Grant expands disabilities services for young children, opens new ADAPT Shop Family Resource Center

Each year, more than 2,000 children in Arizona under the age of 1 are expected to be diagnosed with a developmentally-limiting condition like cerebral palsy or spinal muscular atrophy.

Thanks to a $100,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities, more of Arizona’s young children with these types of severe disabilities will be able to receive the support they need at Southwest Human Development’s ADAPT Shop.

The ADAPT Shop is a unique facility where parents can bring their young children with disabilities to receive customized products and support devices. A physical therapist works with each family in their home or at the ADAPT Shop to determine what equipment would be most helpful – such as custom foam seating and mobile scooters – and products are then designed and built based on the child’s individual needs.

“We are so grateful for the generous support of Thunderbirds Charities,” said Ginger Ward, CEO of Southwest Human Development. “This commitment helps us continue providing this incredible and much-needed resource for Arizona’s young children and families, expand the ADAPT Shop’s work space and create an on-site family resource center.”

Children who can benefit from the ADAPT Shop include those with cerebral palsy, spinal muscular atrophy, Down syndrome, seizure disorders and a variety of other conditions.

“The ADAPT Shop has opened up our world to possibilities that we weren’t able to see and we’ve been able to do things that we weren’t able to do before,” said Heather Magdelano, a mother of two who both have a rare disorder that impacts their sight, hearing and muscle development. “They’re now able to sit upright and interact with others thanks to the ADAPT Shop’s support and their vision.”

Since opening in 2011, the ADAPT Shop has helped more than 300 young children who have disabilities that keep them from being able to fully participate in everyday activities at home, with their friends and at school.

“As Thunderbirds, we work hard all year planning and executing the Waste Management Phoenix Open,” said Thunderbirds Big Chief Tom Altieri. “The real satisfaction, though, comes from the ability to give back to so many great organizations such as Southwest Human Development for their ADAPT Shop. It makes everything we do feel so worthwhile.”

For more information about Southwest Human Development’s ADAPT Shop, please call (602) 633-8686 or visit swhd.org/ADAPT.