Blog

2026 is Adaptive Design Association, Inc's 25th birthday! We've been reflecting on all the adaptations we've made, the stories they tell, and our co-creators, some whom we've known all their lives and made 10+ adaptations for! How are we imagining our next 25 years? WITH YOU. Join us Friday, May 15th at < CARExDESIGN: In Conversation > 313 West 36th St at 8th Ave. Doors 5pm. Tour 5:30-6. Talk 6-6:45. QnA 6:45-7:30. RSVP required. Check out our IG stories and posts for most u

In Synshiana’s world, everything is better in pink. Not just any pink. We’re talking bold, unapologetic, "Barbie" pink. So, when the team at Adaptive Design set out to build a custom chair for this vibrant 12-year-old, there was only one color for the job. Synshiana is a student at PS 138M, and while her personality is bright, her standard wheelchair was creating a literal barrier. Because it sat lower than typical classroom furniture, she couldn't sit at a desk with her peer

Dear Friends and Community Partners, Each day at Adaptive Design begins the same way: stepping out of a very busy New York City and into a workshop that feels like its own ecosystem. The pace inside is both urgent and deliberately slow. Urgent because the needs are real and often time-sensitive. Slow because listening, truly listening, to a frustrated, hopeful, and deeply optimistic community requires care. The space itself tells the story. You walk in, and you are surrounded

There’s something powerful about standing shoulder to shoulder in a workshop, tools in hand, knowing that what you’re building will soon become part of someone’s daily life. Our Volunteer Build Nights were created to open that door wider. What began as a simple idea, more opportunities for people to meaningfully connect with our mission, has grown into a thriving monthly community. In response to requests for hands-on engagement, our board members stepped up to sponsor these

Join the #GivingTuesday Movement… Right Here in Midtown! This year, Adaptive Design is opening our workshop for in-person Giving Tuesday volunteer hours dedicated entirely to one mission: Edging tactile symbol cards to build our inventory so teachers can receive them at no cost. Every card helps a student communicate, learn, and engage more independently — and the demand from educators is growing fast. We need your hands, your focus, and your energy to help us meet it. The #