Activities, Demonstrations, and Special Events!
Here is the 2022 Abilities Expo line-up.
Check back 3 months out to find out what's in store for 2023.
Abilities Expo showcases a wide range of events so you can test your skills, expand your interests, and connect to programs in the local area.
All events take place in the Auti Angel Events Arena unless otherwise noted.
There's a lot to explore at Abilities Expo Dallas! Check out the Exhibitors and Workshops!
* PLEASE NOTE dates, times, topics, and presenters of events are subject to change without notice. Abilities Expo is not responsible for the materials or opinions of the speakers.
Artist Market
Presented by: Art Spark Texas (formerly VSA Texas)
Location: Booth #250
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 Art Spark Texas challenges perceptions of how people contribute by creating an arts-inspired, inclusive community of individuals with diverse abilities. They are an expert resource on inclusive arts - creating and maintaining an accessible and open community where everyone can participate. Their goal is to provide support and training to the public, enhance personal growth and offer Texans access to the creative work of people with diverse abilities.
Learn more! Visit ArtSparkTX.org.
Adaptive Climbing Wall
Presented by: Mark Wellman, No Limits Tahoe
Location: 500 Aisle
Discover adaptive climbing! A sport that's open to people of ALL abilities! Plus, meet the best person to learn adaptive climbing from - Mark Wellman of No Limits! Mark has a spinal cord injury (SCI) and is an adventure athlete, speaker, and author. Come climb the wall 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! Mark is a former Paralympian and Park Ranger. He is the first paraplegic to summit El Capitan and Half Dome in Yosemite National Park. He dedicates his time to improving the quality of life for adults and children with disabilities including disabled war veterans.
Learn more! Visit Mark's Website nolimitstahoe.com.
Assistive Technology Showcase
Presented by: Texas Technology Access Program
Location: Booth #639
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. TTAP staff are available to offer suggestions and share their extensive knowledge. To help you find the most appropriate technology for your abilities and needs. TTAP develops programs to improve access, advocacy, and awareness of Assistive Technology to meet the needs of Texans with disabilities.
Learn more! Visit TTAP online.
Emergency Preparedness Resource Booth
Presented by: FEMA Region 6
Location: Booth #539
Meet representatives of disability and emergency management organizations who are active in emergency planning and are working to ensure the Dallas, Texas region 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!
Learn more: ready.gov
Sports Zone
Presented by: RISE Adaptive Sports
Location: Booth #282 (Behind Events Arena)
Come on out for your chance to try out all sorts of adaptive sports! Sit volleyball, wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, indoor soccer, hand cycling, and more! See these sports in action, try them for yourself, and ask questions to find a sport to be part of. Presented by RISE Adaptive Sports – they assist people with physical challenges to "Recover, Inspire, Succeed and Empower" themselves and others by providing inclusive adaptive recreational sports programs.
Learn more! Visit RiseAdaptiveSports.org.
All About Service Dogs
Presented by: Kristin Hartness, Executive Director, CDK
Location: Events Arena
Discover how service dogs are meeting the needs of people with different disabilities. Service dogs can help you achieve more independence in your life – assisting with tasks like picking up a cell phone, providing physical stability, counting money, and more! Service dogs are available for people with different disabilities, including vision and hearing loss, mobility, Autism, and seizure/allergy alert. Learn about the process to acquire a dog, support for covering the costs, and what to expect from your service dog provider organization.
Learn More! Visit CDK's website.
Blind Hockey – You Won't Believe Your Eyes!
Presented by: Joshua Schneider, MA and Drew Garza, USA Hockey, the Dented Pucks Hockey Team, and the HockEYE Guy Foundation
Location: Events Arena
Discover the sport of blind hockey – open to those with and without vision loss. Hear from blind hockey players about how the sport is played. Plus have a chance to see the unique equipment used in blind hockey like the smaller and lighter hockey sticks, the blind puck, and blind goggles. Find out how you can start ice skating in your region, and how to begin playing this fun sport.
Learn more: thehockeyeguy.com and watch blind people play hockey in this video
WOW Wheelchair Fitness Class
Presented by: Justin Graham, Certified Personal Trainer, Creator, W.O.W. Wonders on Wheels
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; however, standing participants are also welcome. Featuring elements of weight training, Zumba, and pom-pom dance.
Learn more! Visit WOW Wheelchair Fitness.
Jiu Jitsu Without Limitations
Presented by: Maximiliano Ulloa, International Jiu Jitsu Without Limitations Federation (IJJWLF)
Location: Events Arena
Jiu Jitsu is a martial art that uses leverage to control an attacker. The techniques taught are designed to allow a smaller person to control a larger opponent by using chokes, manipulating joints, or just holding them until help arrives. Having a limitation may limit some techniques in this martial art - but the beauty of Jiu Jitsu is its versatility! Versatility of the positions, transitions, and submissions. Jiu Jitsu Without Limitations teaches you how to use your abilities to the fullest. Learn what your body is capable of and how you can defend yourself the best to your ability. Jiu Jitsu can be used to help keep your body healthy and your mind sharp - and you may want to take it further and compete.
Learn more! Visit https://www.ijjwlf.com/.
All About Service Dogs
Presented by: Kristin Hartness, Executive Director, CDK
Location: Events Arena
Discover how service dogs are meeting the needs of people with different disabilities. Service dogs can help you achieve more independence in your life – assisting with tasks like picking up a cell phone, providing physical stability, counting money, and more! Service dogs are available for people with different disabilities, including vision and hearing loss, mobility, Autism, and seizure/allergy alert. Learn about the process to acquire a dog, support for covering the costs, and what to expect from your service dog provider organization.
Learn More! Visit CDK's website.
Wheelchair Football
Presented by: RISE Adaptive Sports
Location: Back of Hall
This free, learn-to-play wheelchair football clinic will introduce participants to the sport of wheelchair football, provide an overview of the rules, demonstrate skills and drills and conclude with a friendly scrimmage. RISE Adaptive Sports will have sports chairs available for participants to use. Players from the competitive Dallas Cowboys Wheelchair Football Team will be around to discuss the sport and their season.
Wheelchair Lacrosse
Presented by: Louis Nicolosi, coach of the Houston Apollos Wheelchair Lacrosse program and Physical Therapist at TIRR Memorial Hermann
Location: Events Arena
Lacrosse is a fast-paced, full contact sport utilizing numerous skills to catch, carry, pass, and shoot a ball into a goal using a lacrosse stick. It is a great off-season companion sport to basketball with the season running between the months of May to August. Wheelchair lacrosse offers the complete package—the speed of basketball, the skill of hockey, and the toughness of rugby. Come out and learn about this exciting sport and try it for yourself!
Learn more! Visit WheelchairLacrosse.com.
Ayita Wheelchair Dance Performance and Class
Presented by: Ayita Wheelchair Dance
Location: Events Arena
Meet the young ladies of this amazing Texas-based wheelchair dance troupe! Ayita is a dance class for children who use wheelchairs. Their mission is to inspire, encourage, and build confidence! Abilities Expo is thrilled to welcome these talented young dancers to the show. They will be treating the crowd to thrilling performance. Then it's your chance to join them on the dance floor and learn some new moves at their dance class. Ayita dance classes take place in Fort Worth, TX.
Learn more! Visit them at their Facebook page.
Wheelchair Rugby
Presented by: RISE Adaptive Sports
Location: Back of Hall
This free, learn-to-play wheelchair rugby clinic will introduce participants to the sport, provide an overview of the rules, demonstrate skills and drills, and conclude with a friendly scrimmage. RISE Adaptive Sports will have rugby chairs available for participants to use.
Tennis for All!
Presented by: Dallas Wheelchair Tennis Club; Jeff Bourns, American Amputee Tennis Player, and USTA Texas
Location: Events Arena
Come discover how tennis offers opportunities for anyone to play and enjoy the sport! Join us to try both wheelchair tennis and adaptive standing tennis. Learn how you can play wheelchair tennis with USTA Texas. Meet Jeff Bourns, who helped popularize and pioneer the growth and development of organized Adaptive Standing Tennis. All ages and abilities are welcome!
Learn more! Visit the USTA Texas website.
WOW Wheelchair Fitness Class
Presented by: Justin Graham, Certified Personal Trainer, Creator, W.O.W. Wonders on Wheels
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; however, standing participants are also welcome. Featuring elements of weight training, Zumba, and pom-pom dance.
Learn more! Visit WOW Wheelchair Fitness.
Adaptive Cheer and ParaCheer
Presented by: ParaCheer Spirit Wolves: the 2022 US National Adaptive Abilities Team, representing USA Cheer and the International Cheer Union
Location: Events Arena
Discover the new sport of Adaptive Cheer/ParaCheer! Adaptive Cheer/ParaCheer brings two kinds of athletes together: those with disabilities (or "with limitations," according to USA Cheer) and those without. Cheerleading, by nature, pushes boundaries and questions limitations, and these athletes are doing just that, modifying stunts, and adjusting routines to create something new. ParaCheer Spirit Wolves will showcase their skills with a demonstration. Then you are invited to try it for yourselves with the US Nationals Team! Bring your cheer!
Learn more! Visit USACheer.org and ParaCheerSpirit.org.
Tennis for All!
Presented by: Dallas Wheelchair Tennis Club; Jeff Bourns, American Amputee Tennis Player, and USTA Texas
Location: Events Arena
Come discover how tennis offers opportunities for anyone to play and enjoy the sport! Join us to try both wheelchair tennis and adaptive standing tennis. Learn how you can play wheelchair tennis with USTA Texas. Meet Jeff Bourns, who helped popularize and pioneer the growth and development of organized Adaptive Standing Tennis. All ages and abilities are welcome!
Learn more! Visit http://dwtc.org/.
Special Note:
Are you looking for the event "Pickleball," originally scheduled for to be presented Sunday, December 4 from 1:00pm to 1:30pm? The presenters regret that they were unable to attend the show due to unforeseen circumstances. If you are interested in wheelchair pickleball, please reach out to them via the Wheelchair Pickleballers Facebook Group.
Adaptive Dance Workshop and Performance
Presented by: Jasmine's Beat Adaptive Dance Company
Location: Events Arena
Discover adaptive dance with Jasmine's Beat! Learn about this innovative dance company and all that they do. You can even join in the dance performance. Learn simple dance moves, practice with the dancers, and perform the dance! You'll also learn how to take dance classes with the company. The styles of dance shown will be adaptive fusion and will be a mixture of American Sign Language, Jazz, Tap, Ballet, and Bollywood. The goal of this event is to show how you can have fun, make friends, and gain traction on attaining therapeutic goals with dance. All Jasmine's Beat instructors are either therapists or trained individuals with experience working with students of all ages and all disabilities.
Learn more! Visit JasminesBeat.com.