2001 Abilities Expo



ABILITIES EXPO 2014 SHOWS

WORKSHOP PROPOSAL

INFORMATION & APPLICATION

Important:

Thank you for your interest in sharing your knowledge and expertise with attendees at Abilities Expo! We look forward to the possibility of working with you. We ask that all potential workshop presenters review the information in this document carefully prior to submitting your workshop proposal(s). It is expected that all presenters will be familiar with these details including the schedule format, audio-visual/presentation equipment provided, and the requested topics. Please let us know if you have any questions. Thank you!

Packet Contents (in order):

• About Abilities Expo

• Abilities Expo Attendees

• 2014 Shows, Dates, Locations and Deadlines to Submit Workshop Proposals

• Workshop Format and Audio Visual

• Preferred Topics

• Marketing and Promotion of Workshops

• Notification

• Presenting at Multiple Abilities Expo Shows

• Selection Criteria

• Workshop Policies

• Questions

• Application

About Abilities Expo:

Abilities Expo is the leading event for 54 million Americans with disabilities and those who support them - their families, caregivers and healthcare professionals. For the past three decades we've dedicated ourselves to making life better for the 1 in 6 Americans with disabilities. This unique forum brings the Community together to learn, network and be empowered.

The show offers a wide range of exhibitors, products and services. Attendees find mobility products, assistive technology, daily living aids, medical equipment, essential services and more. In addition to the exhibits Abilities Expo also features free workshops for attendees on a wide range of topics.

We seek speakers and organizations that are interested in sharing their expertise and knowledge at Abilities Expo. If you would like to be involved, please submit a workshop proposal by the deadline. Early submission of proposals is strongly encouraged.

Abilities Expo attendees include:

38% Parents / Friends / Caregivers

36% People with Disabilities

20% Healthcare and Disability Professionals

6% Other

Abilities Expo 2014 Shows, Dates, Location and Deadlines to Submit Workshop Proposals:

Please submit your workshop proposal by the deadlines noted. We cannot review applications received after the deadline. We encourage potential speakers to submit applications early as we may confirm workshops in advance of the deadline.

Los Angeles

February 28 – March 2, 2014

Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall A, Los Angeles, CA

Deadline: November 15, 2013

Atlanta

March 14 – 16, 2014

Georgia World Congress Center, Hall C4, Atlanta, GA

Deadline: November 29, 2013

New York Metro

May 2 – 4, 2014

New Jersey Convention Center, Edison, NJ

Deadline: January 17, 2014

Chicago

June 27 – 29, 2014

Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center, Schaumburg, IL

Deadline: March 7, 2014

Houston

July 25 – 27, 2014

Reliant Center, Hall E, Houston, TX

Deadline: April 4, 2014

Boston

September 5 – 7, 2014

Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Hall C, Boston, MA

Deadline: May 16, 2014

San Jose

November 21 – 23, 2014

San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, CA

Deadline: August 1, 2014

Marketing and Promotion of Workshops:

Speakers for Abilities Expo receive significant exposure via our promotions. Each show features an extensive marketing campaign using direct mail, email, website, media outreach and advertising. We encourage you to review the Abilities Expo website, before submitting your proposal to get a sense of how workshops are promoted. PDF flyers and custom emails are available for workshop presenters to help them promote their workshop and the event in general to their own networks.

Workshop Format and Audio-Visual:

• Workshops are presented on the Friday and Saturday of each show.

• All workshops are 1 hour in length.

• Abilities Expo is a free event. Workshops are also free. Attendees do not register in advance for workshops. Attendance varies at workshops. It may be small (10 people) or reach the workshop space capacity of approximately 80 people.

• Presenters are encouraged to plan for at least 10 minutes of questions and answers.

• All workshops take place on the show floor (not in separate meeting rooms).

• Each workshop space includes a sound system, wireless microphone for the speaker, wireless microphone for audience questions, either a screen/LCD projector combination or a plasma TV monitor. Wireless headsets are also provided when needed. A presenter’s table is also provided.

• Workshop presenters must provide their own laptop computers and wireless slide advancers.

Preferred Topics:

The most popular topics are those that provide practical information and focus on living life fully with a disability. Please note that based on past attendee preferences we do not schedule motivational/life story workshops for this event. Workshops should be designed for one of the show’s primary audiences (see above). We would like to offer workshops on the following topics for the 2014 Abilities Expo Shows.

Accessible Housing/Home Modifications

Aging and Disability

Alternative and Complementary Therapy

Assistive Technology

Blind and Vision Loss Support/Services

Caregivers

Computer Access

Dating, Relationships, and Intimacy

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Support/Services

Emergency Preparedness

Emerging Therapies

Family Relationships and Dynamics

Future Care Planning

Gardening

Money Management

Mobility Device Selection

Nutrition and Wellness

Parenting and Disability

Pediatric Specific Information

Fitness, Recreation, and Sports

Seating and Positioning

Standing for Wheelchair Users

Transportation Solutions/Vehicle Mods

Travel and Vacation

Feel free to submit more than one presentation. For each workshop proposed, submit one application sheet and attach one Word document with the workshop details (title, description, speaker bio).

Notification:

Workshops are selected approximately 90 days prior to the date of the show. Selected speakers will receive confirmation in advance of show promotions to confirm your session and scheduled date and time. Speakers whose proposals are not selected for a show will receive notification approximately 2 months prior to the event.

Presenting at Multiple Abilities Expo Shows:

Please visit for the dates and locations of other Abilities Expo shows. If you are interested in presenting at additional shows, please include the city name and dates together with your workshop information (see application for additional details).

Selection Criteria:

Please take time with your proposal. We review many proposals and the quality of the workshop title and description are key factors that we consider. Applications should be complete and a well-defined proposal meets the following criteria:

• Proposal completed as per the directions in this packet

• Clear title and description

• Well-defined focus to your identified audience

• Relevant and practical information

• Value to attendees

• Qualifications of the speaker

• Connection of the speaker to the disability community

The Abilities Expo conference receives a high volume of applications and because of that, only fully completed applications that are within word limitations can be considered. Please make sure your workshop description is concise and includes stated outcomes.

Workshop Policies:

• Presentations designed as marketing or promotional pitches for specific products or technologies are not permitted.

• Speakers who are selected to present, but are not present for their workshop and do not make arrangements for a replacement, will not be considered for future presentations. Exceptions are made for cancellations due to emergencies.

• The goal of the workshops is to increase the value of the Expo for attendees, thereby benefitting all attendees and exhibitors. As a result workshops are selected independent of exhibitor agreements.

• Abilities Expo has exclusive and final say on the content and schedule of the workshops for each show.

Questions?

Please feel free to contact Sarah Galbraith Laucks, Education and Events Director, with any questions about the Abilities Expo conference or to discuss workshop topic ideas.

Sarah Galbraith Laucks, CMP

Education and Events Director, Abilities Expo

email: sarah@

office: 717-244-3623

fax: 717-747-0120

ABILITIES EXPO 2014 SHOWS

APPLICATION TO PRESENT A WORKSHOP

Complete one application for each workshop proposed.

Please type or print clearly all information.

Primary Presenter / Organizer Contact Information:

Name Title

Organization

Address

City, State, Zip

Telephone Email

Workshop Title:

This workshop is best suited for:

( People with Disabilities

( Parents and/or Caregivers

( Healthcare and/or Disability Professionals

( Other (please describe):

I would like to present at the following Abilities Expo 2014 shows (check all that apply):

( Los Angeles

( Atlanta

( New York Metro

( Chicago

( Houston

( Boston

( San Jose

Has this workshop been previously presented at other events?

( Yes ( No

If yes, how many times? ________

Most recently presented at: ________________________________________________________________

Are you a past Abilities Expo presenter?

( Yes ( No

Has this workshop been previously approved for continuing education (CEU) credit?

( Yes ( No

If yes, by which organization: _______________________________________________________________

General Workshop Details:

Include the following workshop information in a Microsoft Word or Rich Text document.

1. Workshop Title

2. Workshop Description: Descriptions should be presented in paragraph form, no more than 150 words.

3. 3 Practical Takeaways: List 3 practical skills skills and/or knowledge the attendees will gain at your workshop.

4. Contact Information for Additional Presenters: If your workshop includes additional presenters, provide the following information for each: name, title, organization, mailing address, phone and email.

5. Relevant Bio: For each proposed presenter provide a bio that is relevant to the workshop. Bios should be provided in paragraph form and approximately 200 words. Speaker bios are used in marketing and promotional materials for Abilities Expo. Please do not submit resumes.

6. If you are interested in presenting at additional Abilities Expo Shows, include the city names and dates.

Presenter Commitment:

I understand that my session, if selected, may be scheduled on either Friday or Saturday of the Expo and that my description and bio may be edited for clarity, consistency of style or space limitations. I certify that my presentation is not commercial in content and that I have read and understand the Abilities Expo Workshop Policies. I understand that presenters who are selected to speak at one of the 2014 Abilities Expos, but do not show or send an approved replacement will not be considered for future presentations.

Signature of Speaker: Date:

(electronic signatures are accepted)

Submit your application to:

Sarah Galbraith Laucks, CMP

Education and Events Director, Abilities Expo

email: sarah@

office: 717-244-3623

fax: 717-747-0120

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