To commemorate the upcoming 25th anniversary of the historic passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA25), the long-anticipated ADA Legacy Tour will make a stop at Abilities Expo Boston on September 5-7, 2014 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Hall C. Admission is free and Expo hours will be Friday and Saturday 11 am to 5 pm, and Sunday 11 am to 4 pm.
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The ADA Legacy Tour is a traveling exhibit designed to raise public awareness and generate excitement about ADA25 and is produced by The ADA Legacy Project, Disability Rights Center, ADA National Network and the Museum of disABILITY History. As the premier event for people with disabilities, Abilities Expo Boston welcomes a visit from the year-long, nationwide tour which will culminate in Washington DC on July 26, 2015, exactly 25 years after President George HW Bush signed the ADA into law.
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As a part of Abilities Expo, the ADA Legacy Tour will feature the ADA Bus, a four-panel display on the history of self-advocacy, displays on the preservation of disability history, celebrations of disability history milestones, efforts to educate future generations of disability advocates, a disability film and more. This exhibit is a fitting complement to the Expo, which features the latest products and services, informative workshops and adaptive activities to appeal to people of all ages with the full spectrum of disabilities—including physical, learning, developmental and sensory disabilities.
"We are thrilled to play an intricate part of the ADA Legacy Tour," said David Korse, president and CEO of Abilities Expo. "The Expo provides the community of people with disabilities access to life-enhancing products, education, resources and fun. And, like the ADA Legacy Tour, Abilities Expo is a celebration of what you can do."
The mission of the ADA Legacy Project is to preserve disability history, celebrate its significant events, and educate the public and future generations of advocates.
Complimentary loaner scooters, wheelchair repair and a power chair charging station will also be available during show hours.
The Latest Products and Services: Attendees will experience cutting-edge products and services for people with a wide range of disabilities. They will find mobility products, devices for people with developmental disabilities, medical equipment, home accessories, essential services, low-cost daily living aids, products for people with sensory impairments and much more. The Assistive Technology Showcase 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 will be offered free-of-charge to all attendees. Sessions will focus on travel, social media, the civil rights legacy of the ADA, how to manage healthcare for you or a loved one, intensive physical therapy for kids and that is just for starters.
CEU Training: Abilities Expo and RESNA are offering a valuable CEU-earning opportunity entitled Fundamentals in Assistive Technology for Boston's healthcare and disability professionals on September 4-5.
Sports, Dancing and More! Abilities Expo does not merely inform, it engages and it entertains. Attendees of all levels of ability can learn the latest dance moves, watch an important disability film and play adaptive sports like tennis, basketball, handcycling, power soccer and beep baseball, a game adapted for people who are blind or have low vision. There will also be special instruction on manual wheelchair skills for people of all abilities. If you have never hopped a curb or popped a wheelie, now is your chance to learn. And kids will love the face painting.
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 will enjoy assistance dog demos, as well as a crash course on how to buy, train and live with your service dog. They'll also learn how service monkeys can help people with special needs. (No monkeys will be onsite.)
Celebrity Encounters: The hip-hop diva introducing attendees to the physical and emotional benefits of wheelchair dancing is Auti Angel, star of Push Girls, a docu-series from Sundance Channel which traces the lives of four dynamic women who happen to be in wheelchairs.
Meet Josh Dueck, Paralympic Gold Medalist, World Champion, X Games Winner and Freeski Pioneer. See an Olympic gold and silver medal up close and get a signed photograph at the Bodypoint booth.
Eric Neudel and Alison Glikey, producer and director of The Great Fight for Disability Rights, will meet and greet Expo attendees and discuss their latest film project.
For more information, visit www.abilitiesexpo.com/boston.
SOURCE Abilities Expo
