Abilities Expo
6900 Airport Road L4V 1E8 Mississauga, ON, Canada

Great interview highlighting the COVID-related struggles faced by the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community from Fun4thedisabled! Thanks to #AbilitiesExpo ambassador Vanessa A Harris PE for highlighting these important issues. We'd love to hear more about your experiences. Please share in the comments below.... [Image description: Three people are appearing in a Zoom screen, two women at the top and one male sign language interpreter at the bottom. The screenshot of the video includes the captioning which says, "how mask usage affects people who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing, So, hi Maya..."]

Great article from RPGFan on the two gaming accessibility panels at the recent #AbilitiesVE2! At the Abilities Virtual Experience, the developer panel covered how studios approach accessibility in both hardware and software, while the gamer panel shared how consultants work with developers to suggest adaptations.

Collette Divitto is "changing the world one cookie at a time" with her hobby-turned-successful-business, Collettey's Cookies. After graduating from Clemson a year early, Collette headed to Boston, determined to live and work independently. But when she heard over and over that she wasn't "a good fit" for perspective employers, she decided to hang her own shingle. Now her delicious cookies are sold online, and in stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut and California. She also em...ploys others with disabilities, giving them the opportunities that she had to carve out for herself. Nice work, Collette! Hats off from #AbilitiesToronto. [Image description: A young female baker with Down Syndrome is smiling and leaning on the counter in an industrial kitchen. Before her are dozens of cookies.] https://people.com//woman-with-down-syndrome-grows-hobby-/

Distance learning. How's it going? Are you still receiving the support and accommodation you need? Both family and individual experiences are varying widely. What are you experiencing, #AbilitiesExpo family? Please share. [Image description: A school-aged boy is staring at the camera while his mother leans over his shoulder with her fingers on the laptop's touch pad, presumably trying to explain something to her distracted son.]

It's the LAST DAY of the Abilities Virtual Experience! https://virtual.abilities.com/ Have you: > Checked out the latest products for the disability community?... > Picked out your stocking stuffers...some great daily living aids at #AbilitiesVE2 > Watched The Heumann Perspective with Judith Heumann talk about disability rights? > Gotten the 411 on travel from Wheelchair Travel's John Morris? > Learned the best way to make your bathroom accessible? > Heard from Disabilityafterdark's Drew Gurza on sex and disability? So many resources, but only today (Sunday, December 13) to view them. Login: https://virtual.abilities.com/ [Image description: White text on a purple background that says: Welcome to the Abilities Virtual Experience. Circled in red is the last day of the online event, today, December 13, 2020.]

Heads up, gamers! At #AbilitiesVE2, there will be TWO gaming sessions, one from the gamers and one from the developers! But you have to sign up to see them: https://rebrand.ly/wy14zs5 Four gamers representing multiple disabilities, the same team who helped to make the Last of Us Part 2 the most accessible game EVER, will discuss the future of gaming.... On the developer side, PlayStation, Microsoft, Square Enix and Ubisoft will talk about current advances in gaming accessibility and how they are planning to level the future playing field. For the bonus, host Paul Amadeus Lane is also an avid gamer. So, if you are a gamer, tune in. If you know a gamer, please share! The Abilities Virtual Experience is online and free this Friday through Sunday, Nov. 20-22. [Image description: A young man in a wheelchair is before a giant screen as he plays Spiderman using the accessibility features. His blue-haired friend is also riveted.]

Super exciting! Guess who's coming to Abilities Virtual Experience 2... The Heumann Perspective with Judith Heumann! Sign up now: https://rebrand.ly/wy14zs5 Judy's pre-ADA activism is famously featured in the film Crip Camp. And her post ADA work as an International Disability Rights activist...WOW! Maybe you caught her segment earlier this year on the Daily Show with Trevor Noah? Well, her live interview and Q&A on #AbilitiesVE2 at 1:30 PST on Saturday will be even better!!... The online event is THIS WEEKEND, Nov. 20-22. Come and see Judy and a ton of products, workshops and resources for the disability community. Check out the line-up: https://www.abilities.com/virtual/#calendar [Image description: A brown-haired woman with glasses (Judy Heumann) is smiling at the camera.]

Guess who's coming to Abilities Virtual Experience 2, happening NEXT WEEKEND... Andrew Gurza! But you can't attend his workshop & live Q&A on "How Sex and Disability Feels: A Beginner's Guide" unless you are registered. It's free so click here: https://rebrand.ly/wy14zs5 You may already know Andrew from his popular podcast, Disability After Dark. At #AbilitiesVE2, he will reveal both myths and facts about sex and disability as well as emphasize the importance of emotions, not... just the mechanics. Andrew's workshop is 3 pm PST on Friday, but the whole online event is Nov. 20-22. Check out the overall schedule: https://www.abilities.com/virtual/#calendar [Image description: A smiling man in a power wheelchair (Andrew Gurza) is holding a sign that says #DeliciouslyDisabled]

Once Dani Izzie of Dani's Twins Film overcame her personal insecurities about expanding her family, the plot twists kept coming. Twins. COVID. Giving birth during a pandemic. Read on for the happy endingtwo beautiful baby girls. Dani and her panel will also join us for her "The Disabled Pregnancy and Parenting Journey" at the Abilities Virtual Experience next weekend. Don't miss it! #AbilitiesVE2 is online Nov. 20-22 and all you have to do is register for free: https://rebra...nd.ly/wy14zs5 [Image description: A woman (Dani Izzie) with a pregnant belly is sitting in her wheelchair in a field. She is accompanied by her husband who is kissing her temple with his hand on her belly.] https://www.abilities.com/community/quad-mom.html

One week away and the countdown is on! Sign up here: https://rebrand.ly/wy14zs5 Here are just a few of the wide range of products you'll find at Abilities Virtual Experience, Nov. 20-22. From high-end mobility devices to hilarious stocking-stuffers, they are all game changing in their own way. Omeo Technology ADAPTS Portable Transfer Sling Ultimate Workout And Recovery Family Gym Funny Parent Gifts... https://www.abilities.com/community/experience-products.html [Image description: The black and green Omeo personal mobility device looks like a futuristic wheelchair. It is responsive to body movements like a Segway.]