ADA’s work is rooted in the spirit of "appropriate technology," an approach used extensively by technical assistance organizations in developing countries to solve problems through the design and application of cost-effective and practical solutions. Appropriate Technology stems from the work of the British economist Dr. Fritz Schumacher, author of Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered. (http://journeytoforever.org/at.html)

Appropriate technology ensures sustainability by drawing on the skills and expertise of the target beneficiaries—a practice that is imperative to the successful design and implementation of adaptive equipment. At ADA we use the guiding principles of appropriate technology to create effective, low-cost, and durable equipment that meets the specific needs of each child.