HUNTINGTON, NY – May 30, 2026
Despite a very windy day, the 2nd Annual All Abilities Expo was a tremendous success. The sun was shining for most of the day, and judging by all the smiles, the weather certainly did not stop anyone from enjoying this special community event.
Kool Spektrum took center stage for much of the day, entertaining attendees with live music and singing. As always, they were a crowd favorite. Between performances, Councilwoman Theresa Mari, along with several elected officials, took the stage to thank everyone for attending and supporting this wonderful event.
This free event, designed for people of all abilities, offered something for everyone. There was a bounce house, interactive activities, live entertainment, community resources, food vendors, and more than 50 exhibitors.
Many of the vendors provided valuable information, resources, and support for individuals with special needs and their families. Organizations and professionals were available to help connect attendees with services and opportunities throughout the community. Vendors included adaptive equipment demonstrations, advocates, medical and therapy services, and many hands-on activities.
One of the highlights was Drum Beats Connection, which not only provided drum therapy demonstrations but also performed with the children in attendance. HART Bus showcased its wheelchair-accessible ramps and explained how riders can safely use the service. John’s Crazy Socks was on hand, and Cornell Cooperative Extension delighted families with a petting zoo featuring goats, ducks, and a rabbit. Northwell Health brought two therapy dogs that quickly became crowd favorites.
The Brain Balance Center of Plainview hosted a cornhole activity while educating visitors about their non-medical approach to strengthening how the brain functions in both children and adults. Other activities included rock painting, hand painting by talented artist Miguel Blanco (who did an excellent rendition of the Huntington Matters logo), and information tables from several local libraries that shared their many programs and services.
The fun didn’t stop there. Attendees also enjoyed a variety of food trucks and treats throughout the day. The cheeseburgers were fantastic, and there was plenty to choose from, including popcorn, churros, sweet treats, and ice cream.
I could go on and on about each vendor and how wonderful they were, but due to space limitations, a complete list of participating vendors can be found in the photo section.
A special thank you goes out to all of the sponsors who helped make this event possible. Councilwoman Theresa Mari, her “right hand” Michelle Wright, and countless volunteers and supporters worked together to create a welcoming, inclusive, and memorable day for everyone involved.
If you missed it this year, don’t worry. Plans are already underway for the 3rd Annual All Abilities Expo next year.
We’ll see you there!
Whether you’re looking for support services, recreational programs, therapy options, advocacy organizations, adaptive equipment, educational resources or community connections, the vendors below represent a wealth of opportunities for individuals of all abilities and their families. Click through to explore their websites and learn more:
Able News, Adults & Children with Learning & Developmental Disabilities, Inc. (ACLD), All Abilities Bloom Together, Alternatives for Children, Babyfingers, Brain Balance Center, BT Orthotic Labs, Inc., Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck, Center for Developmental Disabilities, Clean + Comfort, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Crime Victims Center, Destination Accessible, Drum Beats Connection, Elan Dance, Elija Farm, Employability Consulting, Give a Dog a Dream, HART Bus, Heckscher Museum of Art, Huntington Fire Department, Huntington Human Services, Huntington Drug and Alcohol Counseling Center, Huntington Youth Bureau, If You Can Dream It Travel, Integrated Pain, John’s Crazy Socks, KidStrong, Live Through Rec., Long Island Speech, LTECare Plus, Mark Ingrassia – Special Ed Rising, Mac Bounce, Marty Lyons Foundation, Millennium, Mobility Works, More Than a Gym, Mr. Miguel Blanco, Nassau Suffolk Services for Autism, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), NikiVan.Books, Northwell Health, NY Fitness and Boxing, NY Healthcare, NY Therapy Placement Services, NYU Langone Health, Suffolk County Police Athletic League (PAL), Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, Path Travel Guide, People’s Arc of Suffolk, Positive Behavior Support Consulting (PBS), Positive Community Connection, Primerica, Rise Life Services, Sammartino Sultan Law Group, SNS Long Island, Sure Hands, The Social Lab, The Spirit of Huntington Art Center, Thivierge & Rothberg, Trene Creations, Trippr Corp., Turnstone ABA, Valerie Goldstein – “Violet’s Victory”, Valhallan Esports Training, Variety Child Learning Center.
Photography by Dana E. Richter, June Margolin and Diane Schaber.
