People with disabilities, their families, and caregivers will have a chance to check out some incredible adaptive technologies at the Houston Abilities Expo at NRG Center this weekend. Innovators will be on the floor of Hall E to show off ways people with disabilities can lead lives of adventure with a variety of conditions and injuries.

“Not only does Abilities Expo provide access to new technologies and solutions to the daily challenges of the disability community, but it’s also fun,” says president and CEO David Korse. “Attendees can climb an all-inclusive rock wall using specialized climbing equipment, play adaptive sports, learn inclusive dance moves, enjoy service dog demos and more.”

The rock wall comes courtesy of paraplegic superstar outdoorsman Mark Wellman ofNolimitstahoe.com.He lost the use of his legs in 1982 during a climbing accident and has spent the last four decades pioneering techniques and technology to make adventure sports friendlier to people with disabilities. He made history as the first paraplegic person to climb El Capitan in Yosemite and has made a name for himself in kayaking and skiing as well.

His ”mini El Capitan” rock wall attraction uses rescue technology that Wellman has modified in order to get all kinds of climbers to the top. While a regular wheelchair athlete might tackle the wall with just their arms, there are also has harnesses, pulleys, and mechanical ascenders that can assist climbers. He has worked with everyone from quadriplegics to stroke victims with only the use of one arm to get them to the top.

“People love it,” says Wellman. “It’s a main attraction of the whole show. Sometimes people will wait an hour to do it because it’s something they can participate in. People with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, quadriplegia… if you have the desire to try to get on the wall, my crew can facilitate that. We get you to think outside the box and get you out of your comfort zone. When you’re 20 feet up there and it feels great, that might be your El Capitan.

Climbing is far from the only sport activity to get involved in at the expo. Wheelchair dance troupes from Dallas and wheelchair lacrosse exhibitions are on the schedule, as is a chance to get into wheelchair fencing courtesy of Houston Sword Sports.

Liz Mayerich has been in the fencing game for 20 years, and her dojo has been partnering with Abilities Expo for the last four to showcase how well fencing works with a variety of disabilities.

“It’s always been something we were interested in,” she says. “I can fight someone much bigger or taller than me and still be on a very even footing. It works well with people with limb disabilities.”

Mayerich explains that fencing was actually one of the first sports adapted to disabilities. During the 1800s, more soldiers were returning home from war having survived injuries that might have killed them in previous conflicts, including hand injuries from early gun technology. These soldiers still wanted to fence when they returned, and the pistol grip was developed to compensate for missing fingers or weakness in the hands and wrist.

That history of disability fairness continues in modern wheelchair fencing. Houston Sword Sports uses custom made rigs that hold the chairs in place for duels, which otherwise proceed as normal. When wheelchair users need a partner, abled-bodied fencers will spar by sitting in folding chairs, giving them a new perspective on the sport.

“Fencing is incredibly safe, wheelchair or standing,” says Mayerrich. “One of the things we want people to know is that they can do this. You won’t get hurt. It’s accessible to everybody.”

Jef Rouner is a Houston-based writer.