On December 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 2017, I’ll be at the Dulles Expo Center for the Abilities Expo DC Metro—an event you definitely won’t want to miss! Taking place just outside of our nation’s capital, the DC expo is the largest each year. It attracts exhibitors and speakers from all across the country, and is our chance to celebrate what’s possible with the local disability community.
What is the Abilities Expo?
The Abilities Expo is a disability-focused event that “opens your eyes to new technologies, new possibilities, new solutions and new opportunities to change your life.” Each year, the Expo visits eight different cities/regions: Toronto (Canada), Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Houston, Boston, San Francisco and of course Washington, D.C.!
Bringing more than one thousand people with disabilities together under one roof, the Abilities Expo is an opportunity to check out the latest gadgets, participate in exciting events/activities and gain knowledge from speakers eager to share their expertise. If you are able to make it out for a day or an entire weekend, it’s an event you won’t want to miss!
Where to find me
During the Abilities Expo DC Metro, I’ll be camped out at Booth #110. You won’t be able to miss the WheelchairTravel.org logo! My next-booth neighbor is the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, and aisle 100 is filled with other great exhibitors including the Spina Bifida Association and the American Association of People with Disabilities!
If for some reason you come by and I’m not there, please be sure to stop back by before you leave the expo. I have multiple presentations this year and also take a brief break for lunch.
TWO Workshops on Accessible Travel
I will have the honor of presenting my popular workshop, Open Your World with Accessible Travel, on consecutive days at the DC Expo! The Abilities Expo conference program contains the following description of my session:
The world is more accessible than ever, and the travel industry is beginning to recognize that wheelchair users and people with disabilities want to explore it too! This workshop will provide you with information and tools to plan an accessible vacation, opening your world to new experiences and possibilities. Come prepared to participate in an accessible travel Q&A with the presenter, who will bring firsthand knowledge from nearly one million miles flown with a wheelchair. You will leave this workshop with inspiration for your next vacation and tips to make accessible travel enjoyable for all, including your friends, family members and caregivers. Read more about traveling with a disability at www.wheelchairtravel.org.
My workshop/presentation times are as follows:
Friday, December 1, 2017 at 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 2, 2017 at 1:00 p.m.
The presentation will be held in the Workshops area of the expo center, which is in the back right corner of the exhibit hall. My workshops are always standing-room-only, so I recommend that you show up on-time, or you may be forced to bring your own (wheel)chair! ?
Hotels & Transportation
The expo is not location in the District of Columbia itself, but is nearby at the Dulles Expo Center. As I have written in my guide to wheelchair accessible public transportation in Washington, D.C., it is very easy to get around the District and the surrounding areas on the metro system. The Abilities Expo will be providing free wheelchair accessible shuttles (with lifts) between the expo center and the Vienna/Fairfax-GMU Metro station. I will be taking the metro and commuting in from a hotel in either Crystal City or Pentagon City.
There are many great hotels with easy connections to the DC Metro system, so be sure to check out this list of wheelchair accessible hotels in Washington, D.C.!
Don’t forget to register – the Expo is FREE!
If you’d like to attend the Abilities Expo, don’t forget to register at www.abilities.com. Registration is completely FREE of charge – it will only take a few minutes to complete, so get started!
I look forward to meeting you in December and discussing everything in the world of wheelchair accessible travel!
