Celebrate the talents & creative spirit of people with disabilities at the 14th Annual Festival of Human Abilities at the Aquarium of the Pacific January 28th thru 29th! This event will feature wheelchair dance, live music, signing choirs, art demonstrations, accessible SCUBA diving demonstrations, interactive workshops, and other creative performances by people who have disabilities. Sign language interpreters will be present at all major shows, and an audio tour is available for those who are blind.

Festival Programming

SATURDAY, January 28. 2017

• 10:00 a.m. Love in Motion Signing Choir
• 10:40 a.m. Love in Motion Signing Choir
• 11:00 a.m. “Imagine the Possibilities: Learning to Fly Through SCUBA” – Jim Elliott of Diveheart
• 11:45 a.m. ARC Handbell Choir
• 12:00 p.m. Underwater Adaptive Dive Presentation by Diveheart Founder Jim Elliott
• 12:20 p.m. Hip Hop Wheelchair Dance – The Rollettes
• 12:30 p.m. Service Dog Demonstration – Canine Companions for Independence
• 12:55 p.m. Music and Dance Performance – Kodi Lee
• 1:40 p.m. Classical Guitar – Dat Nguyen
• 2:30 p.m. Hip Hop dance – Mike “Ice Man” Rivera, and Homeland Crew
• 3:00 p.m. Underwater Adaptive Dive Presentation by Diveheart Founder Jim Elliott
• 3:10 p.m. Hip Hop Music Performance –Auti Angel
• 4:00 p.m. Music performance – Per Se

SUNDAY, January 29, 2017

• 10:40 a.m. Dance performance by Straight Up Abilities
• 11:00 a.m. “Imagine the Possibilities: Learning to Fly Through SCUBA” – Jim Elliott of Diveheart
• 11:45 a.m. Glenn McIntyre Heritage Award honoring Andrew Skinner* / Honda Blue Cavern
• 12:00 p.m. Underwater Adaptive Dive Presentation by Diveheart Founder Jim Elliott
• 12:20 p.m. Hip Hop Wheelchair Dance – The Rollettes
• 12:55 p.m. Music and Dance Performance – Kodi Lee
• 1:40 p.m. Infinite Flow Wheelchair Dance
• 2:30 p.m. Hip Hop dance – Mike “Ice Man” Rivera, and Homeland Crew
• 3:00 p.m. Underwater Adaptive Dive Presentation by Diveheart Founder Jim Elliott* / Tropical Pacific Gallery 2nd Floor
• 3:10 p.m. Hip Hop Music Performance – Auti Angel
• 4:00 p.m. Music performance – Zendrea Mitchell

All programs subject to change and weather dependent.

Demonstrations & Exhibits / Great Hall

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

• Art Display and Demonstration by Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
• Art Display by Able ARTS Work
• Art Display by Michael Seale, Jr.
• Hats and Music CDs by Charles Whitehead of Per Se
• Colours Wheelchairs
• Accessible SCUBA Program by Diveheart
• Molina Healthcare Disability & Senior Access Services
• Community Resource Table

SATURDAY ONLY

• Service Animal Display by Canine Companions for Independence
• Unification of Disabled Latin Americans
• City of Long Beach Citizen’s Advisory Commission on Disabilities

SUNDAY ONLY

• Accessible Dance Program by Straight Up Abilities
• Interactive Art with Dani Bowman and Powerlight Animation Studios

FREE classes by artists with and without disabilities

• Space is limited, so please arrive early.
• Classes are for all ages and abilities. Each class will be 30-45 minutes in length. All classes are located at the Watershed Classroom except Painting with Wheelchair Wheels, which is located in our Learning Center. Space is limited. Sign up at the class entrance. To locate classrooms, see map or inquire at information desk for assistance.

Saturday, January 28, 2017

• 10:00 a.m. Drumming circle – Able ARTS Work
• 11:00 a.m. Hip Hop dancing – The Rollettes
• 12:00 p.m. Hip Hop dancing – Mike ‘Ice Man’ Rivera, and Homeland Crew
• 1:00 p.m. Hip Hop dancing – Auti Angel, whose credits include dancing with Ludacris
• 2:00 p.m. Singing in sign language – Love in Motion Signing Choir
• 3:00 p.m. Painting with wheelchair wheels – artist Tommy Hollenstein
• 4:00 p.m. Painting with wheelchair wheels – artist Tommy Hollenstein

Sunday, January 29, 2017

• 9:30 a.m. Decorative hat painting – artist Michael Seal Jr.
• 11:30 a.m. Hip Hop dancing – Mike ‘Ice Man’ Rivera, and Homeland Crew
• 12:30 p.m. Dancing – Straight Up Abilities featuring Robin Olive
• 1:30 p.m. Hip Hop dancing – Auti Angel, whose credits include dancing with Ludacris
• 2:30 p.m. Hip Hop dancing – The Rollettes
• 3:00 p.m. Painting with wheelchair wheels – artist Tommy Hollenstein
• 4:00 p.m. Painting with wheelchair wheels – artist Tommy Hollenstein

Glenn McIntyre Heritage Award Presentation / Honda Blue Cavern

Sunday, 11:45 a.m. – Honoring Andrew Skinner

In August 2008, Andrew Skinner co-founded the Triumph Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to help individuals with spinal cord injury. Triumph Foundation promotes maximizing recovery & return of function through regular exercise, living a healthy lifestyle, focusing on independence, and keeping a positive attitude. Through Triumph Foundation, Skinner has spent many volunteer hours mentoring and offering support to people with spinal cord injuries. The cornerstone of their outreach is giving newly injured people care baskets that are like tool-kits which provide information and resources about the many SCI support organizations, assistance programs, and activities.

Aquarium of the Pacific100 Aquarium WayLong Beach, CA562) 590-3100

Please visit the Information Desk for assistance or more information on the following:

• Sign language interpreters will be available at major shows and gallery videos are closed captioned. Scripts for all major shows are available for checkout.
• Free Audio Tours are available for checkout for people who have a visual disability.
• Behind-the-Scenes Tours are fully accessible.
• Extra elevators are available on request.
• Assistance Dog Relief area is located outside the front of the Aquarium.
• A detailed map of the Festival of Human Abilities events and services is available at the information desk

a Rafflecopter giveaway

US Residents Only. No purchase necessary to enter. All readers have an equal chance to win, however, you must enter to win. A winner will be randomly selected via RaffleCopter and notified via email. I will attempt to contact the winner for 3 days. If the winner cannot be reached by email, a new winner will be selected the same way. There are several different ways to earn entries. One prize per household. The winner will receive, free of charge, the prize mentioned above. This prize is not available for exchanges. Prizes are not transferable or refundable and must be accepted as awarded. The winner is responsible for any and all other costs and expenses not listed above. Not liable for unclaimed prizes or fulfillment.