Los Angeles Events and Activities

Adaptive Climbing Wall

Presented by: Coloplast and Mark Wellman, No Limits

Location: Booth #645

Come climb the 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 LA 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: LA 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, a Program of the California Foundation for Independent Living Centers

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-Profit Organizations

Location: Booth #639

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.

Free COVID -19 & Flu Vaccines

Presented by: LA County COVID-19 Vaccine Mobile Team

Location: Booth #460

The LA County COVID-19 Vaccine Mobile Team will administer both primary and booster vaccines, as well as flu vaccines, at Abilities Expo. As incentive for seniors (55 years and older), those who receive a primary vaccine will receive a $25 Visa gift card, and those who receive the new bivalent booster will receive a $50 Visa gift card. Learn more.

COVID-19 vaccines are still very important because:

• 40% of eligible seniors have not received the new bivalent COVID-19 booster shot.
• This booster is different from the previous boosters because it protects against both the original COVID-19 virus and the Omicron variants that are causing most of the current COVID cases.
• People may receive a bivalent booster shot even if they have received previous boosters.

Sports Zone

Presented by: Angel City Sports

Location: Booth #1013

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!

Learn more at angelcitysports.org.

TheStrokeChannel.TV Support Group Sessions

Presented by: The StrokeChannel.TV

Location: Booth #644

Hosted by Emmy Award winning TV host, motivational speaker & stroke survivor, Christopher Ewing, these daily support groups are designed to provide helpful information, as well as an opportunity to connect with others who may have a physical or mental challenge. To register for these sessions, visit  http://www.thestrokechannel.tv/.

Stroke Support Group
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 11:30 am
Strokes can happen at any age, sometimes without warning. This support group session is for stroke survivors to be able to discuss
with other stroke survivors some of the challenges, as well as the breakthroughs, they have experienced on their path towards
recovery. This session is also open to those who would like to learn more about the signs and risks of stroke.

Caregivers Support Group
Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 1:30pm
Caregivers need support, too. This support group session is open to all caregivers, so if you are a caregiver for someone who suffers
from stroke, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's, Autism, a spinal cord injury, or any physical or mental challenge, then this support
group is for you!

Open Support Group
Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 3:00pm
This support group session is for anyone dealing with a physical or mental challenge who would like to have an open forum and discuss any of the challenges they may be facing, share any of their triumphs, or offer words of encouragement and advice to others!

Help Hope Live Adaptive Bike Giveaway

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

Location: Near Registration

A 4-year-old from Huntington Beach who is living with cerebral palsy will receive the gift of his lifetime: a Freedom Concepts adaptive bike custom-built exclusively for his special needs. As a bonus, the boy's twin sister will also receive a bike so they can enjoy the cherished childhood rite of passage together.

Funding for this giveaway is made possible through a partnership between the national medical fundraising nonprofit Help Hope Live (Booth #525) and the Esther & Pedro Rosenblatt Foundation.

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 how one acquires a service dog, support available to assist with covering the costs, and what to expect from your service dog provider organization.

Learn More at CDK's website.

Adaptive Standing Tennis

Presented by: Jeff Bourns, American Amputee Tennis Player, JeffBourns.com, and Babolat

Location: Events Arena

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!

Learn more at the Adaptive Standing Tennis Wikipedia page and jeffbourns.com.

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. Featuring elements of weight training, Zumba, and pom-pom dance. Standing participants are also welcome!

Learn more at wowwheelchairfitness.com.

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 at thehockeyeguy.com and watch blind hockey in this video.

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 how one acquires a service dog, support available to assist with covering the costs, and what to expect from your service dog provider organization.

Learn More at CDK's website.

Face Painting

Presented by: Elise Massa, We Adorn You

Location: 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.

Wheelchair Football

Presented by: Angel City Sports

Location: Events Arena

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.

Learn more at angelcitysports.org/wheelchairfootball.

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 https://www.rollettesdance.com/ and follow The Rollettes on Instagram and TikTok @Rollettes_LA.

Adapted Fitness

Presented by: Steph "The Hammer" Roach

Location: Events Arena

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.

Book Signing with Steph "The Hammer" Roach

Presented by: Steph "The Hammer" Roach, Author of "Driven"

Location: Events Arena

Meet Steph Hammer and get a copy of her new book! A limited number of copies of "Driven, How Adversity Helped Me Find My Greatest Potential" will be available for purchase and signing by Steph. Meet Steph and talk with her about the book and her journey!

Learn more! Read what actor Josh Brolin and others are saying about Steph's book!

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 four 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! The pandemic did not stop they; they practiced and socialized virtually for over a year. They are excited to be performing for the public once again!

Learn more at their Facebook page.

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 https://www.rollettesdance.com/ and follow The Rollettes on Instagram and TikTok @Rollettes_LA.

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/.

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.

Learn more at victoriamooretap.com.

Ms. Wheelchair California 2023 Competition

Presented by: The Ms. Wheelchair California Leadership Institute

Location: Workshop Area

The Ms. Wheelchair California competition is happening at Abilities Expo. The competion platform is: Building a New World: Where Equity and Accessibility Meet to Create Radical Change. Come and listen to the platform speeches of talented contestants from across the state and see who will be crowned the 2023 Ms. Wheelchair California.

Learn more at Ms. Wheelchair California website.