The Abilities Expo is one of leading events for people with disabilities, held each year in numerous cities around the country. The convention “opens your eyes to new technologies, new possibilities, new solutions and new opportunities to change your life.”
Each conference features a myriad of exhibitors, activities, workshops and speakers, which ensures that everyone – regardless of their abilities and disabilities, will find value in attending for one, two or all three days. I am honored to have been selected to lead a wheelchair accessible travel workshop on back-to-back days at the 2017 Abilities Expo in Chicago. The Chicago Expo will take place from Friday, June 23 to 25 at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois.
My workshop, entitled “Open Your World With Accessible Travel,” is scheduled for the 1:00 p.m. time slot on both Friday and Saturday. The workshop will last one hour. 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 a wheelchair accessible vacation, opening your world to unlimited possibilities. Come prepared to participate in an accessible travel Q&A that will address a wide variety of questions, concerns and vacation destinations. The presenter, known for circling the globe with one hand, a passport and a power wheelchair, will bring firsthand knowledge from more than half a million air miles traveled with a disability. 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.
If you attended my last presentation at the 2016 Abilities Expo in Boston, you’ll notice some changes to this year’s program. Because of the diversity of the audience (in both abilities and travel experience), we’ll be engaging in a discussion surrounding the travel interests, questions and concerns of that day’s attendees. While the description is the same for my Friday and Saturday workshops, you can expect them to be much different from each other. So, if you’d like to attend both days, I’d love to see you there!
The new Meet-up Zone at the Expo will allow us to continue our conversation after the session has ended. And, if you miss the workshop, you’ll be able to find me at the WheelchairTravel.org booth in the exhibit hall. Booth #209 will be my home throughout the weekend, and I’d love to meet you and answer your questions about traveling with a disability.
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! If you need a hotel in the area, I recommend the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel, the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg or the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Chicago Schaumburg.
If you’ll be spending some extra time in Chicago, check out my review of the Chicago CityPASS, which will give you a discount of more than 50% off admission to the city’s top attractions. Also be sure to read my Chicago Wheelchair Travel Guide for more information on wheelchair accessibility in the Windy City.
I look forward to meeting you in Chicago and discussing everything in the world of wheelchair travel!
