Abilities Expo Bay Area to Enhance Attendee Experience, November 18-20

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- People with disabilities, their families, caregivers, seniors, wounded vets and healthcare professionals attending Abilities Expo (#AbilitiesExpo) on September 16-18, 2016 at the San Jose Convention Center are eagerly anticipating the newest feature: The Abilities Meet Up Zone.

In the tradition of a town square, the Abilities Meet Up Zone is a dedicated area on the show floor where attendees can interact with peers. Regardless of an individual's need—whether they have a spinal cord injury from a recent accident, are parents to a child with autism or have a debilitating disease—he or she can meet other attendees, share experiences and get answers to his or her most urgent questions. Attendees will also get to meet a real Makeathon (Hackathon) team from Cal Berkeley, who came together to collaborate and solve the challenges of a young man with CP and a cortical vision impairment.

Admission to Abilities Expo is free, and show hours are Friday 11 am to 5 pm, Saturday 11 am to 5 pm and Sunday 11 am to 4 pm. The Zone is open 30 minutes after the show floor opens to 30 minutes prior to closing.

"In order to engage our community and provide them with a more experiential visit, we have created this Zone for attendees to interact with each other and meet one-on-one with experts knowledgeable about the types of disabilities they may have," said Abilities Expo Co-owner Lew Shomer. "It is the next step in enhancing the overall Expo experience for our attendees."

In addition to this exciting new feature, the Bay Area Abilities Expo features an impressive line-up of exhibits, workshops, celebrities and activities to appeal to people of all ages with the full spectrum of disabilities—including physical, learning, developmental and sensory disabilities.

"It's not just that we provide a forum that showcases essential technology to bridge the gap between ability and disability," said David Korse, president and CEO of Abilities Expo. "The Expo is always new and exciting with a host of all-inclusive, adaptive activities."

Complimentary loaner scooters and wheelchair repair are also available during show hours.

The Latest Products and Services
Attendees experience cutting-edge products and services for people with a wide range of disabilities. They discover mobility products, devices for people with developmental disabilities, medical equipment, home accessories, essential services, low-cost daily living aids, products for seniors and equipment for people with sensory impairments and much more. The Assistive Technology Showcase, sponsored by Ability Tools, will also feature an array of devices for attendees to experience hands-on.

Relevant Workshops
A series of compelling workshops which address pressing disability issues are offered free-of-charge to all attendees. Sessions focus on travel, therapeutic cannabis, emergency preparedness, adaptive fashion, accessible housing, bionics and that is just for starters. Caregiver Day on December 4 offers workshops geared for loved ones to ensure that they stay healthy as well.

Sports, Dancing, Sports Celebrities, Gaming and More
Abilities Expo does not merely inform, it engages and it entertains. Attendees of all levels of ability can test their skills with adaptive sports like archery, rowing, sailing and ride-along racing. They can also talk to former NBA star Jonathan Bender and 49ers's Defensive End Arik Armstead. Expo-goers learn the latest dance moves from Push Girl Chelsie Hill and her Walk and Roll Dance Team, and experience up and coming styles at the Adaptive Fashion booth. The Adaptive Gaming Pavilion opens up the virtual world of gaming to the community using clever adaptive controls, while the Variety Childcare Pavilion provides a safe, secure place for children to play and let their parents check out the Expo kid-free. For fitness and wellness instruction, look no further than Push Girl Tiphany Adams. Kids will love the facepainting, too!

Meet the Animals
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. Expo-goers can enjoy service dog demonstrations, and learn how these four-legged friends can improve quality of life.

For more information, visit http://www.abilitiesexpo.com/bayarea.  

SOURCE Abilities Expo

Related Links

http://www.abilitiesexpo.com