At ADA we are always adapting. After the initial shock of the current situation, our community rallied and we are redirecting our efforts to creating much-needed protective equipment for our clients and others on the frontline. As they work from home, our team is now sewing cloth masks and printing face shields to ensure our community members face no barriers to protect themselves and adhere to guidelines to help combat the spread of COVID 19.
We have heard from a number of you and know this is a challenging time. We applaud your commitment to safety while creating accessibility and want to remind you that the team at ADA is always in your corner. We are away from our workshop but this challenge has presented us with an opportunity to provide support to you from a distance. As you spend more time at home allow us to be a resource to troubleshoot physical accessibility in your space and for your children and clients.
On behalf of our board and staff, we wish you all wellness and safety during these extraordinary times.
Always Adapting Photo Gallery
Always Adapting Updates
December 1, 2020
COMMUNITY EVENT // SAVE THE DATE! ADA's Giving Tuesday virtual design challenge event promises to challenge your creativity, teach you cardboard carpentry techniques, and spark an 'I can do it' attitude. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Join the ADA team, on December 1st, 2020, for any (or all!) of three design challenge workshops, using materials you probably have at home. Don't miss this cardboard carpentry experience in adaptive making! There is no fee to attend. link to register.
November 24, 2020
ADA HIGHLIGHT // Adaptive Design Association's Executive Director, Jennifer Hercman, has been a long-time supporter of the organization DOROT Inc. When there was a shortage of PPE ADA stepped up to support DOROT's Homelessness Prevention Program. Newsletter Highlight and link for the interview on the synergy between DOROT Inc. and Adaptive Design.
November 16, 2020
COMMUNITY EVENT // Session led by Chris Russel of the Deaf-Blind Collaborative NY. A fascinating discussion about Tangible Symbol Cues.
November 14, 2020
COMMUNITY EVENT // Theaterlab hosts Round the Block! Highlighting the Garment District businesses as they finally begin to reopen. Adaptive Design is on the map! This was a celebration of the neighborhood's revival through a socially-distanced tour.
October 29, 2020
COMMUNITY EVENT // MOVIE NIGHT! In celebration of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Adaptive Design hosted a virtual film fest in collaboration with ReelAbilites Film Festival. Discussion and screening of; The Interviewer, Sock Guys, and Macropolis.
October 5, 2020
COVID 19 PPE // Clear masks begin to arrive at the workshop from sewists around the country who participated in the Sew Fest. We expect to distribute over 80 masks by the end of the month to local DOE hearing services providers, students, and families.
September 24, 2020
COMMUNITY EVENT // Virtual Sew Fest was sew awesome, with over 80 participants on zoom. Watch the zoom recording here: https://vimeo.com/461970450
Adaptive Design resource page now available: https://www.adaptivedesign.org/clear-masks
September 1, 2020
CUSTOM EQUIPMENT // Open the workshop back up to making custom equipment for clients and families who have been patiently waiting as we observe social distancing measures! Let's get making!
August 28, 2020
COMMUNITY EVENT // Virtual Sewing Fest save-the-date goes live. Sewists from across the world are uniting on September 24th to sew #clearmasks for a cause at the first-ever Virtual Sewing Fest! Share and tag #SEW4SMILES Register at bit.ly/VirtualSewingFest2020 and stay tuned for more info!
August 12, 2020
ADA HIGHLIGHT // CUNY TV x Adaptive Design Association. How does a non-profit not only survive but thrive in these trying times? Enjoy this 25 min powerful conversation. Jennifer Hercman, the executive director, joins Ronnie Eldridge, board member, on Eldridge & Co on the CUNY TV station to shine the spotlight on Adaptive Design.
August 10, 2020
COMMUNITY EVENT // Courses go virtual! We are now offering Workstation Ergonomics, Introduction to Seated Positioning, Transparent Mask Making, Make a Folding Desk virtually!
August 6, 2020
COVID 19 PPE // Thanks to our friends @TOM_NewYorkCity and alumni friends @NACKidsCan, we delivered another round of shields, cloth masks, scrub hats, and ear-savers to the ICU department at St.Barnabas Hospital, BRONX NY. @TikkunOlamMakrs
July 30, 2020
COVID 19 PPE // Thanks Rauschenbusch Metro Ministries@RMMnyc for continuing to serve our community. We are happy to help with providing cloth masks and shields for staff providing essential services. @CitizensNYC @WSCFgrants, thanks for bringing us together.
July 15, 2020
COVID 19 PPE // We now are making shields for DOROT's homeless prevention program. With over 500 protective items distributed to combat the spread of COVID 19 so far, we still have requests coming in. Your support today matters to our community health tomorrow. Click below to donate.
April 2020
COVID 19 PPE // began mailing out hand-sewn cloth masks to clients, therapists, and volunteers.