Free Workshops
Plan your Abilities Expo experience today
Here's what we did in 2018. Stay tuned for 2019!
Please check back three months
before the Expo for the new schedule.
Take advantage of Free Workshops that focus on everything from tips for traveling with a disability and home modifications to the trends impacting accessible vehicle innovation.
There's no need to register - just arrive early to get your seat!
Professionals:
Certificates of participation are available for all workshops. Please see the Accessibility Help Desk following each workshop for your certificate.
* Dates and times of workshops 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, June 29, 2018
10:00am – 2:00pm
The Application of Power Seating Functions: Beyond the Basics
Presented by: JB Radabaugh, CTRS, ATP/SMS, CRTS Clinical Education Manager, Eastern Region US Pride Mobility Products Corp.
Location: Euphoria Room, Level 2
This course will include case studies and a hands-on component for participants to assess the various power seat functions. You will learn:
- Name at least ten considerations involved in the selection of seating and power positioning options.
- State at least two clinical benefits of tilt and recline related to pressure management.
- Discuss and utilize evidence-based research and apply to clinical decisions in the selection of power positioning systems.
The course will include case studies and a hands-on component for participants to assess the various power seat functions. Registration is required. Attendees can earn .4 CEUs. For more information, click here.
11:45am – 12:45pm
Getting Around Chicago Using Public Transportation
Presented by: Linda Chamberlain, MA, Mobility Outreach Coordinator, Regional Transportation Authority (RTA)
Location: Workshop
Accessible Metra, Pace, and Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) buses and trains are easy to use and The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) would love to show you how! Staying informed about accessible public transportation options can help people get to appointments, maintain social connections, and enjoy independent travel. Whether you live in the Windy City and use these services regularly, or have an upcoming vacation or excursion--this workshop will provide plenty of useful information. Topics include: accessibility features available on CTA, Pace, and Metra, Ride Free/Reduced Fare programs, and Ventra cards. We will also cover tips on planning an accessible trip, ways to travel safely, and RTA's free Travel Training Program.
Learn more: www.RTAChicago.org
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Transfer Solutions, Bathroom Accessibility, and Stair Management Options
Presented by: Rob Horkheimer, MPT, CEAC, ECHM, CAPS, Owner, Bridgeway Independent Living Designs
Location: Workshop
Accessibility expert, physical therapist and national instructor Rob Horkheimer MPT, CEAC, CAPS, ECHM, CLIPP will share a variety of solutions that can increase your independence and safety. In this workshop you will learn more about options for transfer lifts, bathroom modifications, and ramps/lifts for stairs, but also how to tailor solutions to your specific needs. Topics discussed in the workshop will include: ceiling lift solutions, sit to stand lifts, other transfer aides, barrier free showers, grab bar and bathroom safety equipment, wheelchair ramp considerations, vertical platform lifts, stair lifts, tub cutouts, and other accessibility solutions. For an introduction to some of the solutions for accessibility and other medical equipment solutions you can visit the websites: www.bildnow.com, and www.homesafetycomfort.com.
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Access the World: Tips for Traveling with a Disability
Presented by: Debra Kerper, Easy Access Travel
Location: Workshop
Would you like to travel the country or the world, but believe you cannot because of your disability? At this workshop you will learn that travel by air, sea and car is a real option for you. The presenter, a professional travel agent who has a disability and has travelled extensively, will share with you how to plan a trip, including what to expect form hotels, rental car companies, cruise lines and the airlines. Learn about the common challenges, methods for addressing them and what the law requires. Attendees will receive recommendations for disability-friendly destinations and accessible travel resources. Be sure to bring your pressing questions and a list of places you'd like to visit.
Learn more: www.easyaccesstravel.com
3:45pm – 4:45pm
How Medical Cannabis Can Help People with Disabilities
Presented by: Debbie Churgai, Associate Director, Americans for Safe Access
Location: Workshop
Join us to learn more about medical cannabis and how it can be an option for a variety of conditions and symptoms. Discover how you can access medical cannabis where you live. Find out what is being done to ensure safe access to this important medicine for people with disabilities. This workshop is designed to be interactive and will include time for questions and answers.
Learn more: www.safeaccessnow.org, www.safeaccessnow.org/conditions
Saturday, June 30, 2018
11:45am – 12:45pm
Five Common Solutions to Improve your Home Access
Presented by: Stephen Crandall, Co-Owner, Extended Home Living Services and To the Top Home Elevators
Location: Workshop
As a person with a disability you may be challenged by the requirements of daily activities. One of the major challenges you may face is how to live independently in your home. This workshop will present some creative solutions for a better life at home that follow ADA guidelines and preserve one's dignity. Thousands of products and many design modifications have been developed specifically to assist those with physical limitations. These products provide for personal freedom, ease of living, and safety.
Learn more: www.ehls.com
1:00pm – 2:00pm
ABLE Accounts: What You Need to Know About Achieving a Better Life Accounts
Presented by: JJ Hanley, Director, IL ABLE for Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs
Location: Workshop
IL ABLE changes the way individuals with disabilities and their families can participate in the community and plan for their financial futures. It empowers them to save and invest for the essential, additional expenses that come with having a disability. Without losing, or losing access to federal means-tested benefits. Illinois ABLE accounts encourage employment, foster person-centered independence, improve self-reliance and improve quality of life for individuals with disabilities. But you need to understand how ABLE works! This presentation will teach everything you need to know about ABLE and how it can impact your family, your work and your life. Learn why you should have an ABLE account, what you can use the account for, and what ABLE will do to your SSI, SSDI and Medicaid benefits. Discuss any challenges that exist with accounts and what is currently happening with IL state and federal legislation. Learn how you can open an IL ABLE account!
Learn more: https://il.savewithable.com
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Access the World: Tips for Traveling with a Disability
Presented by: Debra Kerper, Easy Access Travel
Location: Workshop
Would you like to travel the country or the world, but believe you cannot because of your disability? At this workshop you will learn that travel by air, sea and car is a real option for you. The presenter, a professional travel agent who has a disability and has travelled extensively, will share with you how to plan a trip, including what to expect form hotels, rental car companies, cruise lines and the airlines. Learn about the common challenges, methods for addressing them and what the law requires. Attendees will receive recommendations for disability-friendly destinations and accessible travel resources. Be sure to bring your pressing questions and a list of places you'd like to visit.
Learn more: www.easyaccesstravel.com
3:45pm – 4:45pm
Collaborative Intensive Therapy: Making It Fun and Functional
Presented by: Taylor DeValk, PT, DPT, Director of Development; Mara Jonet, MA, CCC-SLP, Speech Language Pathologist; and Annabeth Martino, MS, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist, CI Pediatric Therapy Centers
Location: Workshop
The intensive model of therapy offers great promise for children with certain disabilities to achieve functional gains. This presentation will highlight how the intensive model of therapy can be incorporated into a collaborative, individualized, and play-based approach. Attendees will learn about how occupational therapists, physical therapists and speech and language therapists work together to provide a unique treatment experience for the client, as well as the family. Clients with neuromuscular challenges, undergoing orthopedic rehabilitation, or those who have reached a plateau with traditional therapy models are ideal candidates for this therapy approach. Efficacy and research will be provided behind the rationale and different types of intensive therapy models available. Video demonstrations of treatment methods and case studies with outcomes will be presented. Learn more: www.citherapies.com
Sunday, July 1, 2018
11:45am – 12:45pm
Trends Impacting Accessible Vehicle Innovation
Presented by: Christine Kane, Director of Marketing for Vantage Mobility International
Location: Workshop
Change is coming at an incredibly fast pace and there are a number of trends that will impact the future of accessibility and accessible vehicles. With innovative technologies helping to lower the barriers for people with disabilities, come and hear what some of these trends are and explore what they could mean for you in terms of new product and service innovations that can enhance your life. Christine Kane, the Director of Marketing for Vantage Mobility International (VMI), a leader in the accessible vehicle mobility industry, will be presenting on these trends. Learn more: www.vantagemobility.com
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy 101
Presented by: Shannon Kenitz, Executive Director, International Hyperbarics Association
Location: Workshop
At this session attendees will learn basic information about hyperbaric oxygen therapy, what it is, how it can help, and how to access this treatment. Extensive research supports that HBOT can benefit numerous conditions including: cerebral palsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, cancer, chronic inflammation, spinal cord injury, sports-related injuries, Autism and more. While this therapy is a standard of care in some developed nations, its use in the United States is sporadic. This session will discuss FDA approved uses as well as additional uses to be considered. Hear from Shannon Kenitz who will share her own personal story about how HBOT saved her special needs daughter's life (Grace has a rare mitochondrial condition). A physician co-presenter will detail key research findings, what individuals can expect from treatments, and will answer questions from the audience.
Learn more: www.ihausa.org and www.shannonandgrace.com
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Living Well with Chronic Pain
Presented by: Casey Cashman, U.S. Pain Foundation
Location: Workshop
In America pain affects 100 million adults - more people than heart disease, cancer and diabetes combined. This presentation will offer tips for those living with chronic pain, including ways to work through pain on your own. Discover steps you can take on your own, today, to gain some of your life back from pain. From traditional approaches to alternative therapies, much is available with the potential to lower your pain.
For resources, programs and publications: www.uspainfoundation.org