For more than 30 years, The Abilities Expo has been serving the lives of people of all ages with all types and levels of disabilities. I vividly remember the first time I learned about and attended the Abilities Expo. It would have been in the late 1980’s. My father and I went together and we saw all kinds of products and learned about various services available to the community.
In particular, I remember a Lift Chair that would elevate (example pictured) to help a person get near standing before putting significant weight on the legs. My Dad and I were fascinated by the then-advanced technology, and wishing we’d known about this a few years prior when my mother might have been able to benefit from it. We also saw bath aids, patient lifts, and a variety of wheelchairs. Talk about two kids in a candy store! Think how far we’ve advanced in the last 15 years!
The Abilities Expo is now in its 32nd year. Technology has evolved, as have the menu of products and services. In addition to the opportunity to visit with a lot of vendors in one location, The Abilities Expo also offers relevant workshops on important topics like accessibility, financial planning, how to purchase an adaptive vehicle, travel, dating and more. Among the other highlights I enjoy are the sporting events and entertainment geared especially toward individuals with physical challenges. Moreover, I found it very comforting to attend a conference with like-minded individuals who understood the challenges my family and I were encountering every day! This was a great way to meet new friends, and to expand my knowledge and support system.
The Abilities Expo is coming to Los Angeles April 15-17, and the Expo also is held throughout the country in New York Chicago, Houston, San Jose and Atlanta throughout the year. There’s no charge to attend and my compliments to American Airlines for offering a 5% discount for travel to the L.A. show.
While it’s my pleasure to tell you that I’ve personally tested out the Abilities Expo and know a number of caregivers who wouldn’t miss it, I have one criticism. The Los Angeles Convention Center is not the easiest venue to navigate—and that’s my own personal experience, on foot, in my sneakers! Still, the fact that the Expo demands a large venue like the one L.A. has to offer tells me that the show continues to grow and that means greater products and services are available.
For more information, check out their website at: http://www.abilitiesexpo.com/ I hope to meet you there!
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