United Spinal Grants Helps Maui Wheelchair Riders
Following August’s devastating wildfires on Maui, United Spinal Association’s Ready to Roll program began distributing disaster relief grants, the organization said in a March 13 news announcement.
Among the grant recipients was the Kelea Foundation, a Maui non-profit organization “dedicated to making sports and the ocean accessible to everyone,” United Spinal said. “When the fires hit, the [Kelea Foundation] worked from day one to identify people with disabilities, advocate for their needs and connect them to vital services and extended medical care.”
With the grant, the Kelea Foundation created the Disability Resource HUB, a location that stores durable medical equipment for distribution. The HUB also provides accessible office space for social workers and community caseworkers to meet with clients.
United Spinal, headquartered in Kew Gardens, New York, said the wildfires displaced 800 Maui residents with disabilities.
Abilities Expo Heads to New Jersey in May
With its 2024 premiere in Los Angeles now in the books, the Abilities Expo will next head to New Jersey in May.
The New York Metro event at the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center in Edison, New Jersey, takes place Friday through Sunday, May 3-5. Attending the consumer-focused event is free, but registration is required.
The Abilities Expo events feature an exhibit hall showcasing assistive technology and services for people with disabilities and their families, in addition to educational workshops and demonstrations of wheelchair and adaptive sports, dance, and service dog training.