United Spinal Presents The 2011 Independence Expo-Long Island for People with Disabilities: Celebrating Active Living

News provided by

Jun 14, 2011, 08:45 ET

NEW YORK, June 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United Spinal Association presents the 3rd Annual Independence Expo – Long Island, the region's premiere lifestyle-enhancing Expo for people with disabilities of all ages, exploring sports, travel, work, health and mobility.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110413/MM82757LOGO)

The Independence Expo –Long Island, to be held on Saturday, June 25th & Sunday, June 26th at the Suffolk Community College Sports & Exhibition Complex in Brentwood, NY, is free and open to the public.

The Kids Sports Spectacular recreational clinic for children who use wheelchairs will be featured in Saturday's festivities. Professional wheelchair athletes will provide instruction for adaptive sports such as tennis, basketball, softball, hand-cycling, and volleyball.

Chariots of Fire, the National Indoor Wheelchair Soccer Champions, will display their extraordinary talents on Sunday, June 26^th.

Able to Travel accessible travel agency and Royal Caribbean will help attendees plan the vacation of their dreams, including trips to Israel, Galapagos, Amazon, Ireland as well as a host of Caribbean Cruises.

Canine Companions provides highly-trained assistance dogs for children and adults with disabilities, free of charge. They will feature their service animal dogs and puppies; the most advanced technology capable of transforming the lives of people with disabilities has a cold nose and a warm heart.

United Cerebral Palsy of Suffolk will present "The Employment Connection", a program offering practical information, resume reviews and resources for individuals with disabilities who are seeking a job.

Marc Buoniconti, son of football legend Nick Buoniconti and president of the fundraising arm of the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, will be attending the NY Expo and joined by the Vehicle Production Group. VPG is the maker of the MV-1, the first vehicle designed and built from the ground up for accessibility.

Damon Rozier, a wheelchair comedian who has appeared at major New York comedy clubs including the Improv, the Laugh Factory, Caroline's, and Stand-Up New York, will be performing on Saturday and Sunday.

Interactive workshops and demonstrations on contemporary disability-related topics designed to educate and liberate will be conducted throughout the weekend and include among others:

Adaptive Choices for Accessible Vans
Fitness, Exercise and Nutrition
Making Your Home Accessible and Stylish
Clothing and Fashion Accessories for Youth and Women with Disabilities

The Independence Expo also features Vendor Exhibits that offer the perfect opportunity to see and try products that enhance ability and sustain mobility.

A free accessible shuttle will be running round-trip from the Brentwood Train Station and the Independence Expo all day on Sunday 6/26, courtesy of the Bussani, We'll Get You There.

For more information or to register, visit http://www.IndependenceExpo.org or call 800-404-2898.

Primary sponsors are Permobil, Accessible Vans & Mobility / J. Bussani, Inc., and Open Arms: Raising Awareness of Upper Limb Spasticity.

About United Spinal Association

United Spinal is a national 501(c) (3) nonprofit membership organization formed in 1946 by paralyzed veterans and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for all Americans with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D), including multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, ALS and post-polio. It played a significant role in writing the Americans with Disabilities Act, and made important contributions to the Fair Housing Amendments Act and the Air Carrier Access Act. Membership is free and is open to all individuals with SCI/D. United Spinal was instrumental in getting New York City to create sidewalk curb ramps and accessible public transportation that has been used as a model for many United States cities.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.

Marlene Harmon-Perkins

https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=94189

SOURCE United Spinal Association