HUNTINGTON, NY – May 28, 2026
The 2nd Annual ALL ABILITIES EXPO, presented by Councilwoman Theresa Mari, is being held this Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Heckscher Park in Huntington from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Over 50 vendors will attend, most of them organizations dedicated to serving the special needs community. Additionally, there will be a live performance by Kool Spektrum and a petting zoo provided by the Cornell Cooperative Extension.
The realization of this expo was developed from a vision by Erica Scoma, a longtime resident of Huntington and mother of a teenage daughter who is non-verbal, non-ambulatory, and requires 24-hour-a-day care. She was spending time amongst other mothers of special needs children, exchanging contacts, arranging to borrow specialized equipment, and assessing educational facilities. Like many days for the last 15 years, she felt exhausted at the effort required to find necessary resources for her daughter, Aliah, her first and only child.
Researching resources and navigating the numerous aspects of life for a special needs individual is time-consuming and taxing. The endless phone calls, emails, meetings, doctors’ appointments and paperwork can be overwhelming. Having lived in Huntington nearly all her life, Erica knew what an incredible township she resided in and decided to take on a huge endeavor.
In 2024, under the guidance of Councilwoman Theresa Mari, the Special Needs Committee was established, whose purpose is to serve as a distinct, collective source within the Town of Huntington for families and caretakers of individuals with special needs. Navigating medical care, insurance and benefits, school systems, nurses, aides, therapies, equipment and supplies is a full-time job on top of already being a parent, and it is essential for these families to be armed with as much information as possible.
Theresa initiated the celebration of the special needs community by green-lighting the All Abilities Expo’s debut in May 2025, a day focused on resources, activities and services designed for individuals of all abilities in a safe, fun and inclusive environment. After being forced to postpone once due to weather in 2025, the alternate date was unfortunately met with unexpected inclement weather very early on. But the Town of Huntington’s Parks and Recreation staff came through beyond imagination. Executing arrangements and setting up tents and tables in the pouring rain for absolute strangers and doing it with a smile truly emphasized the sentiment of community within Huntington.
Eventually the rain dissipated and the sun was shining. It was an absolute thrill to see families coming to attend the event and interact with each other and leave with more information and knowledge than they arrived with. The Huntington Matters attendants were live-streaming, and several individuals said they came after seeing the event was taking place.
So, the seed was planted. The hope is to have this committee within the Town of Huntington grow, expand and thrive as a realm of resources, engaged together to foster the special needs community. The expectation is to not only provide vital resources, but to increase services and accessibility.
Previously, Erica had put her energy into several other ventures, including disability-inclusive playground equipment at Heckscher Park, obtaining “Caroline’s Carts” at local supermarkets, and improving beach accessibility. The plan is to continue the procurement of necessities such as these.
This year the sun is expected to shine all day long and organizers are looking forward to an even bigger and better event that reaches more families. Many vendors from last year are returning along with some new ones including Brain Balance Center, Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck, Destination Accessible, If You Can Dream It Travel, John’s Crazy Socks, NY Therapy Placement Services, Pal-O-Mine, Rise Life Services, Valhallan Esports and many more.
A very special thank you goes to this year’s sponsors: Suffolk County Police Athletic League, NYU Langone, Eliot Lonardo with Signature Premier, St. Joseph’s University, and Thivierge & Rothberg, PC.
Jennifer Cespedes is a Volunteer Contributor for Huntington Matters.
Photography by Dana E. Richter.
