We can't wait to show you all of products, tech and resources to help you up your game! Buckle up for a slew of adaptive sports, fun dance opportunities, info-packed workshops and more. It's all free so get registered today.
Abilities Expo brings you thousands of game-changing products, services and technologies all under one roof. Regardless of the type and level of your disability, we strive to provide the resources you need to exceed your own expectations and thrive.
Attend free, info-packed workshops on issues that matter to you. Get tips on financial planning, making your home more accessible, traveling with a disability and how medical cannabis can help a variety of conditions. There's more, check it out!
Find your new favorite pastime at Abilities Expo! Try such inclusive activities as adaptive sports, dance, assistance animals, an adaptive climbing wall and so much more for the kids of all ages! If something sparks your interest, you can find out how to engage year-round.
There is just so much to see and do at Abilities Expo. Here are a few opportunities you don't want to let pass you by.
Here is the 2023 Abilities Expo line-up. Check back 3 months out to find out what's in store for 2024.
Tons of adaptive sports in one high-energy Angel City Sports Zone. There will equipment and experts on hand so come and try a new sport for the first time. It could be your new favorite pastime.
The tech out there can supercharge your independence, but the price tag can be overwhelming. Attend the Help Hope Live workshop to learn how to source the funds to get the equipment you want.
Join the world-famous Rollettes for some hip-hoppin’ dance fun! Get a front row seat for their dynamic performances, then you get to learn their signature dance moves and how they make it look so effortless.
Don’t miss our life-enhancing exhibits, dynamic workshops and fun events for kids of all ages!
Check back 3 months before the Expo for our exciting 2024 line-up.
In our efforts to ensure a positive show experience, Abilities Expo endeavors to accommodate the disability community with a host of special show services including loaner scooters, sign language interpretation, free wheelchair, captioning services for the workshop and so much more!
For those who would like assistance in getting around the show, free Pride Mobility loaner scooters are available during show hours on a first come, first served basis. Please bring a government-issued picture ID.
American Sign Language interpretation services will be available for those need translation. Workshops will also offer CART services where everything spoken by the presenter will be captioned on a large screen.
Is your wheelchair in need of a tune-up? Look to the Frog Legs-sponsored Free Wheelchair Repair Pavilion or the Permobil Pit Stop for minor maintenance on both manual and power wheelchairs.
Animals have become an intrinsic part of the disability community. Some are essential to the healing process, while others help their human partners become more independent.
Here is the 2023 Abilities Expo line-up.
Check back 3 months out to find out what's in store for 2024.
Presented by: Kristin Hartness, Executive Director, Canines for Disabled Kids
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.
Dancing is great for the body, and even better for spirit! Don't miss your change to get in the groove.
Here is the 2023 Abilities Expo line-up.
Check back 3 months out to find out what's in store for 2024.
Dance with The Rollettes!
Line Dancing for All
Tap Dance For All
Presented by: The Rollettes Los Angeles
Join us for a high-energy, live performance by the Rollettes Los Angeles, an incredible wheelchair dance team. The dance team performs unique and captivating routines across the globe as well as sharing their stories of adversity and how through determination and high spirits they've gone on with their lives to fulfill their dreams to dance. Following the performance, it's your turn!
Presented by: Straight Up Abilities
"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.
Presented by: Victoria Moore Tap
Would you like to tap dance? Think you can't? With Tap For All, 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 for yourself!
The sidelines are no place for you so take your pick from a variety of interactive, adaptive sports. Get the blood pumping, improve fitness and build confidence…and the fun factor is off the charts!
Here is the 2023 Abilities Expo line-up.
Check back 3 months out to find out what's in store for 2024.
Presented by: Mark Wellman, Adventure Athlete, Paralympian, No Limits Tahoe
Sponsored by: Coloplast
Presented by: Steph "The Hammer" Roach
This is your chance to experience Staying Driven Fitness live and in-person! The Staying Driven Fitness program is unique in the way it caters to the specific needs of the adaptive and aging population. This program merges top-notch coaching with a supportive community to help everyday people achieve greater fitness potential. This educational, interactive experience is available to the public regardless of age, location, abilities, or skill level. Come be educated, empowered, and motivated to further your own fitness!
Learn more at stayingdrivenlive.com.
Presented by: Jeff Bourns, American Amputee Tennis Player, JeffBourns.com, and Babolat
Adaptive Standing Tennis is a form of tennis for individuals with physical disability who play the sport of tennis standing, or ambulatory. This newly emerged form of tennis allows individuals with physical challenges such as amputations, cerebral palsy, or hemiparesis to play tennis. Come discover this new sport, try it for yourself, and be part of the growth of adaptive sports. All abilities welcome!
Presented by: Joshua Schneider, MA and Drew Garza, USA Hockey, the Dented Pucks Hockey Team, and the HockEYE Guy Foundation
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.
Presented by: The Long Beach Beauties
The Long Beach Beauties is a cheer program for differently abled children and young adults ages eight and up from all over Los Angeles and Orange counties. They have been cheering for over four years at events including: Jamz Nationals in Las Vegas, Dodgers Stadium Cheer Day, the Southern California Special Olympics (SOSC) Summer Games and Abilities Expo Los Angeles!
Presented by: Angel City Sports
Come on by to 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!
Presented by: Angel City Sports
Meet members of the new Los Angeles Rams wheelchair football team. We are excited about the revival of this high-intensity sport! This is your chance to see what the sport is about and try some drills and throw a few balls yourself. Plus, learn how you can get involved with playing wheelchair football in SoCal.
Presented by: Justin Graham, Certified Personal Trainer, Creator, W.O.W. Wonders on Wheels
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. Standing participants are also welcome!
Los Angeles Convention Center
West Hall A
1201 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
From 110 North, transition to the 10 West and exit immediately from the left lane to Pico Blvd. The Pico offramp becomes L.A. Live Way. Turn right into the West Hall parking garage.
From 110 North, exit at 9th Street. Turn right on Flower Street, right on 11th Street and left on L.A. Live Way. Turn left into the West Hall parking garage.
From 110 South, exit at Olympic Blvd. Turn left at bottom of ramp onto Blaine and left on 11th Street. Make an immediate right on L.A. Live Way and left into the West Hall garage.
From 10 West, transition to the 110 North (Downtown) and exit at Pico Blvd. The Pico off-ramp becomes L.A. Live Way. Turn right into the West Hall parking garage.
From 10 East, exit at Grand Ave. Turn left on Olive Street and left on Pico Blvd. Turn right on L.A. Live Way and right into the West Hall parking garage.
From 10 East, transition to the 110 North and exit at 9th Street. Turn right on Flower Street, right on 11th Street and left on L.A. Live Way. Turn left into the West Hall parking garage.
By Metrolink Rail: Take the Metro Red Line. Exit at 7th Street then transfer to the Metro Blue Line (Long Beach). Exit at Pico Boulevard Station. Then walk one block west to Figueroa Street.
Take route 413 - From Temple/Hill (Civic Center) to 11th /Figueroa Street (LACC).
Passenger drop-off/Parking: If your passenger requires an elevator, enter the gates of the West Hall Parking Garage of the LACC at the traffic light on Pico Blvd. between Figueroa Blvd. and L.A. Live Way. Turn right and proceed to the attendant who will direct your passenger to the elevator and you to parking.
If you do not require an elevator, you may also enter the gates of the West Hall Parking Garage of the LACC from L.A. Live Way at the West 12th Street traffic light, which is between Chick Hearn Court and Pico Blvd. Proceed to the attendant who will direct your passenger to the drop-off location and you to parking.
Parking at the LACC is $25/entry and subject to change.
If you will be driving a conversion van taller than 7', special parking arrangements have been made. Please drive to the loading dock ramp on L.A. Live Way for accessible parking. The LACC is not able to accept motor homes in their parking lot.
If it is raining, click here for a new drop-off location.
If you are dropping off a passenger and it’s raining, we have arranged an alternative drop-off location that is covered.
This scenario is only available in the case of rain. If it is not raining, please follow the instructions above.
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is unique among the nation’s transportation agencies. It serves as transportation planner and coordinator, designer, builder and operator for one of the country’s largest, most populous counties. More than 9.6 million people – nearly one-third of California’s residents – live, work, and play within Metro’s 1,433-square-mile transportation service area.
Besides operating over 2,200 peak-hour buses on an average weekday, Metro also designed, built and now operates 73.1 miles of Metro Rail service. The Metro Rail system consists of the Metro Red Line and Purple Line subways, and the Metro Blue, Green Line, and Gold Lines. In total, the Metro Rail system serves 70 rail stations stretching from Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Universal City and North Hollywood in the San Fernando Valley, from downtown Los Angeles to Pasadena and East Los Angeles, and Norwalk to El Segundo, and all points in between.
With 200 bus lines and five rail lines, Metro can take you just about anywhere in LA County. To get more detailed information, please turn on your computer and click on Metro.net, then “Rider’s Guide”.
Attending the Abilities Expo using public transportation is easy and convenient. If you live near a Metro Rail line, you can take the rail to the Blue Line, exit at Pico Station and head west. Pico Station is one block from the LA Convention Center. Several Metro bus lines service the Convention Center: Express Lines 439 and 442, Rapid Line 730, and Local Lines 30, 31 and 81. Additionally, eight other transit agencies pick up and drop off near the Center.
Metro's Reduced Fare Programs enable eligible applicants to obtain special TAP cards for reduced-rate fares and passes. For more information about eligibility and applications, visit metro.net.
TAP is a fare payment system used by Metro and many other regional transit agencies. TAP is a durable plastic card with an electronic chip inside that you can use again and again.
You can load your TAP card at TAP vending machines at all Metro Rail and Metro Orange Line stations, Metro Customer Centers, and approximately 400 pass sales outlets.
For additional information about Metro’s Reduced Fare Program, visit metro.net; for more information about TAP, visit taptogo.net.
Local disability activists spearhead Abilities Expo's community outreach initiatives.
Meet the impressive individuals who have chosen to represent Abilities Expo to the Community.
Margarita Elizondo, Ms. Wheelchair California 2013, is a Spinal Cord Injury survivor who sustained a gunshot wound to the neck, leaving her paralyzed from the chest down after an intruder broke into her home in 2006. Now a single mother of three, and proud grandmother of two, she attends Grossmont Community College in pursuit of a bachelor's degree in Communication. She is employed by Axia Management where she holds the position of Director of Social Initiative Strategies, marketing wireless telecommunication services by True Wireless and Heart Mobile.
I was 19 years old and thought I had the world at my fingertips. I loved to ride dirt bikes, surf, snow board, wake board, fish and work out. On November 27, 1993 just after Thanksgiving, my parents and brother joined some of our family in Laughlin, Nevada, while I stayed home since I had to work. Believe it or not, this was the first time my parents left me home for an extended period of time. Since they were gone, I thought what better time to have some friends over. A good friend came over with his street bike—which I loved to ride—and I later took another friend for a ride on the back of the bike late that night. While I was driving the motorcycle with my friend, he fell off. With the balance was thrown off, I was not able to keep the bike on the street. The bike swerved off the road and I hit a telephone poll. I would soon learn that my life would not be the same.
Accessibility Consultant | TV & Radio Personality | Brand Ambassador | Keynote Speaker
Over 20 years ago, after being involved in a multi car collision that left him a C-6 Quadriplegic and confined to a wheelchair, Paul's life was nowhere near where it is today. In fact, there was a time when he and his doctors believed that he only had 72 hours left in his life. Paul ended up spending 8 months in a hospital recovering. Undeterred and inspired to live his dreams, Paul attended the Academy of Radio and Television Broadcasting in 2006. He went on to graduate from the school with honors.
Chris Rohan served as publisher of Disabled Dealer Magazine of CA, NV & AZ from August 2001 until the last issue August 2013. Chris and her husband of 43 years, Jim, have been actively involved with the disability community since 1989, when their oldest son, Bobby, became a quadriplegic after when he was seriously injured in an auto accident. Their youngest son, Matt, became a physical therapist in order to better understand and help his brother.
Donna Russo is proud to be an Ambassador for the Abilities Expo for the last 4 years.
Donna was born with Turners Syndrome, a chromosomal disorder in which a female is born with only one X chromosome, and now has adult onset FSH Muscular Dystrophy, a condition that slowly robs the muscles of movement. The two conditions are unrelated. She is 4' 5"tall, many women with Turners Syndrome are of small stature. Donna started dancing at the age of 10 with ballet and tap and later adding jazz, modern and acting classes.
National Disability Law Ambassador
Stephanie Woodward is a passionate Disability Rights activist and proud disabled person. She is the Director of Advocacy at the Center for Disability Rights, Inc. (CDR) a disability led, not-for-profit Corporation that works for national, state, and local systemic change to advance the rights of people with disabilities. Stephanie is also a member of ADAPT, a national grass-roots community that organizes disability rights activists to engage in nonviolent direct action, including civil disobedience, to assure the civil and human rights of people with disabilities to live in freedom. Stephanie has been arrested multiple times while advocating for Disability Rights.
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