June 1st, 2024 - 10am to 2pm - Venture North Parking Lot - Free Admission
Capable Con 2024
The Capable Crew are a bunch of everyday superheroes living with disabilities. The group’s mission is to celebrate the differences in our community and create a safe space to learn, share and promote inclusivity!
Join us on National Accessibility Week every year to celebrate our heros!! Admission to the event will be at no cost to all attendees!
Fun Activities! Learning! Draw Prizes! Inclusion!
National Accessibility Week 2024
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Please join us for National Accessibility Week (NAW), a celebration of inclusivity and empowerment for people of all abilities. Mark your calendars for an incredible lineup of events and activities designed to promote accessibility, awareness, and unity.
Media Release 2022
Ptbocanada – Council for Persons With Disabilities Launch Inaugural Capable Con
The Peterborough Examiner – Peterborough’s Council for Persons with Disabilities prepares for Capable Con
Global News – First ever ‘Capable Con’ will educate Peterborough community about persons with disabilities
Global News – Peterborough’s Capable Con prepares to raise awareness for both clear and subtle barriers to access
Download our Sponsorship Package to know more
Event Day Information
Location : Venture North Parking Lot, 270 George St N Peterborough
Date June 1 2024, Saturday
Time 10 AM to 2 PM
Call for Sponsorship
We are inviting Sponsorship from organizations and corporate bodies. Various sponsorship opportunities and branding rights are available to all potential sponsors who have a keen interest in education awareness about accessibility and inclusion.
Are you interested in sponsoring?
Thank You to Our 2023 Sponsors!
Our Title Sponsor
Capable Con Merchandise!
Match the Capable Crew in your very own merchandise!! Hats, t-shirts, sweaters, puzzles and stickers will all be available for purchase at the event!
Be the Hero! Donate and Transform Lives!
Help us create an inclusive and unforgettable experience for people with disabilities. Your donation will open doors, break barriers, and uplift spirits. Join us in fostering a world of equal opportunities and boundless joy. Donate now and be a catalyst of empowerment and joy.
Volunteer with us!
At CPD, we know our volunteers are the heart of our organization.
Are you an individual with a disability looking to give back? Are you a friend or family member of someone in the accessibility community? Are you passionate about helping people
Never volunteered before? Not to worry! We have different volunteer roles for the event, and training will be provided.
The Capable Crew!
Meet Traveller and Scout
When you see a person with a guide dog, have you ever thought about all the superpowers they need to get through the day? With limited vision, they need to turn to a series of tools and their senses to navigate every step.
Traveler is a composite character created out of the experiences of many Peterborough residents who live with vision loss. This person is just one of the Capable Crew, a series of local superheroes featured during CapableCon (like ComiCon) on Saturday, June 4.
This person teams up with their trusted dog Scout as they face the world with the motto: “Two feet, four paws, and the world ahead of us.”
Like most people, Traveler uses technology to make life easier. That includes a cell phone with voice activated messages and GPS. In addition, watch for the OrCam, a portable, artificial vision device that allows visually impaired people to understand text and identify objects through audio feedback, describing what they are unable to see or themselves.
Traveler’s best ally is Scout, whose intelligence, training and senses help find doorways and avoid tripping over uneven surfaces, like the height difference between the road and a curb.
“My tech helps me find my way, and Scout makes sure we get there safely,” Traveler says. “We walk, we ride, we don’t just stay inside. I see the world differently, but I like the world I see.”
They remind Peterborough residents, if you meet someone with a guide dog, “Don’t talk to the dog, talk to the person.” After all, they can answer any questions and tell you if you can pet the dog.
Also, Scout doesn’t want anyone to distract him when he is working really hard to keep Traveler safe.
In return, Traveler has their pockets full of dog-related items to take care of the canine companion by their side. They need dog treats, poop-scooping bags and a place to keep that
That’s one reason why Traveler carries an over-the-shoulder bag, since their hands are busy with the harness and other tasks.
Scout and Traveler are a finely tuned team who fearlessly get around the city by walking and by bus. They are active in the community and can do anything once they get their minds to it.
Meet Amanda Auriel
Riding her skateboard through the sounds of the city
If you are somewhere loud, you likely struggle to make out the words of people around you. Now, imagine living like that every day.
Amanda Auriel represents thousands of Peterborough residents who face – and overcome — this challenge. She is a composite character created to reflect the experiences of those who live with hearing loss. She is just one member of the Capable Crew, a series of local superheroes featured during CapableCon (like ComiCon) on Saturday, June 4.
Amanda rarely slows down to worry about how she hears as she travels around on her skateboard.
“You’d be surprised by the sounds you can see,” she says. She stays alert to alert to traffic and people moving around her with her eyes. “My world is quieter than yours and I like it.”
Amanda uses additional visual cues to communicate as well. In addition to American Sign Language, she reads body signals and lips to capture the words that don’t make it inside her ears.
“Emote more,” she advises anyone who wants to get their message across to someone with hearing loss. “Seeing your emotions helps me contextualize your words.”
She also reminds people that yelling doesn’t help. Instead, enunciate your words more clearly so they are better understood. Some people are not aware how much they mumble or speak too quickly, even for people with perfect hearing to get the full message.
“I value what you are saying so I may ask you to repeat yourself,” Amanda says. “I can’t always hear you, but I’m still a great listener. Seeing you speak helps me to understand your message.”
Like most people, Amanda relies on technology to tune in and talk to other people. She would prefer to receive and read text messages or emails compared to phone calls. While electronic devices have sound alerts, she counts on the buzzing of her smartphone to know when to pick it up.
“Good vibrations mean a haptic notification,” she says, referring to the vibration alerts targeted at her wrist and arm. That’s how she stays in touch!
Meet The Power Pals
These Power Pals have many superpowers! Introducing Capable Crew members Jamie and Jordan, also known as the Power Pals!
These twins are on the autism spectrum but they experience the world in their own ways. They often move through social spaces at times unnoticed, although they always look out for each other. Having a close friend or ally at their side helps them to overcome their fears. The puzzle pieces on their outfits reflect their extreme intelligence and need to have things neatly fitting in order. They are strong and vibrant people with much to offer their community. “I CAN do anything! Just ask me!” Jamie says. “Really, the sky’s the limit,” Jordan adds to remind people not to underestimate them.
They share many superpowers: hyperfocus, unconventional outlooks, pattern recognition, great memory, and recall. However, at times they struggle with the randomness of daily life since they like the order created by rules.
Meet Bionica Bot
She tumbles and recovers every time!
At first glance, you may notice what Bionica Bot doesn’t have: part of an arm and part of a leg. However, don’t underestimate what she does possess: the determination that pushes her to be active despite these limb differences.
Every amputee is a person first, with unique personalities and preferences, she reminds us. As an amputee, Bionica has to adapt every day, drawing on her determination, perseverance and resilience since it usually takes much longer and more effort to accomplish the same task a person with all limbs could do.
“I wish more people would focus on what we CAN do, not what we CANNOT do,” Bionica says. “If you can think it, you can do it.”
While she welcomes questions about why she has prosthetics, she knows others don’t want to talk about it every time they meet someone new. Some people are born without a full limb so they have grown up only knowing how to function with the extremities they have. Of course, others have lost an appendage in an accident, which they may not wish to discuss over and over again.
In short, treat Bionica like anyone else. Ask her about her hobbies (yes, she loves to talk about gymnastics) and her fashion choices. She loves to engage people in conversations to learn about their interests too.
Meet Cruze
A Name to Match His Sense of Adventure
Once Cruze had his wheels, nothing could hold him back. He finds his way around stores, streets and even parks, thanks to the design of his trusty chair. He retains his sense of fun, sometimes surprising people by saying, “The world is my playground. Want to race?” Never mind that he doesn’t use his legs to travel. The rugged wheels on his chair can ride over almost every challenge. The pivoting wheel at the front helps him turn on a dime when he hears a friend call his name. However, he wants people to know his chair is a tool, not his identity. Too often, people look past the person and underestimate what he thinks and what he can do. “I am not my disability,” he reminds them. “It is only a part of me.” Cruze has learned how to adapt and to solve problems that might baffle others who are new to his way of traveling. As a result, never assume that he needs a push or other help unless he asks for it. Also, please don’t lean on his chair since he could jump into action at any moment.
“Don’t judge a book by its cover. I am more capable than you think,” he says. “Obstacles are there to be overcome. Even though I travel in my chair every day, don’t assume I need help with obstacles.”
However, he does welcome valid questions about how he takes on daily tasks, as long as they come to him in an open-minded way.
“Inclusion is about communication,” he says. “Accessibility is for everyone. I can do anything you can do, and sometimes better.”
Watch for him zipping around, proclaiming, “I have a need for adventure, and nothing will hold me back!”