Adaptive Design Association

Adaptive Design Association At Adaptive Design we adapt or customize assistive devices. Some techniques include cardboard carpen

ADA envisions a day when adaptive design services are widely recognized as an indispensable resource for children and all people with disabilities; and customized equipment is being produced quickly, affordably, and locally.

❤️ SEEING RED and loving every bit of it! ❤️Today, we’re celebrating Impact100 NYC’s Big Learn and the incredible impact...
09/23/2026

❤️ SEEING RED and loving every bit of it! ❤️

Today, we’re celebrating Impact100 NYC’s Big Learn and the incredible impact their grant has had on Adaptive Design Association.

From bright red adaptive equipment to playful characters and personalized details, we believe equipment should feel like it was made for a child not just made for a child’s needs. 🎨✨

A favorite character, a favorite color, a little bit of imagination…these details can turn adaptive equipment into something that feels fun, familiar, and truly theirs.

And today is especially exciting because our Executive Director, Jenn Hercman, will have the opportunity to share more about how the Impact100 grant has been transformational for Adaptive Design Association for families of children 0-3.

We’re so grateful to Impact 100 NYC for believing in what we do and helping us turn access into possibility. ❤️

A big day of ideas, conversations, and new connections at the AI and Accessibility Summit ! 🤖♿️Tamara Morgan, Adaptive D...
09/23/2026

A big day of ideas, conversations, and new connections at the AI and Accessibility Summit ! 🤖♿️

Tamara Morgan, Adaptive Design Associate Director, joined the AI Opportunities for Accessibility panel alongside Franklin Mingzhe Li, I.V. Ramakrishnan, Kasey Walsh, and Tobias Weinberg.

And Phill Pezo, Adaptive Designer & Fabricator, took on the ultimate challenge: describe all of Adaptive Design in 30 seconds. ⏱️

Challenge accepted. Challenge conquered. 👏

We loved being part of a day bringing together researchers, practitioners, and community voices to think about the possibilities for AI and accessibility and how innovation can stay connected to real people, real needs, and lived experience.

So many shared ideas. So many new questions. So much to keep thinking about.

Thanks, Cornell Tech, for bringing us into the conversation!

Another Volunteer Build Night in the books! A huge thank you to our amazing board members for sponsoring this evening ea...
09/18/2026

Another Volunteer Build Night in the books!

A huge thank you to our amazing board members for sponsoring this evening each month and helping us create welcoming volunteer experiences for new and returning makers, with some delicious NYC pizza, of course. 🍕

Tonight, **109 tangible symbols were lined like pros!** In just a few weeks, these cards will become communication tools for children with complex communicAnother Volunteer Build Night in the books! 🙌

A huge thank you to our amazing board members for sponsoring the third Thursday of each month and helping us create welcoming volunteer experiences for new and returning makers—with some delicious NYC pizza, of course. 🍕

Tonight, **109 tangible symbols were lined like pros!** In just a few weeks, these cards will become communication tools for children with complex communication needs.

Way to go, NYC! ❤️



And now… the countdown to October’s Volunteer Build Night begins! 🛠️

Want to join us? Sign up through Eventbrite by visiting the link in our bio.

An amazing volunteer crowd lining like pros! Thank you for joining us at the workshop! Adaptive Design Association we ma...
07/17/2026

An amazing volunteer crowd lining like pros! Thank you for joining us at the workshop! Adaptive Design Association we make tangible symbols and our volunteer help ensure we have lots on hand for our amazing community of special education and teachers for the visually impaired.

Join us for next month’s volunteer build night! Link to register is up and linked in our bio.

maskingtape

Adaptive Design Association Inc. Executive Director Jennifer Hercman, the ADA Fabrication Team, and NYU Metro Center Dep...
07/17/2026

Adaptive Design Association Inc. Executive Director Jennifer Hercman, the ADA Fabrication Team, and NYU Metro Center Deputy Executive Director of Research and Evaluation Dr. Leigh McCallen attended the Deeper Learning New York conference hosted by Educator Edge at Ulster BOCES to co-present a session titled “From Cardboard to Community: Scaling STEAM Equity through Adaptive Design.”

The session focused on the expansion of ADA’s school-based programming for students with disabilities through the Exposure Lab, an initiative supported by The New York Community Trust to bring ADA’s cardboard carpentry instructional model to new classrooms without the requirement of a traditional workshop facility. Educators and school leaders learned how the Exposure Lab utilizes a mobile cart system and standardized materials, and participated in a “Make and Take” workshop to demystify the fabrication process and develop a tangible understanding of the skills and infrastructure required to launch a similar model in their school or district.

We also had the opportunity to tour the remarkable Ulster BOCES iPark 87 campus with Director of Career Pathways Programs Joseph Salamone. Joe shared the intentional thinking behind the facility’s design, from applying “LEAN” principles to creating flexible, transparent learning environments where every space has a clear purpose. Rather than designing around individual occupants, the building is designed around learning, collaboration, and the work itself. It was an inspiring reminder that thoughtful design—whether of a classroom, a workshop, or an adaptive device—has the power to remove barriers, spark innovation, and create opportunity for all learners.

What an incredible June Volunteer Build Night! 🍕✂️A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening of building,...
07/01/2026

What an incredible June Volunteer Build Night! 🍕✂️

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for an evening of building, learning, great conversation, and plenty of pizza. Together, our volunteers learned how to line tangible symbols like pros, creating blank tangible symbols that give teachers the opportunity to personalize each card for the unique needs, interests, and learning styles of their students.

Swipe through the carousel to see the amazing volunteers who made the evening so special. Every carefully lined card, every conversation, and every volunteer hour helps create more opportunities for meaningful communication and accessible learning.

Ready to join us next time? Registration is now open for our July Volunteer Build Night! It’s free to attend, and we’d love to build alongside you.

🔗 Register through the link in our bio.

A handshake represents a shared commitment to creating a more accessible New York.We’re grateful to our champions on the...
06/30/2026

A handshake represents a shared commitment to creating a more accessible New York.

We’re grateful to our champions on the New York City Council for working tirelessly on the NYC budget process to ensure nonprofits like Adaptive Design Association receive discretionary funding that helps turn ideas into meaningful impact.

Special thanks to Speaker Julie Menin, Gale A. Brewer, Council Member Carl Wilson, Council Member Shahana Hanif, Linda Lee and the entire Committee on Disabilities.

Swipe through to see the journey:
📏 Taking careful measurements during hands-on consultations with students, teachers, and therapists.
🤝 Collaborating in real time to understand each student’s unique needs.
🛠️ Our cart loaded and ready to deliver custom-built adaptive equipment in district 3.
😊 The best part—students using their new equipment with confidence, comfort, and joy.

This funding supported in-person assessments at P226M@33, where our team identified and fabricated custom adaptations—including an AAC device mount, floor sitter, activity chairs, wheelchair trays, and a corner seat. Every piece is designed to help students participate more fully in the classroom, work toward therapy goals, and gain greater independence.

Thank you to our City Council partners for investing in solutions that begin with listening and end with equipment that changes everyday life.

NYCNonprofits

A child should not need to wait for approval to stand and explore., we believe in prioritizing responsiveness over reimb...
06/03/2026

A child should not need to wait for approval to stand and explore.

, we believe in prioritizing responsiveness over reimbursability because development can’t be put on hold. The stander Leila is using has been beautifully painted in hues of grey, yellow, and purple but beneath that customized design is something very simple: cardboard.

Built with about $35 in materials, this stander is more than a piece of equipment it’s care, access, dignity, and possibility.

Every piece we make is designed and fabricated by our expert team in collaboration with children and their care teams and is always provided at no cost to families.

We’re continuing to expand our reach in early intervention across NYC, working to meet children where they are, when they need it most.

If you’re part of an early intervention network or rehabilitation center in NYC and are interested in partnering with us, reach out at [email protected].

What does adaptive design look like?Sometimes it looks like an adaptive designer sitting in a family’s living room, list...
06/03/2026

What does adaptive design look like?

Sometimes it looks like an adaptive designer sitting in a family’s living room, listening carefully to a parent describe a challenge they’ve been facing every day.

It looks like a therapist sharing insights from weekly sessions. It looks like a child showing us what they love, what motivates them, and how they move through the world.

Together, we collaborate to create something that is just right for that moment without months of waiting, without one-size-fits-all solutions. Sometimes it’s even painted in a child’s favorite color.

At , everything starts with listening and ends with something someone can actually use.

That’s why we’re so excited about the $100,000 Innovation Grant. This investment will help us scale our Adapt for Access program, bringing personalized adaptive solutions to even more babies and toddlers during critical developmental years.

Because every child deserves access. Every family deserves support. And every solution should begin with the people who will use it.

What does adaptive design look like?Sometimes it looks like an adaptive designer sitting in a family’s living room, list...
06/03/2026

What does adaptive design look like?

Sometimes it looks like an adaptive designer sitting in a family’s living room, listening carefully to a parent describe a challenge they’ve been facing every day.

It looks like a therapist sharing insights from weekly sessions. It looks like a child showing us what they love, what motivates them, and how they move through the world.

Together, we collaborate to create something that is just right for that moment without months of waiting, without one-size-fits-all solutions. Sometimes it’s even painted in a child’s favorite color.

At Adaptive Design, everything starts with listening and ends with something someone can actually use.

That’s why we’re so excited about the $100,000 Innovation Grant. This investment will help us scale our Adapt for Access program, bringing personalized adaptive solutions to even more babies and toddlers during critical developmental years.

Because every child deserves access. Every family deserves support. And every solution should begin with the people who will use it.

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New York, NY

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+12129041200

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