Los Angeles Events and Activities

Adaptive Climbing Wall

Presented by: Coloplast and Mark Wellman, No Limits

Location: Booth #545

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.

Artist Market

Presented by: L.A. Goal

Location: Booth #134

Meet the region's artists with disabilities! Shop their eclectic mix of original, unforgettable artistry. Featuring photographs, paintings, graphic design, and more. All available for both appreciation and purchase. Artist Market sponsor LA Goal is committed to creating opportunities and equity for adults with developmental disabilities so they can live more fulfilling lives. Their programs cultivate knowledge, skills, and confidence for their members to engage in meaningful work, encourage creativity and self-expression, promote health and wellness, and inspire meaningful relationships.

Learn more and explore their programs at lagoal.org.

Assistive Technology Showcase

Presented by: Ability Tools

Location: Booth #227

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: Earthquake, Fire, and Disability Preparedness Experts from Earthquake Country Alliance, Government Agencies, and Non-Profits

Location: Booth #633

Meet representatives of disability and emergency management organizations who are active in emergency planning and are working to ensure Californians 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!

Get California-specific resources at earthquakecountry.org/accessibility and find national resources at ready.gov/disability.

Sensory Calming Room

Presented by: Undivided and Abundance Therapies Foundation

Location: Booth #1103

This unique space is dedicated to providing a safe and tranquil environment where kids can find peace and regain focus amidst the heightened sensory input of the event. "There are so many fabulous things to explore and discover at The Abilities Expo, but for some of our neurodiverse kids, that excitement can turn overwhelming quickly. We aim to create a calming space where kids can regulate and reset," explains Lindsay Crain, Head of Community at Undivided, who is co-sponsoring the room with the occupational therapists from Abundance Therapies Foundation. Come relax on the bean bags, have a swing, or close your eyes and listen to the quiet music. The Sensory Calming Room represents a commitment to fostering an accessible environment where every child can thrive and feel at ease.

Learn more at undivided.io and abundancetherapies.foundation.

Sports Zone

Presented by: Angel City Sports

Location: Booth #1013

Come on by to learn more about and try a variety of adaptive sports! At the Sports Zone you'll discover equipment and staff support so you can try several different sports. The Sports Zone is organized and presented by Angel City Sports. The Zone will be open whenever the show is open!

Learn more at angelcitysports.org.

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 - 1:45pm

Sitting Volleyball

Presented by: Angel City Sports

Location: Events Arena

Ready to see and try a new adaptive sport? Sitting volleyball is a version of volleyball where athletes play in a seated position. The sitting game uses the same volleyball skills and techniques as the standing game - with a few rule differences. Players sit on mats and the net is lower than for standing volleyball. It's a fast-paced game! Come learn more and try sitting volleyball for yourself.

Learn more at angelcitysports.org.

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Wheelchair Fitness Class

Presented by: Justin Graham, Certified Personal Trainer, Founder, W.O.W. Fitness & Wellness

Location: Events Arena

Ready to have a lot of fun and work out at the same time? Come experience a WOW Wheelchair Fitness Class! The class features movements for seated students and is taught by a seated instructor. Featuring elements of weight training, Zumba, and pom-pom dance. Standing participants are also welcome!

Learn more at wowwheelchairfitness.com.

3:00pm - 3:45pm

Wheelchair Basketball

Presented by: Angel City Sports

Location: Events Arena

Ready to see and try a new adaptive sport? Wheelchair basketball is a fast-paged game for those with a permanent lower extremity disability that precludes then from playing competitive stand up basketball. When the sport began it was only for those with spinal cord injuries; now people with many types of disabilities can play. You don't need to be a full-time wheelchair user although you do need to use a wheelchair when playing the sport. There's lots to learn about this sport! Come watch local players and have a chance to try the sport for yourself!

Learn more at angelcitysports.org.

4:00pm - 4:45pm

Wheelchair Football

Presented by: Angel City Sports

Location: Events Arena

Ready to see and try a new adaptive sport? Discover wheelchair football! Meet members of the new Los Angeles Rams wheelchair football team. See what the sport is all about, try some drills, and throw a few balls yourself. Plus, learn how you can get involved with playing wheelchair football in SoCal.

Learn more at angelcitysports.org.

12:00pm - 12:15pm

Help Hope Live Adaptive Bike Giveaway

Presented by: Sonny Mullen and Kelly L. Green, Help Hope Live

Location: Events Arena

National medical fundraising nonprofit Help Hope Live will present a Freedom Concepts customized adaptive bike to 13-year-old Karla Ilhuicatzi. She was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, spina bífida, cerebral paralysis, OCD, ODD, general anxiety, myopia, and seizures. 

Funding for this giveaway is made possible through a partnership between the Help Hope Live and the Esther & Pedro Rosenblatt Foundation.

12:00pm - 12:30pm

Tap Dance for All

Presented by: Victoria Moore, Victoria Moore Tap

Location: Events Arena

Would you like to tap dance? Think you can't? With "Tap For All" yes you can! Everybody can enjoy the fun of creating rhythms. By taking the taps off the shoes and putting them onto specially designed tap mittens, sitting tap dancers can now execute any rhythm a standing tap dancer can. Add a specially designed tap board you use on your lap or a table - and tap becomes accessible to all. Come try tap first-hand for yourself. Try on tap gloves and learn some basic tap steps. You'll even get to work together as a group, setting a small combination to music. A list of dance studios that provide Tap Dance For All classes will be available. This event is also ideal for inclusive dance programs that would like to learn to teach adaptive tap as well as occupational and recreational therapists.

Learn more at victoriamooretap.com.

12:00pm - 4:00pm

Face Painting

Presented by: Elise Massa, We Adorn You

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 facepaintinglosangeles.net.

1:00pm - 1:45pm

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.

2:00pm - 2:30pm

Dance with The Rollettes!

Presented by: The Rollettes Los Angeles

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.

3:00pm – 3:45pm

Adaptive Skateboarding

Presented by: The Skate Connection

Location: Events Arena

The Skate Connection is committed to providing opportunities for people with and without disabilities to skateboard together and cultivate an integrated community deeply rooted in the love for skateboarding. Founded in 2011 by Adam Grijalva, The Skate Connection is a simple, dynamic organization that has sprouted from a small crew of skateboarders to a movement that is reaching communities all across California and connecting the hearts of skateboarders worldwide. At The Skate Connection, we don't create skateboarders or make friendships rather we just receive new members into our community and provide an authentic skateboarding experience so they may encounter the transforming love of skateboarding.

Learn more at instagram.com/theskateconnection and theskateconnection.org.

4:00pm – 4:30pm

Meet Jennifer Kumiyama, Star of the new Disney film Wish!

Presented by: Jennifer Kumiyama, Disability Advocate, Singer, and Actress

Location: Events Arena

Jennifer Kumiyama joins us this year to talk about her experience as a star of the new Disney full-length animated feature film Wish! The film features Jennifer as the voice of 'Dahlia'. Jennifer is also a talented singer and actress, with 20 years experience working on film and stage. You may also recognize her from her days singing on stage in 'Aladdin; a Musical Spectacular' at Disney California Adventure Theme Park, as a former Ms. Wheelchair California (2010), and as a long-time attendee of Abilities Expo LA. Come meet Jennifer, enjoy her singing in a live performance, and learn more about her journey as a performer and advocate.

Learn more about Jennifer at https://linktr.ee/JenniferKumiyama.
Learn more about Disney Animation's Wish at https://movies.disney.com/wish.
Wish comes to Digital on January 23 and is available on Blu-ray/DVD on March 12.

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.

11:30pm - 3:30pm

Face Painting

Presented by: Elise Massa, We Adorn You

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 facepaintinglosangeles.net.

12:00pm – 12:45pm

The Long Beach Beauties Cheer Performance

Presented by: The Long Beach Beauties

Location: Events Arena

The Long Beach Beauties is a cheer program for differently abled children and young adults ages eight and up. The girls are from all over Los Angeles and Orange counties. They have been cheering for over five years! They have cheered at several events including: Jamz Nationals in Las Vegas, Dodgers Stadium Cheer Day, the Southern California Special Olympics (SOSC) Summer Games and Abilities Expo Los Angeles! They are very excited that the sport of cheer is being added to the Southern California Special Olympics!

Learn more at their Facebook page.

1:00 – 1:45pm

Amputee Soccer

Presented by: Angel City Sports

Location: Events Arena

Ready to see and try a new adaptive sport? Adaptive soccer offers the opportunity for athletes of all ages and with a variety of limb differences to play soccer in both recreational and competitive settings. Come learn about this sport, watch a demonstration, see the equipment, and even try it for yourself!

Learn more at angelcitysports.org.

2:00pm - 2:30pm

Line Dancing for All

Presented by: Straight Up Abilities

Location: Events Arena

"Everyone can and should dance" is the motto of Straight Up Abilities. Enjoy performances by the high-energy Straight Up Abilities AllStar Group and the awesome WizStars from the JSPACC.  Then they will lead the audience in some easy-to-learn line dances. Straight Up Abilities' Director Robin Olive and Teacher Gaby Alcazar will also teach some simple sign language to the dance songs. This event will be loads of fun for ALL!

Learn more at straightupabilities.com.

2:30pm – 3:30pm

Ms. Wheelchair California 2024 Competition

Presented by: The Ms. Wheelchair California Leadership Institute

Location: Please note this event takes place at the Workshop Area

The Ms. Wheelchair California 2024 Competition is happening at Abilities Expo Los Angeles! The purpose of the competition is to select the most accomplished and articulate spokeswoman to represent people living with disabilities. The selected titleholder must be able to communicate both the needs and the accomplishments of her constituency to the general public, the business community and the legislature. The competition is based on advocacy, achievement, communication and presentation. Come and listen to the platform speeches of talented contestants from across the state and see who will be crowned the 2024 Ms. Wheelchair California.

Learn more at mwcaleadership.org.