Adaptive Design Association Inc

TO RESPOND TO DISABILITY BY DESIGNING AND BUILDING CUSTOM ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT, AND PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IN CARDBOARD CARPENTRY AND ADAPTIVE DESIGN PRINCIPLES, TO ADVANCE ACCESSIBILITY AND INCLUSION IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

ADAPTIVE DESIGN USES AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO DISABILITY SERVICES. WE DESIGN AND BUILD CUSTOM ASSITIVE EQUIPMENT (ADAPTATIONS) USING EASILY-ACCESSIBLE MATERIALS LIKE CARDBOARD AND WOOD, AND TEACH COMMUNITY PARTNERS HOW TO DO SO. EXAMPLES OF ADAPTATIONS INCLUDE A CUSTOM EASEL,ARMREST, AND BRUSH GRIPS FOR A 14-Y-O ARTIST WITH A DEGENERATIVE GENETIC DISORDER, A DINING-CHAIR WITH NECK AND TORSO SUPPORTS SO A 5-Y-O SURVIVOR OF A DRUNK-DRIVING ACCIDENT CAN SHARE MEALS WITH HER MOTHER, AN ABOVE-THE-BED CUSTOM SUPPORT BAR SO AN ADULT WITH DISABILITY CAN TRANSFER IN AND OUT OF BED INDEPENDENTLY, AND AN ADAPTED GAS-PEDAL FOR A 5-Y-O GIRL WITH CEREBRAL PALSY SO SHE CAN DRIVE HER RIDE-ON TOY CAR WITH A HEAD SWITCH. OFTEN WE ARE A FAMILY'S LAST RECOURSE, WHEN THEY RUN INTO TWO COMMON BARRIERS-THE DEVICE IS UNAVAILABLE IN A CATALOG, OR INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER IT. WE DESIGN AND BUILD ITEMS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. NO ONE IS DENIED A DEVICE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT PAY FOR IT. TYPICALLY WE SERVE 80-100 CLIENTS ANNUALLY, CREATING UP TO 200 COMPONENTS OF VARYING DEGREES OF COMPLEXITY. WORKING AROUND THE MANY CHALLENGES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THIS YEAR OUR FABRICATION TEAM WAS ABLE TO DESIGN AND BUILD 54 ONE-OF-A-KIND ADAPTATIONS (101 COMPONENTS INCLUDING HAND-SEWN HARNESSES, CUSHION SUPPORT, AND 3RD PRINTED FOOT GUIDES OR HEADRESTS)FOR 29 CLIENTS AND 35 MULTI-USER PIECES FOR SCHOOLS IN NYC. WE HAND-MADE 8,000+ TANGIBLE SYMBOL CARDS, AN ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATION TOOL FOR TEACHERS SERVING STUDENTS WITH HEARIG AND VISUAL DISABILITIES. REGULAR EDUCATION PROGRAMS CONTINUED IN HYBRID MODE, AND INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN 1,988 HOURS OF LEARNING EQUIPMENT FABRICATION, FINISHING, EVALUATION, AND GRAPHIC DESIGN SKILLS, CULTIVATING VALUABLE SOFT SKILLS LIKE COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING AND TEAMWORK. COMMUNITY MEMBERS INCLUDED MARGINALIZED, OFTEN OVERLOOKED POPULATIONS, INCLUDING YOUTH WITH AUTISM, RETIRED PROFESSIONALS, AND STUDENTS WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES - ALL WORKING TO BUILD AWARENESS AND APPROPRIATE ADAPTATIONS THAT CREATE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES. OUR TEAM ALSO HOSTED 20 VIRTUAL SITE VISITS AND FIELD TRIPS FOR 254 PARTICIPANTS. OUR FUNDRAISING EXPENSES SUPPORT THE WORK OF OUR PART- TIME GRANT-WRITER. ADAPTIVE DESIGN CULTIVATES INDIVIDUAL DONOR GIFTS THROUGH DONOR ADVISED FUNDS AND A WEB-BASED DIGITAL PLATFORM.

ADAPTIVE DESIGN USES AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO DISABILITY SERVICES. WE DESIGN AND BUILD CUSTOM ASSITIVE EQUIPMENT (ADAPTATIONS) USING EASILY-ACCESSIBLE MATERIALS LIKE CARDBOARD AND WOOD, AND TEACH COMMUNITY PARTNERS HOW TO DO SO. EXAMPLES OF ADAPTATIONS INCLUDE A CUSTOM EASEL,ARMREST, AND BRUSH GRIPS FOR A 14-Y-O ARTIST WITH A DEGENERATIVE GENETIC DISORDER, A DINING-CHAIR WITH NECK AND TORSO SUPPORTS SO A 5-Y-O SURVIVOR OF A DRUNK-DRIVING ACCIDENT CAN SHARE MEALS WITH HER MOTHER, AN ABOVE-THE-BED CUSTOM SUPPORT BAR SO AN ADULT WITH DISABILITY CAN TRANSFER IN AND OUT OF BED INDEPENDENTLY, AND AN ADAPTED GAS-PEDAL FOR A 5-Y-O GIRL WITH CEREBRAL PALSY SO SHE CAN DRIVE HER RIDE-ON TOY CAR WITH A HEAD SWITCH. OFTEN WE ARE A FAMILY'S LAST RECOURSE, WHEN THEY RUN INTO TWO COMMON BARRIERS-THE DEVICE IS UNAVAILABLE IN A CATALOG, OR INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER IT. WE DESIGN AND BUILD ITEMS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. NO ONE IS DENIED A DEVICE BECAUSE THEY CANNOT PAY FOR IT. TYPICALLY WE SERVE 80-100 CLIENTS ANNUALLY, CREATING UP TO 200 COMPONENTS OF VARYING DEGREES OF COMPLEXITY. WORKING AROUND THE MANY CHALLENGES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THIS YEAR OUR FABRICATION TEAM WAS ABLE TO DESIGN AND BUILD 54 ONE-OF-A-KIND ADAPTATIONS (101 COMPONENTS INCLUDING HAND-SEWN HARNESSES, CUSHION SUPPORT, AND 3RD PRINTED FOOT GUIDES OR HEADRESTS)FOR 29 CLIENTS AND 35 MULTI-USER PIECES FOR SCHOOLS IN NYC. WE HAND-MADE 8,000+ TANGIBLE SYMBOL CARDS, AN ESSENTIAL COMMUNICATION TOOL FOR TEACHERS SERVING STUDENTS WITH HEARIG AND VISUAL DISABILITIES. REGULAR EDUCATION PROGRAMS CONTINUED IN HYBRID MODE, AND INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN 1,988 HOURS OF LEARNING EQUIPMENT FABRICATION, FINISHING, EVALUATION, AND GRAPHIC DESIGN SKILLS, CULTIVATING VALUABLE SOFT SKILLS LIKE COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING AND TEAMWORK. COMMUNITY MEMBERS INCLUDED MARGINALIZED, OFTEN OVERLOOKED POPULATIONS, INCLUDING YOUTH WITH AUTISM, RETIRED PROFESSIONALS, AND STUDENTS WITH AND WITHOUT DISABILITIES - ALL WORKING TO BUILD AWARENESS AND APPROPRIATE ADAPTATIONS THAT CREATE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES. OUR TEAM ALSO HOSTED 20 VIRTUAL SITE VISITS AND FIELD TRIPS FOR 254 PARTICIPANTS. OUR FUNDRAISING EXPENSES SUPPORT THE WORK OF OUR PART- TIME GRANT-WRITER. ADAPTIVE DESIGN CULTIVATES INDIVIDUAL DONOR GIFTS THROUGH DONOR ADVISED FUNDS AND A WEB-BASED DIGITAL PLATFORM.