By John M. Williams
The 6th Annual World Congress and Exposition on Disabilities (WCD Expo) promoted inclusion and access for people with disabilities in their communities and professions. For 3 days, hundreds of people visited more than 150 exhibits, attended more than 80 work sessions on a wide range of disability issues and were united in their goals to be educated and inspired.
The WCD Expo brought together people with disabilities and their families, caregivers, policy makers on all levels of government, advocates, and business leaders. These individuals were united in their efforts to open up America for the country’s 56 million people with disabilities and for generation of future people with disabilities.
United Spinal Association participated in the event both as exhibitors and workshop presenters. “Our exhibit allowed us to meet individuals from various entities across the country establishing partnerships and making new friends, as well as sign up new members with the organization,” said Member Services Director Marlene Perkins. “Our workshop entitled, ‘Removing Barriers through Self-Advocacy,’ drew a huge crowd as we discussed the basic principals behind self-advocacy and the removal of barriers, both physical and attitudinal throughout the community.”
“We are determined to make positive differences in the lives of people with disabilities and their families, and this Expo is one way to accomplish our goals,” said William Schwaninger, President and CEO, WCD Expo, Inc.
Make a difference, the Expo did, in all sorts of areas. The Sports and Recreation Center gave insights into how people with disabilities can stay active and healthy while having fun. The Assistive Technology Learning Center and Lab was a place for attendees to learn about state-of-the art solutions that are improving lives. Individuals looking for employment could visit the Disability Career Fair, where they met people looking to hire people with disabilities.
Indeed, employment was a key issue for many of the attendees.
“I have been unemployed for 3 years,” said Tom Harvester, a wheelchair user. He spoke to sponsors, including Mass Mutual Financial Group, Arm & Hammer, Ability Magazine, and Disabled Dealer. He seemed encouraged by their replies.
And many others at the Expo seemed equally encouraged by their conversations with sponsors and potential employers. Twenty-four year-old Margaret Thackery said, “I have two strong job possibilities, and I am following up on them today.” Thackery is a graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia, where the WCD Expo was held. She has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair.
The diversity of the sessions and exhibits got rave reviews from the attendees.
Trenton, New Jersey, resident Karen Edwards has two children with disabilities. It was her first visit to the Expo. She was there to attend the sessions and look at mobility products, she said. “I am not disappointed by being here.” Edwards attended sessions dealing with Augmentative and Alternative Communication-Possibilities and opportunities and IEP’s in Physical Education and Recreation. The exhibits such as the American Association for Active Lifestyles & Fitness showed her a positive link between the sessions and exhibits.
Other attendees saw the same connection.
Nineteen-year-old double leg amputee and future Paralympic hopeful John Stein spent all day Thursday at the Expo. He visited most of the exhibits. His two bags on his wheelchair were overflowing with literature on the Expo’s products and programs. He was inspired by the people he met at the U.S. Paralympics booth. It was his first expo, and he blushingly said, “I am thrilled by everything I see and the people I speak to.” Stein considered the Expo a “major educational experience.”
On a scale of 1 through 10, attendees rated the Expo between 8 and 8.5. While they were pleased with the content and the exhibits, the attendees wanted to see more Assistive Technology products.
“I see many varieties of mobility products here and that’s good,” said Michael Sandusky, a special education teacher in Philadelphia. “However, I want to see a more equitable balance between mobility products and information technology. Therefore, I rate the conference an 8.”
Wheelchair user Elaine Howell rated the exhibit 8.5. “What I love about this program,” she said, “is the equipment ranges from all types of manual and power chairs, scooters, wheelchair accessible vans, various types of lifts, adaptive driving controls, stairway and porch lifts, ramps.”
Expo’s Schwaninger knows the Expo needs more information technology exhibits. “We are working to persuade more IT manufacturers of AT products to exhibit next year and beyond,” he says.
There were AT vendors on hand. For example, attendees saw the Cyrano Communicator, a compact augmentative communication device (www.cyranocommunicator.com). There were low vision products and an assortment of augmentative and alternative Communication devices from R.J. Cooper & Associates (www.rjcooper.com).
The attendees represented all disabilities and learned about programs to enhance independent living opportunities, to improve wellness needs among people with disabilities, to improve advocacy skills, to buy assistive technology equipment and ways to expand their inclusiveness in their communities.
Democratic Congressman John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania was the keynote speaker on Saturday, December 3, 2005. A spokesman for Congressman Murtha said, “The Congressman was honored to appear at the Expo. He sees personal merit in the products that were displayed and believes they increase opportunities for people with disabilities, especially our disabled veterans, to expand their presence in society.”
John M. Williams has been reporting on assistive technology for more than 25 years. He can be contacted at jmmaw@aol.com.
