‘This is needed everywhere’: Refresh Vehicle Wows Crowd at Abilities Expo in Los Angeles

‘This is needed everywhere’: Refresh Vehicle Wows Crowd at Abilities Expo in Los Angeles

March 9, 2022

The Abilities Expo in Los Angeles provided an incredible amount of fuel for bringing options to venues in need of truly accessible restrooms for all people. We invite you to learn more about the reaction to the debut of our Momentum Refresh vehicle. Shout out to all the innovative vendors doing much-needed work of bringing accessibility ideas and products to the world. The future is bright.

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‘This is needed everywhere’: Refresh wows crowd at Abilities Expo in Los Angeles

As the first day of the Abilities Expo opened, vendors excitedly greeted early arrivers. Everyone seemed to be in a chipper mood. After all, this was the first Abilities Expo in two years. Cancellations and months of delays in 2021 finally came to an end. Dozens of vendors, all with unique ideas and products, lined the wide-open space in the Los Angeles Convention Center West Hall. Over at booth 127, we took advantage of every inch of space provided to us by organizers. We had so much to say about our organization, sharing the wonderful programs and array of choices available to children, parents, and families. But it was the Momentum Refresh vehicle’s time to shine.

The Refresh vehicle had been completed in November of 2020. But as the world grappled with the pandemic, the vehicle’s rollout needed to wait. Currently, two other vehicles are wrapping up construction and a fleet of three will be ready to roll later this summer to events where accessibility is needed (which is nearly everywhere). Tour after tour, visitors shared their excitement to finally see a solution to restroom inaccessibility. With the wide space, adjustable hoist lift, changing table, toilet and sink, several said they couldn’t believe it took this long for there to be a truly accessible restroom like this.

“Refresh is a game-changer”: How people reacted to the vehicle

Mark Hagen is Momentum’s Public Policy Director. His main duties at the organization include being a conduit with lawmakers and helping advocate on behalf of people with disabilities and medical conditions, as well as their families. Throughout the weekend, he provided tours to dozens of intrigued attendees. Here’s what he had to say:

The comments and excitement generated by Refresh far exceeded my already high expectations and confirmed my belief that Refresh is a game-changer. The enthusiastic public reaction demonstrated that Refresh is a very significant, innovative, and necessary resource for people with disabilities, their families, and support staff that, I believe, will be a catalyst for change by expanding our expectation of restroom access from “compliant” to truly “accessible”.

A mother explained that the lack of truly accessible bathrooms excluded not only her daughter with a disability from participating in many activities like fairs and theme parks but her sisters as well. “Family outings to most places simply are not possible because of a lack of clean accessible restrooms,” she said. “It breaks my heart that our family is missing out on so many memories because of lack of access to a basic accommodation…this opens up a world of possibilities for our family.”

A particularly poignant conversation involved a member of Team Triumph who said many veterans could not participate in their adaptive recreational programs. “Newly injured combat veterans are particularly reluctant to participate in these activities when they learn that they will not have access to a lift and adjustable table like that found in the Refresh vehicle – this needs to be at all events”.

“This year’s Abilities Expo in L.A. brought joy and a sense of community only felt at in-person events. After spending two years with almost only virtual interactions, being an exhibitor at the Expo was an exciting way for Momentum to share our new brand with people who previously knew our services as United Cerebral Palsy of Los Angeles.

During the pandemic, our organization had a metamorphosis of sorts with our new brand, expansion of services to support children and adults throughout their lifetime, and introduction of our Refresh restroom, which allows businesses to provide greater access with dignity to people who need assistance with personal care.”

– Amy Simons,

Momentum Chief Operating Officer

Momentum Creative shares advancements in adaptive tools and 3D printing capabilities

As the Refresh vehicle buzzed with excitement, the adaptive tools made in the Momentum Creative department caught the eyes of passersby. Aragna Ker, Momentum’s Curatorial and Adaptive Design Manager, encouraged visitors to try on the tools. That’s where the inquisitive turned into the astounded.

After nearly eight years, coming from DIY tools to now having the capability of five 3D printers, Ker has worked to get anyone who has a creative spark a chance to leave their mark.

Momentum is bringing adaptive tools to artists, including foot mounts to paint or draw and mounted attachments to allow for accessible photography. In the pediatric services, Ker is working with therapists to create sensory-friendly equipment. Textured insoles are customized for children who don’t like the feeling of the smoothness inside a shoe. These 3D-printed insoles can solve that. The department is also moving forward with a number of educational puzzle pieces for children.

We’re excited to build off the progress Ker and the team are making. You can see the work of the deeply talented artists Momentum helps support by visiting here.

Momentum Wheels for Humanity: Generating world-changing impact

With 26 years of global influence, Momentum Wheels for Humanity shared its mission and work with attendees. They build and strengthen rehabilitation services within health systems through training and capacity building, policy and standards development, and supply and distribution of wheelchairs and other life-changing equipment.

Meanwhile, Momentum Wheels for Humanity has worked in Ukraine for 25 years and since 2014 has provided support to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict. They have offered training in physical rehabilitation services to clinicians treating injured civilians, and direct support to internally displaced people with disabilities. This work continues and the needs will likely become greater and more urgent in the coming days and weeks.

You can learn more about the critical mission of bringing humans the gift of movement here.