogs
Karen Yeager, Owner - Quad Cities Canine
Location: Workshop Area
Learn key points about service dogs:
- What qualifies me to have a service dog?
- What qualifies a dog to be a service dog?
- Standard training, ethics & etiquette for service dogs
- Tasks a service dog might perform for you
- Service dog misconceptions
- What can someone legally ask about my service dog?
- Can I take my service dog anywhere?
- Traveling/Flying with a service dog
Learn more at https://www.quadcitiescanine.com
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Compassionate Touch for Creating Possibilities with the Feldenkrais Method®
Presented By: Erin Finkelstein, M.Mus, Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner - Sound Movement Services
Location: Workshop Area
The Feldenkrais Method ® of somatic education creates the possibilities for kids with Cerebral Palsy, traumatic brain injury or genetic conditions to function with more ease and joy through awareness, touch and movement. We use the concepts of human development and neuroplasticity through a compassionate, gentle intelligent manner, honoring your child's own organic learning and wisdom. In this workshop you will learn 7 steps to start working with your own child in a new way to create happier kids and families
Learn more at www.erinfinkelstein.com or www.soundmovementservices.com