The City of Oak Ridge Disability Advisory Board, United Way of Anderson County and Periodic Tables are holding a unique event next month.

The event, Access Oak Ridge: Creating Communities For All Abilities, will take place on Saturday, October 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Oak Ridge Civic Center and Senior Center – giving participants the opportunity to learn, engage in and enjoy activities to help build livable communities for all. 

The fair will be a place for vendors to provide resources about services and organizations for people with disabilities and their families. It will also offer demonstrations and activities for a more interactive experience that invites members of surrounding communities to come and leave with ideas on how to plan their cities so that all can live, work, and play to their full potential.

“Because there has never been anything like this in Oak Ridge before, we got a positive response from people when we first began talking about the event in January,” said Marian Wildgruber, chair of the Access Oak Ridge planning committee. “The accessibility features that help people with disabilities also help our growing number of seniors, families with small children and those recovering from surgery, so it just makes sense to think about it.”

The event will feature demonstrations from wheelchair basketball players from the University of Tennessee, Smoky Mountain Service Dogs, and Sunshine Ambassadors Dance Group.  There will be adaptive outdoor recreation equipment to check out from Catalyst Sports, an impressive list of expert speakers on topics such as Aging in Place design, mental health, accessible travel, and much more.  A room devoted to Independent Living and Aging in Place will have displays on managing low vision, occupational therapy aids, Habitat for Humanity home renovations, and again, so much more.

An art exhibit by Oak Ridge students will be in the Civic Center as well as an art exhibit by Derrick Freeman, a well-known Knoxville artist with autism. Live music will play from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. outside under tents, with free lunches starting at 11 a.m. 

Kids are encouraged to come and participate in activities. There will be games, crafts and prizes.  Free KN-95 masks and plenty of hand sanitizer will be available. All lunches are brownbag and outdoor eating areas are plentiful.

For more information, please visit oakridgetn.gov/disability-advisory-board or contact Marian Wildgruber, City of Oak Ridge Disability Advisory Board Chair, mwildgruberdab@gmail.com, (865) 323-2877.