ADA 25th Anniversary Legacy Tour debuts at Abilities Expo, July 25-27 with Press Conference and Mayoral Proclamation

HOUSTON, July 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- To commemorate the upcoming 25^th anniversary of the historic passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA25), the long-anticipated ADA Legacy Tour will kick off at Abilities Expo Houston on July 25, 2014 at NRG Center (formerly Reliant Center), Hall E. Media will arrive between 11:00 and 11:15 am for the 11:30 am press conference which will be led by Lex Frieden, renowned disability rights activists and one of the chief architects of the Americans with Disabilities Act. During the conference, the Office of the Mayor Annise Parker will bestow a proclamation to memorialize the occasion.

The ADA Legacy Tour is a traveling exhibit designed to raise public awareness and generate excitement about ADA25 and is produced by The ADA Legacy Project, Disability Rights Center, ADA National Network and the Museum of disABILITY History. As the premier event for people with disabilities, Abilities Expo Houston on July 25-27, 2014 is the ideal launching pad for the year-long, nationwide tour which will culminate in Washington DC on July 26, 2015, exactly 25 years after President George HW Bush signed the ADA into law.

As a part of Abilities Expo, the ADA Legacy Tour will feature the ADA Bus, a four-panel display on the history of self-advocacy, displays on the preservation of disability history, celebrations of disability history milestones, efforts to educate future generations of disability advocates and more. This exhibit is a fitting compliment to the Expo, which features the latest products and services, informative workshops and adaptive activities to appeal to people of all ages with the full spectrum of disabilities—including physical, learning, developmental and sensory disabilities.

Admission is free and Expo hours will be Friday and Saturday 11 am to 5 pm, and Sunday 11 am to 4 pm.

"We are thrilled to play an intricate part of the ADA Legacy Tour," said David Korse, president and CEO of Abilities Expo. "The Expo provides the community of people with disabilities access to life-enhancing products, education, resources and fun. And, like the ADA Legacy Tour, Abilities Expo is a celebration of what you can do."

The mission of the ADA Legacy Project is to preserve disability history, celebrate its significant events, and educate the public and future generations of advocates.

Complimentary loaner scooters, wheelchair repair and a power chair charging station will also be available during show hours.

The Latest Products and Services
Attendees will experience cutting-edge products and services for people with a wide range of disabilities. They will find mobility products, devices for people with developmental disabilities, medical equipment, home accessories, essential services, low-cost daily living aids, products for people with sensory impairments and much more. The Assistive Technology Showcase will also feature an array of devices for attendees to experience hands-on.

Relevant Workshops
A series of compelling workshops which address pressing disability issues will be offered free-of-charge to all attendees. Sessions will focus on travel, assistive listening devices, the civil rights legacy of the ADA, medical marijuana, pregnancy and SCI, a parent's journey and that is just for starters.

Sports, Dancing, Ride-Along Racking and More!
Abilities Expo does not merely inform, it engages and it entertains. Attendees of all levels of ability can test their skills at martial arts, learn the latest Zumba and line dancing moves, receive professional makeovers and play adaptive sports. They can also experience ride-along racing where "captains" ride a chair, "angels" push from behind and everybody wins. And kids will love the face painting.

Meet the Animals
Animals have become an intrinsic part of the disability community. Some are essential to the healing process, while others help their human partners become more independent. Expo-goers will enjoy assistance dog demos, as well as a crash course on how to buy, train and live with your service dog.

Celebrity Encounters
A notable player in the disability rights movement, Lex Frieden will launch the ADA Legacy Tour with a press conference on July 25. Frieden became interested in working for the rights of people with disabilities after he suffered a spinal cord injury that left him without the use of his lower body and partial use of his arms. After his accident, he went to TIRR Memorial Hermann for rehabilitation where he now directs the Independent Living Research Utilization Program. From 1984 to 1988, Frieden served as executive director of the National Council on Disability.

Meet Karen Kain and get your copy of her new book signed. A Unique Life Fully Lived is the journey of Karen and her medically fragile, yet unbelievably courageous daughter Lorrin, who was vaccine-injured at 6-weeks-old.

Come and introduce yourself to Andy Yohe, the captain of the gold-winning U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team, and his teammates Taylor Lipsett, Rico Roman and Jen Lee.

Claudia Salley, star of Discovery Health Channel's Paralyzed and Pregnant with Twins, will share her personal story of life, loss, spinal cord injury, pregnancy and then her big surprise of twins in her workshop Pregnancy and Spinal Cord Injury on July 26.

Hometown favorite Corina Gutierrez will bring the Zumba craze to expo attendees, adapted for all.

For more information, visit www.abilitiesexpo.com/houston.

SOURCE Abilities Expo