Kidz to Adultz gears up to showcase mobility equipment and services at upcoming event
Disabled Living, organisers of the Kidz to Adultz exhibitions, have announced that its upcoming event in the Midlands in March will offer one of the first opportunities since 2020 for visitors to try out mobility equipment.
More than 100 exhibitors and 1200 visitors are expected to attend the free-to-attend Kidz to Adultz Middle exhibition at Coventry Building Society Arena on Thursday, March 17.
It will be the 12th time the show has been hosted at the Coventry venue. The exhibition showcases equipment and services for children and young people with additional needs, their families, carers and the professionals who support them.
Organisers of the Kidz to Adultz Middle exhibition say this will be one of the first opportunities since 2020 to try out equipment, and get a feel for if it is right for a family member or young person cared for.
Exhibitors will be providing expert advice and guidance on topics including mobility, funding, seating, beds, communication, continence, sensory, transition, education, housing, employment, accessible vehicles, transport, style, sports, leisure and more.
A comprehensive free programme of CPD accredited seminars will be held at the exhibition, covering topics including toileting issues, autism, transition, seating and more.
Carmel Hourigan, Senior Manager of the Kidz to Adultz team at Disabled Living, said: “It is fantastic to be back hosting physical events and returning to the Midlands for the first time in two years.
“Over the course of pandemic the needs of thousands of young children with disabilities across the Midlands have changed so this year’s event will have even more resonance.
“While the industry has pivoted where possible to digital during the pandemic, it is clear that professionals, families and carers are desperate to get back to in-person events.
“You can always get advice over the phone but it’s important to actually see equipment and be able to test it. If you are buying a bed for a child who has cerebral palsy, you need to make sure they can fit, be happy and are safe in that bed. You cannot do that virtually.
“A big issue facing the industry is that for two years this type of physical testing has been largely impossible and therefore thousands of young children haven’t been able access the equipment they need during the transition period to being a young adult.
“We have seen fantastic growth of this event at Coventry Building Society Arena and after one year away due to the pandemic we are excited to be back.
“The venue is centrally located and helps us to attract visitors from across the wider Midlands region, including Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and further afield.”
Kidz to Adultz Middle has grown significantly since it was first held at Coventry Building Society Arena in 2009, with the first event attracting 70 exhibitors and 1,400 visitors.
Paul Michael, Commercial Director at Coventry Building Society Arena, added: “Kidz to Adultz is the perfect example of why hosting physical events is still vital in an increasingly digital environment.
“The face-to-face events provide value that simply wouldn’t be possible through a digital exhibition. We are proud to have worked with Kidz to Adultz and Disabled Living for more than a decade and help to provide a platform to an exhibition that provides a vital service to people across the Midlands.”
