Inside Abilities Expo: Connection, Resources, And Real Stories

The roar of wheelchairs on polished concrete. New tech that solves old problems. Strangers who feel like friends in under five minutes. From the floor of Abilities Expo Dallas, we sit down with Kristina Rhoades—exhibitor liaison, long-time attendee, and lifelong wheelchair user—to explore how a single weekend can recharge purpose, expand access, and remind you you’re not alone.

We dig into what makes Abilities Expo a keystone for the disability community: forty-plus years of consistent presence, seven U.S. cities, and a living marketplace of adaptive gear, services, and ideas. Kristina shares her path from an injury at ten months old to building a life filled with love, work she cares about, and a tight-knit creative town in New Mexico. Her perspective cuts through pity narratives and lands on agency: happiness is a choice we make daily, even when the past keeps knocking.

We also trace our own journey—from a military-track car accident to a first Expo visit in 2018, then a leap of faith in 2021 to host a booth that grew our community from 8.8k to 90k. The throughline is simple: proximity accelerates progress. Being in the room—or the aisle—puts you in reach of mentors, better equipment, travel hacks, and friendships that lift your ceiling. We swap plans for Chicago and Long Beach, talk hometown dreams, and balance heavy truths with humor, because resilience is both muscle and music.

If you’re navigating disability, caregiving, or allyship, this conversation offers practical insight and emotional oxygen. You’ll hear why events like Abilities Expo aren’t just showcases; they’re engines of momentum where stories and solutions meet. Tap play, share it with someone who needs a boost, and leave a review so more people can find this show. And if you’re headed to a future Expo, come say hi—we’ll be the ones chasing connection and cheering for your next chapter.

Transcript

Energy Of The Expo

SPEAKER_02 0:00

I I love these events. Um, I'd love to be here. I love the energy. I love being able to connect with our community and kind of just getting that fuel to go back out into the world and conquer what we need to conquer. Uh, but I feel like we all come together here and just make magic.

Hosts Arrive In Dallas

SPEAKER_01 0:16

What's up, guys? It's Squad Father and Life to the Maddox, and we're back at it again at the Ability Sun Expo. This time in Dallas. Please enjoy this Life to the Max because a couple of months all trying to get by.

SPEAKER_00 0:29

Just a couple of teas, I'll try to survive. Live to the max. Don't live it twice. Couple green thumbs all height.

SPEAKER_01 0:41

And welcome back to another episode of Life to Max Podcast. We are here at the Abilities Expo in Dallas, Texas. I drove 19 hours to be here, and I'm here with Christina. Hi Christina, hi. It's a pleasure to meet you, and you guys do amazing work with the Abilities Expo.

SPEAKER_02 1:04

Thank you so much. I really appreciate you having me on.

SPEAKER_01 1:06

Yeah. Yeah. Um, so it's gonna sound kind of weird, but what what do you do? What do you do here?

SPEAKER_02 1:14

Um, I help exhibitors um get booths here at Abilities Expo. So I work in sales. Oh, okay. Um, I think probably most of your audience is familiar with what the Abilities Expo is, but I'd be happy to share a little bit more if they're not.

SPEAKER_01 1:29

Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I think we we have a British lady, I forgot her name, uh, but she uh she was on the podcast. Uh but yeah, you could fill it in.

What The Expo Offers

Christina’s Injury And Purpose

SPEAKER_02 1:41

Yeah, Katie probably shared with you guys. Um it's uh the premier expo um in the US for people with disabilities, obviously. Uh it's going, it's been going for over 40 years. Uh we currently have seven cities that we attend or you know, have an expo in across the nation. Um, and we just host the latest products, services, resources for the disability community. Um, I've been coming to these shows. Uh I have a spinal cord injury myself. Um, I got hurt when I was 10 months old. So I've been rolling, I'm 42 now, so I've been rolling a long time.

SPEAKER_01 2:19

Holy crap.

You’re Not Alone

SPEAKER_02 2:20

Um and I've been coming to Abilities Expo in one um way, shape, or form for 20 years now. Really? And I just I I love these events. Um I love to be here. I love the energy. I love being able to connect with our community and kind of just getting that fuel to go back out into the world and conquer what we need to conquer. Uh, but I feel like we all come together here and just make magic and um find resources and and network with like-minded connections. And yeah, it's special.

Host’s Accident And Journey

SPEAKER_01 2:52

What I what I've loved when I talk to people on the podcast a few like few times is um you're not alone. I mean, like when you feel alone in your house, like there's a bunch of people like this, and uh I've been like this for nine years. I was in a car accident when I was in the military. I was first airborne division and about to uh be uh about to train to be a ranger, and like just like probably go special forces. That was my goal, and then I got into a car accident, I was not driving, and I was on my way home for uh Easter uh for my birthday, actually. My birthday was uh March 21st, and I my accident was March 24th. So uh and I like uh listened to the 911 call and I was like, holy crap, I was dying during this surreal, you know, and then nine years later I'm here at the Billy's Expo with my people.

SPEAKER_02 4:00

Yeah, lifting people up and sharing their stories and yeah, it's pretty awesome that you're here right here with us.

First Expo Visit To Building A Booth

Growth And Heading To Dallas

Future Shows: Chicago And Long Beach

SPEAKER_01 4:08

Yeah, yeah, it's it's an amazing feeling. And uh I uh at first like I went to the Billy's Expo in 2018, and like I I was like, okay, so this is this is funny, I guess. But then like I started Life Some Accident in 2021, and my mom was like, you need to get a booth at the ability XO, you need to get a booth at the Ability XO. And I was like, okay, fine, we'll do it. So we did it and it was a success. We uh went from 8.8,000 subscribers to 90. Wow, yeah. Awesome. So like success, like it was great, and I was like, you know what, let's go to Dallas. Like, uh yeah, I didn't know how far Dallas was, but so let's go to Dallas. So we brought all that stuff over here. We went to Dallas, and now I'm talking to you, Christina. It's uh and Billy's explosive, amazing place.

SPEAKER_02 5:11

Cool, and uh what are you gonna attend in 2026? Uh Chicago, obviously. Do you plan on going to any other shows?

SPEAKER_01 5:19

I want yes, Chicago. Um, I uh do you guys do San Diego?

SPEAKER_02 5:24

Uh no, Long Beach. We'll be in Long Beach in March.

SPEAKER_01 5:27

So I want so my birthday is March 21st. That's like perfect timing.

SPEAKER_02 5:32

So I could probably it's the 27th through the 29th, so you might have to stay around and hang out at the beach for a few days and then come to the expo.

SPEAKER_01 5:40

27th is I could swing that maybe, but uh definitely should Chicago. All right. I might want to make it to one of your Florida locations. I think Tampa is one.

SPEAKER_02 5:52

We'll be in Orlando in 2026. Orlando, yeah.

Orlando Plans And Hometown Dreams

SPEAKER_01 5:56

Yeah, super uh excited for that. And so hopefully I can be a headliner or uh in my hometown of Chicago. That would be an amazing feeling. But uh, you know, like that's in the future. We'll see what happens. Cool, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 6:14

No, we'll make sure to get the word out for you in your hometown.

Christina’s Story: Domestic Violence

SPEAKER_01 6:16

Yeah, yeah. Uh you said you got injured well at 10 months old, right?

SPEAKER_02 6:21

Yep, ten months old.

SPEAKER_01 6:23

What exactly happened?

SPEAKER_02 6:25

It was a result of domestic violence. So it was um uh my my real dad, my biological dad. Um, yeah, it was domestic violence. It's hard to to talk about because uh just because I don't remember it. So um I used to tell people growing up that it was a car accident because it was just easier to say. You know, when I'm a teenager, I don't want people to feel all sad for me or want to know the gory details, you know. So I'd just say something easy. Um and I don't remember, you know, anything happening. I'd all I can remember is always being in a chair and being a pretty happy kid and living my life. And um, you know, I'm I'm married and have a 14-year-old daughter today and get to travel. And so I consider myself pretty lucky. That was just a little bit of a sad part of the beginning of the story, but yeah.

Choosing Hope And Self Love

Radio Days And A Favorite Quote

SPEAKER_01 7:16

That's why I love about like talking to people like you. What I love about this is like I can be in anybody's ear right now, and I can just say, like, you know, it could be worse, and it's gonna get better. Yeah, it will get better. Life is like a precious thing, you'll only get it one, you know. So it's beautiful. So, like don't uh waste your time with this person, like you know, focus on yourself, you know, love yourself, and uh love life. Like that's that that's my philosophy. Like you have to suffer to succeed, and you know.

SPEAKER_02 7:56

Yeah, one of my favorite uh quotes I'd like to end. I used to have a radio show um myself, and I used to end every radio show with happiness is yours to choose or reject, so embrace it.

Life In New Mexico

SPEAKER_01 8:09

That's great. Well, you had a radio show.

SPEAKER_02 8:11

Yeah, I ran a college radio station a little north of Atlanta, Georgia, called Bernau, as WBCX was the radio station. So I I would did some on air stuff, produced some shows, and yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:23

Which are you from? Oh, I don't know.

SPEAKER_02 8:25

Uh no, we live in New Mexico now. New Mexico. Yeah, a little town called Truth or Truth or Consequences is the town we live in. Yep, no lie.

SPEAKER_01 8:37

Truth or consequences, yeah. Uh I you go as go pass that city. Yeah, I live in truth and consequences.

SPEAKER_02 8:47

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:48

Are people nice there?

SPEAKER_02 8:50

Yeah, right. I my community is. I'm sure there's nasty people anywhere, but yeah, I we have a cool little like artsy town. It's a small town, like 5,000, 6,000 people, I think. And my husband's the head brewer of the only little brewery there.

SPEAKER_01 9:05

Why New Mexico?

SPEAKER_02 9:07

Uh kind of a long story. We lived we're both from California. Um, went out to Georgia for about 10 years and just wanted to make it back west. We're more West Coast people. So um, yeah, we just found a spot that we really liked and some property and moved out there kind of on a whim.

SPEAKER_01 9:28

Where are you from California?

SPEAKER_02 9:30

Uh Northern California, Modoc County. It's where my husband and I were both born and raised.

SPEAKER_01 9:34

That's awesome. So you guys high school sweetheart. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 9:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:39

So he's been with you chair through.

Pageants, Humor, And Representation

SPEAKER_02 9:41

Yeah, he's never known me any other way, and we've been were best buddies in high school, and then you know, started dating when we were like 21. Did you win prom Queen? Uh no. No, I I was up for up for homecoming queen, but I didn't win. No, I was Miss Wheelchair California in 2005.

SPEAKER_01 10:02

Well, California's a huge state. Uh I mean is there Mr. Wheelchairs? No, but there should be. I mean, I just got hairplugs.

Closing Gratitude And CTA

SPEAKER_02 10:12

Yeah. I swear. Okay, yeah. And we better hurry up and get the program started so you can you can be the the first one, Miss Mr. Wheelchair Illinois. Oh yeah, that'd be great. Yeah. All right, buddy. I gotta keep on rolling the show, but thank you so much for chatting with me. And um, I uh all obviously like follow along.

SPEAKER_01 10:32

I'm on Insta and TikTok and all the things, so I usually say I usually say take a breath before me, you know, because I can't but you actually took my breath away today. So I appreciate you uh being on the podcast. Is there anything you would like to say to the people out there who's having a bad day, having a good day?

SPEAKER_02 10:55

You know, I just want to echo your sentiment to just keep going. Um, this life is complex and challenging and beautiful and diverse. And I just am happy to be here and to meet you today and keep listening to Life to the Max because this podcast sounds like a great avenue uh to connect with cool people.

SPEAKER_01 11:16

Thank you. Thank you so much, Christina. And hey guys, if you liked this content, please like, comment, and subscribe. And as always, take a breath for me. Or uh you took my breath away. Christina, thank you.

SPEAKER_00 11:30

Thank you. Never really trimming, try my best to stay focused. I try to keep it cool. Are you lames? Keep it bogus. Ahead on a scribble, looking out for the locust. I'm Monsanto's trying to dive my ponies. Am I the next best thing? Well, I think I'm the closest.