The 2007 North American Spinal Cord Injury Conference & Disability Expo (NASCICDE), a long-time professional event, is inviting consumers in for the first time when it opens its doors in Orlando later this month.

NASCICDE brings together physicians, researchers, psychologists, nurses, therapists and social workers specializing in spinal cord injuries. The conference is composed of four separate professional programs hosted by the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses, the American Paraplegia Society, the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Psychologists & Social Workers, and the Therapy Leadership Council in Spinal Cord Injury.

But new this year is a consumer-targeted disability conference and expo, featuring an exhibit hall, sports and service animal demonstrations, and educational sessions including “DME Stands for Durable Medical Equipment,” “Spasticity,” and “Universal Design & You.” Admission to the conference, August 27-29, is free to those who pre-register at www.sciconference.org.

The overall NASCIDE conference and exhibit hall are hosted by the United Spinal Association: www.unitedspinal.org.