About

Adaptive Life Foundation is here to do everything we can to help support others and improve their quality of life. It started because a medical diagnosis that had our Founder Earl Claitt in the same position as over 35 million Americans who lead an adaptive life. So he decided to become an advocate and not a victim to help others like him by providing information and resources that would help.

In 1994 Earl was diagnosed with type II Diabetes Mellitus.  Going through his journey with diabetes, he was like many other newly diagnosed diabetics that did not take his diabetes seriously.  Earl was very active and played organized sports until he bought a motorcycle in 2003.  He stopped doing all organized sports activities from 2003 to 2015 and it was at that point his diabetes became uncontrolled.  He did not know that his diabetes was getting worse until his condition was complicated by the formation of ulcers on the bottom of his left and right great toes.  On December 14, 2015 he was evaluated in the emergency department and it was found that the great on the left was infected.  On December 15, 2015 at 3:05 am the doctors explained his situation and informed him that they would have to amputate two toes on his left foot.  The news was devastating but he knew he had to have surgery to save his life. The New Jersey native went into surgery at 3:15 am and came out later with his foot amputated. He also had to have two additional surgeries to get rid of a bacterial infection spreading throughout his left leg.  It was then he became a left leg below-the-knee amputee due to the complications of type II Diabetes.  As he recovered, the former golfer and active athlete had to endure some of most challenging and rigorous physical therapy regimens in his life. Forever the optimist, Earl wanted to turn things around for himself and formed the nonprofit organization called the Adaptive Life Foundation.  There Earl joined forces with other advocates, corporations, and community leaders to help raise funds and provide support for the well-being of adaptive life individuals.

While establishing the Adaptive Life Foundation, Earl became a peer counselor for Hanger Clinic and would visit new amputees in hospitals and rehabilitation centers providing critical information and emotional support. 

The Adaptive Life Foundation offers assistance with prosthetic procurement, community activities and activism, as well as provide a number of other services which will help individuals cope with the mental and physical challenges associated with living a full and productive adaptive life. Earl and his team are thrilled to offer programs, events and initiatives that broadened the horizons and knowledge of others. Their work will provide priceless experiences, encouraging words, boost confidence and improve the overall morale of those who are presented with this lifestyle. At the Adaptive Life Foundation, we say NEW LEASE...NO LIMITS and that's what we provide for so many. Please join us!