Houston Event and Activites

Artist Market

Presented by: VSA Texas

Location: Booth #226

Meet the region's artists with disabilities! Shop their original, unforgettable artistry: photographs, paintings, graphic design and more. Their amazing works will be available for appreciation and purchase. Artist Market sponsor VSA 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: www.vsatx.org

Assistive Technology Showcase

Sponsored by: Texas Technology Access Program

Location: Booth #821

Explore how assistive technology (AT) can help you or your loved ones bridge the gap between ability and disability! Discover an array of AT for people of all disabilities to experience hands-on. Staff will offer suggestions and share their extensive knowledge to help determine the most appropriate technology match for your abilities and situations. TTAP is dedicated to increasing the access for people with disabilities to AT that provides them more control over their surroundings and an enhanced ability to function independently. They develop programs to improve access, advocacy and awareness of assistive technology to meet the needs of Texans with disabilities.
Learn more: http://techaccess.edb.utexas.edu

Play Activity Area – NEW for 2018!

Location: TBD

Come join in the fun! This play area is for kids to be kids! All abilities welcome! All day and every day will feature lots of free play and art activities. Explore, laugh, and play. Discover how much fun you can have! All activities will be open and unstructured. Resources about adaptive recreation and play opportunities will also be available. 

The Play Activity Area provides an opportunity for children to play with parent oversight and involvement. The Area will be supervised by Shriners Hospitals for Children staff and volunteers. Activities are structured for children/teens 18 years old and younger. Parents/guardians are welcome to participate or observe. Length and frequency of play sessions will be based on availability. Multiple sessions will be possible at the same time as space allows. The Play Activity Area presented by Shriners Hospitals for Children is not child-care; parents/guardians must remain with children at all times. 
Learn more: https://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/houston/appointments-and-admissions

12:00pm – 12:45pm

Boccia Ball

Presented by: Houston Parks & Recreation Department, Adaptive Sports and Recreation

Location: Events Arena

Boccia – pronounced as "botch-ya" or "botch-ee" and also spelled as bocce – is a game by throwing a ball towards a target. It was erst played by the ancient Egyptians with polished rocks. The sport is extremely versatile and inclusive - it can be played indoors or outdoors on a hard, pat surface, in either individual or team play, socially or competitively, up to the Paralympic level. With assistive devices, boccia can be played by anyone, no matter their ability. Come watch a demonstration game and give the sport a try!
Learn more: www.houstontx.gov/parks/adaptivesports.html

12:00pm – 3:00pm

Roll with the Wind: Ride-Along Race Experience

Presented by: Ainsley's Angels of America

Location: Booth #561

Test-drive the Ainsley's Angels athletic ride-along experience! For anyone who would otherwise be unable to experience endurance events - Ainsley's Angels creates "Angel Teams" by pairing Athlete riders with runners to compete in endurance events and road races. The Athlete rider is the core of the team and pulls the runner across the finish line with smiles, cheers and immeasurable inspirational spirit. Be sure to visit the Ainsley's Angels of America booth to sign up to experience the thrill TODAY! First-person-first-served. A limited number of race experience times are available on each day of the Expo.
Learn more: www.ainsleysangels.org

1:00pm – 1:30pm

Service Dog Demonstration

Presented by: Allie Keaton, My Service Dog

Location: Events Arena

Discover how service dogs are meeting the needs of people with many different disabilities. Allie Keaton and service dog Amelia will demonstrate how service dogs work to achieve people's independence in various areas of their lives. Find out how these dogs can help with many different types of disability: physical disability, vision and hearing loss, mobility, autism and seizure/allergy alert. Learn how funding works to acquire a dog and what to expect from your service dog provider organization. Bring your questions!
Learn more: www.myservicedog.com

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Auti Angel's FreeStyle Dance Workshop

Presented by: Auti Angel, Abilities Expo "Dancebassador", star of Sundance Channel's Push Girls

Location: Events Arena

Everyone come dance! Enjoy a dance presentation from Auti Angel - the Abilities Expo "Dancebassador"! Then it's your turn to show us your moves! Auti will lead everyone in her one-of-a-kind workshop. Auti Angel, the pioneer of wheelchair Hip-Hop dancing, has danced with "Straight Outta Compton's" Eazy-E & N.W.A. along with LL Cool J and Ludacris just to name a few. However, her greatest joy comes from dancing with others who also have awesome unique abilities. Dancing crosses the boundaries of age, gender, and physical ability - including individuals using both manual and power wheelchairs. You won't want to miss this unique demonstration and a chance to express yourself through movement!
Learn more: www.autiangel.net, www.autiangel.com

4:00pm – 4:45pm

Wheelchair and Ambulatory Tennis

Presented by: USTA Texas Section, Houston Tennis Association, and Houston Parks and Recreation, Adaptive Recreation Department

Location: Events Arena

Local Houston players will be on hand to demonstrate wheelchair tennis and teach attendees who would like to learn more. Wheelchair Tennis is one of the fastest growing wheelchair sports in the world! It follows the same rules as able-bodied tennis, except the wheelchair tennis player is allowed two bounces of the ball. Mixed play with ambulatory players will also be demonstrated. Adaptive sports like wheelchair tennis offer people with all types of disabilities an outlet to play sports competitively and in recreational programs.
Learn more: www.texas.usta.com, www.houstontx.gov/parks/adaptivesports.html

11:15am – 11:45am

All About Service Dogs

Presented by: Kristin Hartness, Executive Director, Canines for Disabled Kids

Location: Events Arena

Discover how service dogs are meeting the needs of people with many different disabilities. Find out the many ways service dogs can help achieve independence in people's lives – from picking up a cell phone to providing physical stability, even counting money! Service dogs are available for many different types of disability, including vision and hearing loss, mobility, autism and seizure/allergy alert. Learn about funding support, the process to acquire a dog, and what to expect from your service dog provider organization.
Learn more: www.caninesforkids.org

11:30am – 3:30pm

Face Painting

Presented by: Houston Face Painting

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 age 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 each day.
Learn more: www.houstonfacepainting.net

11:30am – 4:30pm

Ayita Wheelchair Dance Presentation 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 is located in Fort Worth, TX.
Learn more: www.facebook.com/Ayitadance/

12:00pm – 3:00pm

Roll with the Wind: Ride-Along Race Experience

Presented by: Ainsley's Angels of America

Location: Booth #561

Test-drive the Ainsley's Angels athletic ride-along experience! For anyone who would otherwise be unable to experience endurance events - Ainsley's Angels creates "Angel Teams" by pairing Athlete riders with runners to compete in endurance events and road races. The Athlete rider is the core of the team and pulls the runner across the finish line with smiles, cheers and immeasurable inspirational spirit. Be sure to visit the Ainsley's Angels of America booth to sign up to experience the thrill TODAY! First-person-first-served. A limited number of race experience times are available on each day of the Expo.
Learn more: www.ainsleysangels.org

12:45pm – 1:45pm

Wheelchair Rugby

Presented by: Houston Parks and Recreation, Adaptive Recreation Department

Location: Events Arena

Wheelchair rugby has often been described as a combination of football, hockey and basketball in a wheelchair. Any individual with impairments in three or more extremities may be eligible to play. This may include, but not limited to: spinal cord injury, post polio and cerebral palsy. Wheelchair rugby is played with four players on a team on a basketball court. The main message of quad rugby is "Smashing Stereotypes One Hit at a Time" and the sport has proven to be a life changer for those who start playing it!
Learn more: www.houstontx.gov/parks/adaptivesports.html

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Auti Angel's FreeStyle Dance Workshop

Presented by: Auti Angel, Abilities Expo "Dancebassador", star of Sundance Channel's Push Girls

Location: Events Arena

Everyone come dance! Enjoy a dance presentation from Auti Angel - the Abilities Expo "Dancebassador"! Then it's your turn to show us your moves! Auti will lead everyone in her one-of-a-kind workshop. Auti Angel, the pioneer of wheelchair Hip-Hop dancing, has danced with "Straight Outta Compton's" Eazy-E & N.W.A. along with LL Cool J and Ludacris just to name a few. However, her greatest joy comes from dancing with others who also have awesome unique abilities. Dancing crosses the boundaries of age, gender, and physical ability - including individuals using both manual and power wheelchairs. You won't want to miss this unique demonstration and a chance to express yourself through movement!
Learn more: www.autiangel.net, www.autiangel.com

2:45pm – 3:45pm

Sled Hockey and Skate Therapy Joint Demonstrations

Presented by: STARskaters and Texas Sled Hockey

Location: Events Arena

Discover ice skating sports for the disability community with Sled Hockey and Skate Therapy! Sled hockey, also called sledge hockey, was invented in Sweden in the early 1960s by a group of people with disabilities. Members of Team Texas will be on hand to demonstrate the sport and give attendees a chance to play. It follows most of the typical ice hockey rules with the exception of modifications to the equipment and the use of the sleds. The sport is normally played on ice but sleds with wheels will be used for this demo. Skate Therapy provides an on-ice skating experience for children and adults with physical or developmental disabilities. Staff and skaters will share some of the exercises and fun they learn when participating in programs at Houston area ice rinks.
Learn more: www.texassledhockey.org, www.starskaters.org

4:00pm – 4:45pm

Wheelchair Basketball

Presented by: Houston Parks and Recreation, Adaptive Recreation Department

Location: Events Arena

One of 26 Paralympic sports and played by both men and women, this sport is open to players with a variety of disabilities. Many of the same rules from able-bodied basketball apply in the wheelchair game. The plays and strategies are similar. In addition there are special rules in place to adapt to disability. The National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) governs all aspects of the game in the United States. Try the sport for yourself!
Learn more: www.houstontx.gov/parks/adaptivesports.html

11:30am – 3:30pm

Face Painting

Presented by: Houston Face Painting

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 age 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 each day.
Learn more: www.houstonfacepainting.net

12:00pm – 12:30pm

Mock Cosplay Competition

Presented by: CosAbility

Location: Events Arena

CosAbility is back this year to host another Mock Cosplay Competition. This event was an attendee favorite last year! Dress as your favorite character and show off your best cosplay costumes. If you use a mobility device deck it out as part of your costume! It's not necessary, but it will look great! Meet fellow cosplayers from the disability community and express your style. All ages are welcome and all participants will receive a prize!
Learn more: www.cosability.com, www.facebook.com/CosAbility

12:00pm – 3:00pm

Roll with the Wind: Ride-Along Race Experience

Presented by: Ainsley's Angels of America

Location: Booth #561

Test-drive the Ainsley's Angels athletic ride-along experience! For anyone who would otherwise be unable to experience endurance events - Ainsley's Angels creates "Angel Teams" by pairing Athlete riders with runners to compete in endurance events and road races. The Athlete rider is the core of the team and pulls the runner across the finish line with smiles, cheers and immeasurable inspirational spirit. Be sure to visit the Ainsley's Angels of America booth to sign up to experience the thrill TODAY! First-person-first-served. A limited number of race experience times are available on each day of the Expo.
Learn more: www.ainsleysangels.org

1:00pm – 1:30pm

Service Dog Demonstration

Presented by: Allie Keaton, My Service Dog

Location: Events Arena

Discover how service dogs are meeting the needs of people with many different disabilities. Allie Keaton and service dog Amelia will demonstrate how service dogs work to achieve people's independence in various areas of their lives. Find out how these dogs can help with many different types of disability: physical disability, vision and hearing loss, mobility, autism and seizure/allergy alert. Learn how funding works to acquire a dog and what to expect from your service dog provider organization. Bring your questions!
Learn more: www.myservicedog.com

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Auti Angel's FreeStyle Dance Workshop

Presented by: Auti Angel, Abilities Expo "Dancebassador", star of Sundance Channel's Push Girls

Location: Events Arena

Everyone come dance! Enjoy a dance presentation from Auti Angel - the Abilities Expo "Dancebassador"! Then it's your turn to show us your moves! Auti will lead everyone in her one-of-a-kind workshop. Auti Angel, the pioneer of wheelchair Hip-Hop dancing, has danced with "Straight Outta Compton's" Eazy-E & N.W.A. along with LL Cool J and Ludacris just to name a few. However, her greatest joy comes from dancing with others who also have awesome unique abilities. Dancing crosses the boundaries of age, gender, and physical ability - including individuals using both manual and power wheelchairs. You won't want to miss this unique demonstration and a chance to express yourself through movement!
Learn more: www.autiangel.net, www.autiangel.com