Abilities Expo/Southern California to Be Held This Weekend.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Abilities Expo/Southern California will take place at the Anaheim Convention Center beginning this Friday, June 16 through Sunday, June 18, 2006. Abilities Expo is the one show for independent and assisted living products and services and is dedicated to helping to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Some of the event highlights include:

--Abilities Expo/Southern California is pleased to welcome Patrick Ivison to the line-up of speakers presenting at this year's event. Patrick is an 11 year old sixth grader who will be speaking on "Being a Kid and Having Fun in Your Wheelchair," on Saturday, July 17th from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. Patrick was hit by a car as a small child and suffered a spinal cord injury leaving him a quadriplegic. Although he requires a lot of assistance, he still manages to have a great time, especially playing wheelchair sports. Patrick's workshop is for kids with disabilities and their parents to teach them about wheelchair sports, adaptive skiing, and adaptive surfing. Patrick will also talk to kids about how to deal with being in a chair day-to-day.

--Attendees will have a chance to discover and learn about new products and services - from computers to athletic equipment and mobility products to daily living aids - all conveniently displayed to see, test and compare. Exhibiting companies include local and regionally based organizations that work with people with disabilities including Accessible San Diego, California Department of Rehabilitation, and California State Independent Living Council (SILC), as well as national companies including Ability Center, Euro-Peds, Flexiciser International Corp., Ford Motor Co., Independence Technology, National Spinal Cord Injury Association, Spokes 'N Motion, Wheeling Images Company, L.L.C., and many more.

--The educational curriculum focuses on relevant topics addressing life today for individuals with disabilities, their family and caregivers. The comprehensive workshop programs will consist of consumer and professional tracks, with certificates of participation available to students, and education and healthcare professionals. Course topics include Disaster Mitigation for Persons with Disabilities; Essential Job Functioning: The Key to Job Placement for Clients with Disabilities; Intensive Therapy for Children with CP and Neuromuscular Disorders; and others.

--The New Abilities Networking Lounge will be a new feature area on the show floor where younger people can relax and hang out in one of Freedom Concepts Chill-OUT chairs, get a poster signed by extreme wheelchair skater, Darwin Holmes (from 1-3 p.m. each day), try out the Game Cycle, cosponsored by Three Rivers, meet and greet with other athletes, watch videos of extreme accessible sports and see videos of the latest products developed by exhibitors such as Care Giver Support Product, LLC. Also in the Networking Lounge, attendees will have the chance to see the first trike built for a paraplegic by Orange County Choppers FANtasy bike contest winner Bryan King along with chopper inspired Lasher Sports chair.

--Each day of the Show, Xtreme Medical will be sponsoring sporting events including Rugby, Tennis, Hockey, and Basketball. Attendees of all ages, especially children, are invited to participate in all sporting events. In addition, Active Living Magazine will be raffling off an accessible tent. Disabled Dealer Magazine will be hosting an accessible NASCAR pinball machine as well as prizes as giveaways. And, Xtreme Medical will be hosting former and future Para-Olympians throughout the weekend.

--Special show services will be available for attendees including Complimentary Wheelchair Repair provided by Hands on Concepts. Loaner Wheelchairs will be provided by Permobil. For People with Visual Impairments, there will be special workshops and exhibitor information handouts available in large type. For People with Hearing Impairments, there will be a sign language interpreter available to assist persons who are deaf or hearing impaired, for a reasonable length of time per person.

WHERE AND WHEN: Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, CA

Friday, June 16, 2006, 10 am - 5 pm

Saturday, June 17, 2006, 10 am - 5 pm

Sunday, June 18, 2006, 11 am - 5 pm

PRODUCED & MANAGED BY: Questex Media Group, 800-385-3085, www.abilitiesexpo.com