LA Abilities Expo 2026 – Recap & Highlights
Missed the Abilities Expo in LA? Curious to know about the latest and greatest products, companies, technologies, and organizations supporting the disability community? Read our recap and highlights below.
NorCal SCI at the LA Abilities Expo as part of the SCI Alliance
By NorCal SCI Executive Director, Arash Bayatmakou
I’m still glowing from what I saw and experienced at the LA Abilities Expo, which took place 3/27-3/29 in Long Beach.
I had only been to one Abilities Expo in the past, in 2012 in San Mateo just a few months after my injury and when I wasn’t ready or receptive to what was available to me. Since then, the Abilities Expo (the largest annual disability focused tradeshow) has changed its model to fewer but larger and more concentrated events.
As such, there’s no more Northern California event so the LA expo is the one and only event on the entire west coast and is likely the largest and most attended of all the expos nationwide.
I was there on behalf of NorCal SCI and as part of the SCI Alliance: a coalition of 6 non-profit organizations all serving the SCI communities in different areas of the west coast. The Alliance formed in early 2025 when all the above organizations formally left United Spinal and as an effort to share resources, support each other, and to collectively advocate for the needs of the SCI community.
During the three days of the expo, we met and interacted with dozens of people, learned about novel adaptive products and tools, connected with new and familiar organizations, and strengthened our partnerships and collaborations.
To give you a sense of the size and scale of the expo, check out my video tour below:
Some of the products and organizations I discovered and would like to highlight include:
Kinemo - Hands free device that connects to phone, tablet, computer, or gaming system. Highly customizable to any body part or level of function. (Our Video Highlight)
Abilitease - 3D printed adaptive tools for everyday needs and ADLs, especially useful for high level injuries and limited hand function
HelpHopeLive - Donation platform allowing tax-deductible fundraising and charitable giving for medical needs/expenses. Much better alternative to GoFundMe or other for-profit platforms.
CalAble - CA program enabling people to financially plan and raise funds without impacting their benefits eligibility and services.
Guided Hands - Assistive device that enables anyone with limited fine motor skills to write, paint, draw and access technology.
This is by no means an exhaustive list as there were far too many exhibitors and products for us to visit. In addition, there were countless other products and services including: newer wheelchair and DME companies (Pinnacle Mobility,Not A Wheelchair), modifications for vehicles, home accessibility (Open Sesame Door Solutions), and many more.
Personally, I’m encouraged by the number and quality of companies, products, and organizations that are available to us and hope that this summary gives you a taste of what the expo was like and to know that there’s a lot out there and available!
Keep an eye on our Instagram page as we’ll be sharing video highlights of the expo as well as some of the above mentioned orgs. And if you can make it to LA next year, the expo will be in January and is a great one-stop shop for all things related to disability. Check it out!
SCI Alliance:Triumph Foundation,Spinal Network, Here and Now Project, Nevada SCI, Oregon SCI, NorCal SCI.
