Dr. Lemont A. Baker of Street Talk Radio interviews Vanessa Adele Harris, the Chicago Ambassador for the Abilities Expo and founder of Fun4theDisabled. Join us as we dive into the exciting events at the Abilities Expo and learn how it empowers the disability community through accessibility, innovation, and inclusion.
Vanessa shares insights on the various activities at the expo, including wheelchair services, adaptive equipment, and sensory rooms. Discover the significance of the expo and how it brings together people with disabilities to solve problems and enhance their quality of life.
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DR. BAKER: and tonight. We have a very hot, interesting show. We have guests via telephone from the Ability Expo that’s happening this weekend. As a matter of fact, it’s started today. And also the Chicago Ambassador Vanessa Harris and Fun4theDisabled. Welcome. How y’all doing?
VANESSA HARRIS: I’m fine. How are you, Doctor Baker?
DR. BAKER: Oh, we’re here. [chuckles] How you doing
VANESSA: Great! Okay.
DR. BAKER: How’s your day?
VANESSA: It’s been very busy. We’re meeting a lot of really nice people today at the expo.
DR. BAKER: Let me- Let me- Now, who am I talking to first?
VANESSA: Vanessa Harris.
DR. BAKER: Right. how you doing?
VANESSA: I’m fine.
DR. BAKER: So you are the ambassador? of Chicago?
VANESSA: Yes, I am, I’m the ambassador to the Abilities Expo here in Chicago, and I’m also the ambassador in other cities. When it goes to, like, New York or Dallas or Los Angeles.
DR. BAKER: Oh, wow.
VANESSA: I reside in Chicago.
DR. BAKER: Oh you all over the place, making it happen. [they laugh] so, yeah, I wanted to have someone on because I thought it was very important to talk about the Ability Expo. But more important, about how. Individuals have disabilities, but they are still living. They are still running. They are still walking. They’re still moving, and they’re still thinking, right. So it’s a, a big community and, they- uh uh uh uh- it’s exciting. So tell us what’s going on down there in Schaumburg.
VANESSA: Well, first I want to answer your first statement. Yes, did you know, there was 25% of the world’s population has at least one disability.
DR. BAKER: Oh, wow.
VANESSA: That is the largest minority in the world. And we come out in full force to the expo.
DR. BAKER: So can you tell us some of the things that you, you are doing out there?
VANESSA: Well, there are a lot of wheelchair users that come out. So there’s a lot of wheelchair distributors and manufacturers. You can get your wheelchair repaired, you can get attachments put on your wheelchairs, all sorts of things. There’s also for people with sensory sensitivities, a sensory room, because there’s a lot of noise in that room, and people might get a little nervous, and they need to just have a timeout- so there’s a special room for them. There are all sorts of adaptive, adaptable equipment for people who have difficulties reaching, handling things. Even for people who are deaf- and for- and there- the whole event is free. Free parking. You can get a free scooter to navigate through the convention center. The whole event is free. So it’s just a wonderful event.
DR. BAKER: So what do you believe, in your experience, have been some of the takeaways from the different expos, some of the challenges that you see people face.
DR. BAKER: But the takeaways, coming to the expo?
VANESSA: Well, I have found, as somebody with a disability myself, that people with disabilities are the greatest problem solvers because we have to solve our own problems. And a lot of times, the problems that we solve benefit people who are non-disabled. Take, for example, ramps, they were built for people with disabilities, but now people with bicycles use them, people with strollers use them, all sorts of things.
DR. BAKER: So, I was reading, uh, a statistic, uh, from the US census. There are about, according to them, 42.5 million Americans with disability. What do you- what are your thoughts about that It’s the truth. Is- actually, that number is low because a lot of times people don’t want to self report that they have a disability. So when the census is taken, they don’t report because they don’t want to be discriminated against or stigmatized. So there are more people with disabilities than that actually.
DR. BAKER: Um, there is, I believe, those that are physically, physically disabled, but those that have an invisible disabilities, right?
VANESSA: That’s true. Yes. Oh, yes.
DR. BAKER: So the expo again, can you tell people, um, how they can register and benefit from such a great event like this?
VANESSA: Yes. They go online to www.abilities.com and then if they go online this weekend you can register right online and go to the Chicago page and then we’ll ask you to register, and then you show up and they have your name and you just show up and they give you a wristband, and you can tour the site for free. Parking is free. Just go online to abilities.com and register.
DR. BAKER: Yeah. I, got my text today. Actually. I’m registered. I’ll be there tomorrow, and, uh, I’m looking forward to it it’ll be my first time. Uh, I have a disability, um, but, uh, God is great. And one thing that they told me when I first got injured, two years ago, I was at Shirley Ryan, and they told me wh- Lamont, whatever you do, keep on moving. And that has been the mindset, that has, garnered me to, uh, mentally endure. And get back into life. What are, one thing that you can say that has helped you to, keep on keeping on?
VANESSA: Well I can say, I run a nonprofit so we have a booth at the expo. So when you come to the expo tomorrow, come to our booth 113. We have treats- and I stay busy. I run my nonprofit and I stay busy, and I, I have volunteers, I have a board, and I do fundraising, and I stay busy, and I meet some of the nicest people in the disability community that you ever want to meet. And that keeps me going.
DR. BAKER: Right on. Right on. Well, once again, we thank you. Tell everybody your name and again, how they can, come out, tomorrow or this weekend, to, the event in Schaumburg.
VANESSA: My name is Vanessa Harris, and I’m an ambassador. You can register at abilities dot com. The- the event starts at 11 tomorrow and runs from 11 to 5 tomorrow at the Schaumburg convention center. It’s also on Sunday from 12 to 4, free parking, and come to our booth number 113, where we’ll have treats and videos.
DR. BAKER: Right on. Well, thank you for being on street talk and, God bless you. And, hopefully I can, see you tomorrow. Okay.
VANESSA: Thank you, Dr. Baker.
DR. BAKER: Cool.
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