Aquarium of the Pacific’s 17th Annual Festival of Human Abilities Features Performances and Art Classes for Everyone

January 3, 2020

At the Festival of Human Abilities, visitors can watch performances and learn unique adaptive skills taught by artists and other experts with disabilities. Featured at the festival are hip-hop wheelchair dancers, a sign language choir, a guitarist who is blind, and other inspiring performing artists. Along with these music and dance performances, the Aquarium will feature art demonstrations and displays by local artists with disabilities. Cody Unser will present adaptive SCUBA demonstrations to show that people of all abilities can enjoy this therapeutic sport.

A variety of free creative workshop classes will be held on site, lasting thirty to forty-five minutes per session. Participants will have the opportunity to learn to sing in sign language, create wheelchair art, paint a hat, and try hip-hop wheelchair dancing. All major programming will have sign language interpreters for guests who are deaf, and the Aquarium will provide visitor guides in braille and audio tours for guests who are blind.

Guests who would like closed captioning to accompany the new multisensory film in the Honda Pacific Visions Theater can now use Moverio smart glasses provided by Epson. These glasses are launching during the Festival of Human Abilities. In addition, guests who are deaf or blind can request Ultraleap devices, which use ultrasound waves to create the sensation of touch in mid-air, for use in the Honda Pacific Visions Theater. Shapes and movements that correspond to the film will be felt on the hand of the person using this device. The smart glasses and Ultraleap devices can be checked out at the Aquarium’s Information Desk free of charge.

WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, January 25-26, 2020, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

WHERE: Aquarium of the Pacific, 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802

COST: Free to Aquarium members and included with general admission for the public General admission: $34.95 adult (12+), $31.95 senior (62+), and $24.95 child (3-11)

SPONSOR: Courtyard by Marriott Long Beach Downtown

INFO: (562) 590-3100 or http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/events/info/festival_of_human_abilities/