All About Abilities Expo

Written by LaCandice McCray, CFILC

On April 9-11 I attended Abilities Expo at the Los Angeles Convention Center representing the AT Network along with Mazuri Colley and AT Advocates from the Los Angeles area. We distributed information about the AT Network, the AT Exchange and information about two local Independent Living Centers (CALIF and WCIL).

I was surprised by the number of people who were familiar with the AT Network. Some consumers and vendors visited the table to congratulate us on the work we do. In addition, several consumers were thankful for the information they received.

In addition to the consumer interactions, there were some interesting vendors in attendance. Our AT Network booth was located in the AT Pavilion, which was a new addition to the expo. This section included AT vendors, organizations, and AT demonstrations. This section really expands the focus of the Abilities Expo.

Our booth was situated next to RJ Cooper, who is well known in Southern California. His video game controllers were popular among young expo attendees.

Also in the pavilion was Mulholland Positioning systems. They provide postural support seating, standing and walking systems for children and adults with Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, and other types of motor development disabilities. I was able to witness several children try their walkers, and some expressed so much happiness when doing so. Mulholland also provides walking systems for adults.

Time Timer was also located in the AT Pavilion. Created by a mother whose daughter was curious about the function of time, these timers provide a way to see time as a measurement and understand its duration. The timers can be set by the second, minute or the hour. Educators have used Time Timers to teach the concept of time, encourage students to use time wisely, track the duration of activities and monitor standardized tests.

Overall, Abilities Expo was an opportunity to connect with consumers, collaborate with AT Advocates and learn about various AT products and services. If you would like to share your experiences from Abilities Expo, please join the AT Network for a Brown Bag discussion on April 22 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. You can email me: lacandice@cfilc.org for access information.

What did you think of Abilities Expo’s new location? If you had a chance to attend, what did you think about the new AT Pavilion? Please tell us by writing a comment below.