Let's face it, strapping on long, slippery boards and riding them down snow-covered mountains is not exactly a natural human act. Skiing is an exercise in adapting for everyone. Skiing generally isn't defined in terms of the equipment. Among the factors that determine an individual's normality are body mechanics and equipment. No two skiers ski exactly the same, because their variables make them different.
Some differences are just more obvious than others.
I believe it isn't any more accurate to describe adaptive skiing as equipment oriented as it would be to describe normal skiing that way. In such instances, the equipment provides a temporary mechanical linkage for integrating the variables, skills, and constants. Whether a skier sits down, stands on one leg or two, is visually impaired, or uses some type of modified equipment doesn't really matter. The essence of teaching adaptive skiing is not found in equipment, but in tailoring the curriculum to, and establishing the focus on, the adaptive skier's particular situation. Teaching adaptive skiing, like teaching any other skiing, requires instructors to use their skills, knowledge, and experience to adapt to the functional needs of the student.