Adaptive Design Association

is honored to be named a 2026 Innovation Grantee and recipient of a $100,000 .

This transformative investment will allow us to expand our Adapt for Access program, reaching even more babies and toddlers with disabilities during the earliest and most important stages of development. Every adaptive solution we create is designed to unlock access, foster independence, and support families when it matters most.

Two weeks ago, Executive Director, Jenn Hercman, Grants Manager, Michelle D’Mello, Board Chair, Carole Gordon and Vice Chair, Lisa Yokana joined hundreds of women at The Big Give to witness the power of collective giving in action. Standing among 470 women committed to creating meaningful change across New York City was both inspiring and humbling.

We are deeply grateful to the members of Impact100 NYC for their thoughtful review process, their belief in our mission, and their investment in a future where every child has the opportunity to participate, play, learn, and thrive.

This recognition belongs to our entire community. Our families, volunteers, staff, board members, partners, and supporters. We could not be more ready to take on this opportunity and expand our impact together.

Thank you for believing in what’s possible.

Get ready for the opening of CARExDESIGN at NYCxDESIGN 2026.

Join Adaptive Design Association for CARExDESIGN: In Conversation — an evening of stories, space, and dialogue on why inclusive, person-centered design matters. Tour the studio, connect across disciplines, and hear reflections from 25 years of collaboration. Light refreshments served. Click the link in our bio to learn more about the event and reserve your spot.

🌺 Celebrating Mothers all month long 🌺

This Mother’s Day month, we honor the deep love, advocacy, and everyday care that families bring to this community.

Today, we are honored to celebrate Susan and her son, Charlie. Sixteen years ago, Charlie was measured for a custom desk made just for him . One of our staff captured this moment as he proudly sat at his desk.

Charlie passed away last July. He would have turned 18 next month. This is Susan’s first Mother’s Day without him.

And yet, in the midst of that grief, Susan reached back out to share this photo and video with us, reminding us how meaningful these adaptations were in Charlie’s daily life.

Swipe to watch Charlie in action.

Thank you, Susan, for allowing us to honor Charlie and share his story with our community this Mother’s Day month. Your love continues to ripple outward. 💛

Teacher Appreciation Week felt extra special as we welcomed educators from into our space for a hands-on workshop filled with energy, creativity, and big smiles.

Teachers rotated between cardboard carpentry and battery interrupter stations, building practical tools they can bring straight back to their classrooms. We also surprised a few with giveaways from our teacher wish list collection.

This is what community-based support looks like. Our special educators show up every day with creativity and heart to ensure students with disabilities have access to meaningful learning experiences and we loved the chance to pour a little of that care back into them.

Bringing tactile systems education into the school building is where our mission comes to life.

With support from the , we partnered with the incredible team at P226M to deliver a Tactile Talks workshop for a cross-disciplinary group of SLPs, OTs, PTs, and Special Educators.

Some educators in the room were veterans with experience using tangible symbol systems, while for others this was a first introduction. Bringing everyone together created an important moment to reconnect around the effectiveness and value of tactile communication, sharing reminders, new ideas, and practical ways to apply it across classrooms and therapies.

This is what happens when fabrication meets community building.

For over two decades, we’ve created tangible symbol cards for individual clients and classrooms. Through hands-on workshops like this one, that knowledge moves directly into the hands of the professionals who use them every day, right here in our neighborhood schools.

Huge thanks to the administration and staff for welcoming us in, to the therapists and educators who showed up ready to collaborate, and to our partners who helped shape a session.

This is how inclusion grows: teacher by teacher, classroom by classroom, student by student.

Happy to share our Tactile Talks series continues! Join Adaptive Design for a dynamic, end-of-school-year gathering that brings together educators, therapists, parents, and practitioners for a day of reflection and hands-on making.

Have you participated in an Adaptive Design workshop recently and been using tangible symbols in your classroom, home, or program? If so, this event is for you.

Participants can expect a highly interactive, hands-on experience that blends reflection, collaboration, and making.

Who should attend? Only those who have attended previous Tactile Talks Workshops with Adaptive Design, either at your school, a conference, or at our workshop. (There will be other introductory workshops coming up soon!)

CTLE credits are available.

Registration link in bio.