Schedule

This station will focus on other forms of communication. Explore ASL alphabets or try to communicate using only non-verbal communication (Alternative Accessible Communication-AAC) boards in various forms.

Come and get a quick wipe down of your personal mobility device, whether it be a wheelchair, scooter, rollator or walker.

For our safety and yours, there will be no chair transfers.

We ask that children draw us a picture of what accessibility or disability means to them. We have craft paper for a mural if they so choose as well as some colouring pages.

We are setting up large versions of popular games that should be more accessible to children with disabilities. Oversized: Jenga, Plinko, Kerplunk , Connect Four, Cornhole (regular sized) and Checkers. We hope to have something for everyone.

On-site seating posture assessments, ergonomics consultations, and equipment troubleshooting. Offering complimentary wheelchair tune-ups (tire/caster checks, brake adjustments, seating alignment tweaks, and hardware tightening) along with guidance on ADP navigation and custom mobility solutions.

We have created this station to simulate the loss of manual dexterity and control of one’s hands. Using padded gloves, tongs and a reacher grabber, we challenge you to play a small game of Jenga or handle regular everyday items. Through this exercise, we hope to provide insight into the experience of losing the ability to complete simple tasks.

The Fun2Go is a side-by-side tandem tricycle designed for social, supported rides. One rider steers and controls the brakes, while both can pedal together or independently. With its stable three-wheel design, comfortable seats with back support, and optional electric assist, it’s perfect for riders who want to enjoy a ride together — even if one person needs more support.

Ideal for: People with visual/cognitive disabilities, people who want shared riding or need to ride with a support person.

The Haptic/Tactile Station provides an opportunity to see what is possible when you use new technologies to improve accessibility.

Tactile games can provide options for play and learning that do not require vision. We have printed some options for you to explore.

3D Mapping Technology can assist those with vision loss by creating tactile plates of any available map, anywhere in the world, at whatever scale required. While it is not a perfect technology yet, it is advancing quickly and may be helpful to everyone someday. We have printed maps of the area for you to explore at your fingertips.

Haptic or Tactile books have existed for a long time. They are excellent tools for people with vision loss and developmental disabilities to immerse themselves in the story and improve comprehension. They employ many different materials like wood, paper, cloth, plastic, felt, etc. and really bring the story to life. The problem is that they are prohibitively expensive and are handmade one at a time, often costing ten times as much to manufacture than the purchase price. 3D printing is a relatively cheap method of manufacturing that has improved enough to be suitable for this purpose.

Markéta Vítková is an author from Czechia that has given us permission to translate one of her books: “Surprises of Bluebeard the Elf and Other Stories From Hradec Králové” from the original Czech into English. In collaboration with Laboratoř Nadace Vodafone and PrusaLabs, several models were created from the story to allow readers to participate in the story by touch. The models were approved by visually impaired guides from the Invisible Exhibition in Prague. We have printed a set of the models as well as the book in braille and large print. Stop by the station and check it out!

Provide your contact information at the HearingLife table and be entered to win a basket full of HearingLife swag

Do you have a mobility device and want to experiment with boarding an HSR bus or a DARTS vehicle in a safe environment? Perhaps you want to try boarding a bus with an available mobility device to get a better understanding of the difficulties involved. In either case, this is the event for you.

Motion has generously provided a variety of Personal Mobility Devices for this activity station.

Join K9 Lifelines for an engaging and educational demonstration showcasing the remarkable abilities of service dogs and the essential support they provide to individuals with disabilities. Our dogs will perform a variety of trained tasks including retrieving dropped items, opening doors, and responding to medical needs that help mitigate their handlers’ disabilities and promote greater independence.

The demonstration will also feature a Q&A session, with the possibility of handlers sharing personal stories about the life-changing impact their service dogs have made. Come see firsthand how service dogs are breaking barriers and enhancing lives through the work of K9 Lifelines.

More Details To Follow.

Brain injuries can affect many aspects of a person’s life, including physical abilities, cognitive functions, and emotional well-being. Our interactive station will give attendees the opportunity to explore how these challenges can impact everyday tasks through hands-on activities. We’ll also share practical strategies and tools that can help individuals manage these challenges and support greater independence in daily life.

If an attendee becomes overwhelmed or anxious during our event, we are happy to provide a safe space tent. Please feel free to use this private space in order to feel safe and secure in your environment. Tent will be monitored by volunteers to ensure correct and fair use.

Calling in Our Grandfathers originated in the Saugeen territory. This song is about calling in the 4 directions to help ground folks and welcome us into a good head space.

Come try out our selection of lenses that represent various ocular conditions. We have prepared images that highlight each condition and the issues they cause with our vision.

*Due to technical issues, we will have to remove this station from this year’s event. We hope to have it repaired for next year.