Information may be subject to change.
The following activities are designed for a broad range of ability levels. We have tried to provide something for everyone. There is no cost to the activities.

11:00 AM: Ability First Accessibility Fair Opens
11:30 AM: K9 Lifelines Service Dog Demonstration
12:00 PM: Ability First Accessibility Fair Opening Address
Traditional Anishinabek song led by ACPD
Committee Member Jake Maurice
Mayor Horwath will officially open the event
*ASL Interpreter Will be Available
12:30 PM: K9 Lifelines Service Dog Demonstration
1:30 PM: K9 Lifelines Service Dog Demonstration
2:00 PM: Second Annual Accessibility Awards Presentation
“Remember Me by Fawn Wood” Sung by ACPD Committee
Member Jake Maurice in memory of Lance Dingman
*Councillor Tadeson had to cancel and we will have Jake present the
Accessibility Trailblazer Awards in his place.
*ASL Interpreter Will be Available
3:00 PM: Ability First Accessibility Fair Closes

Chair Wash Station
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.
Cycling Without Aging
We bring our trishaw, and give short rides around the forecourt after Passengers (or their guardians/ poa) sign waivers.
Dexterity Loss Station
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 full size Jenga. Through this exercise, we hope to provide insight into the experience of losing the ability to complete simple tasks.
Everyone Rides Initiative Station
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.
Green Venture Station
Green Venture’s GRIT Freedom Chairs are versatile, powerful, and comfortable; allowing users to navigate the rougher terrain which standard wheelchairs struggle with. The all-terrain chairs achieve this through their design, which includes easy-push levers, thick mountain bike wheels, seat belts, adjustable footrests, optional trail back handles, and customizable add-ons including anti-tip bars. The Freedom Chair is rated to handle gravel, grass, sand, snow, dirt, pavement, or anywhere else life will take you.
Haptic or Tactile Station
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!
Description from the Author: Markéta Vítková
BRIDGE BOOKS
I am an author of children’s books. Some are fairytale, others about nature. Because I had a blind father-in-law, I decided that I would like to bring his handicap closer to children. A book for beginning readers called Birthday Cat was created about a blind grandfather who is looking for a gift for his grandmother and will need help from his grandchildren.
Later, I wanted to convert the book into audio form so that it would be more accessible for the visually impaired. Eventually, however, a tactile version was added to the audio version. The result is a special haptic book with an embedded CD on which there is an audio version of the story, which introduces sighted children to the world of the visually impaired, but can also be read by the visually impaired.
Ideally, this book should be read together by sighted and visually impaired friends and talk over the book. It is supposed to connect them.
Then, in cooperation with psychologist Kateřina Čížková, I wrote a similarly done (playfully and interactively) book for children about autism called How Colorful Blue Is. Thus began to create a number of books, ie. book bridges, connecting the worlds of people with disabilities or disorderes with the world of other people.
The third one with an ironman in a wheelchair, Zbyněk Švehla, was Vozíčkov, about the world of people in wheelchairs and about the prevention of spinal injuries.
Currently, the fourth title in the series – about the hearing impaired – is being created.
HSR/DARTS/Motion Mobility Device Station
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.
K9 Lifelines Service Dog Demonstrations
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.
LUCI Demonstrator
Visit the LUCI Demonstration area to learn about this new sensor technology for powerchairs.
Motion “Garage” Repair Station
More Details To Follow.
Safe Space Tent
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.
Traditional Anishinabek Song
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.
Vision Loss Simulator Station
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.


