Welcome to CAA

Welcome to College of Adaptive Arts! CAA’s mission is to provide an equitable and lifelong collegiate experience to adults with disabilities who historically have not had access to higher education. CAA’s vision is to empower the student body to creatively transform perception of individuals with disabilities. Eager learners ages 18+ are welcome to enroll in this unique, lifelong learning model without any minimum or maximum age or participation limits.

Schools of Study

CAA offers 1-hour classes in 10 Schools of Instruction, offering a full liberal arts education that you will find at any campus of higher learning.

Visual Arts

Visual Arts
Business

Business
Communications

Communications
Dance

Dance
Health & Wellness

Health & Wellness
Leadership & Civic Engagement

Leadership & Civic Engagement
Music

Music
Science and Technology

Science and Technology
Theatre

Theatre
Digital Media Studies

Digital Media Studies

Schools of Study

CAA offers 1-hour classes in 10 Schools of Instruction, offering a full liberal arts education that you will find at any campus of higher learning.

Visual Arts

Visual Arts
Leadership & Civic Engagement

Leadership & Civic Engagement
Business

Business
Music

Music
Communications

Communications
Science and Technology

Science and Technology
Dance

Dance
Theatre

Theatre
Health & Wellness

Health & Wellness
Digital Media Studies

Digital Media Studies
Visual Arts

Visual Arts
Business

Business
Communications

Communications
Dance

Dance
Health & Wellness

Health & Wellness
Leadership & Civic Engagement

Leadership & Civic Engagement
Music

Music
Science and Technology

Science and Technology
Theatre

Theatre
Digital Media Studies

Digital Media Studies
Student Age Range 18 to 74+

18- 74 yrs+

Student Age Range 18 to 74+
Average Students Per Semester

210+

Average Students Per Semester
Class Seats Filled Per Semester

1000+

Class Seats Filled Per Semester
Total Class Registrations To-Date

3000

Total Class Registrations To-Date
Total CA. Regional Centers Served

10/21

Total CA. Regional Centers Served

News

CAA News and Press

In The News

Amplifying Silent Voices: A Higher Education Revolution | DeAnna Pursai | TEDxViikki

Amplifying Silent Voices: A Higher Education Revolution | DeAnna Pursai | TEDxViikki

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Reinventing College for Disabled Adults

Reinventing College for Disabled Adults

Dali Talks Podcast

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Kim: Expanding educational pathways for adult students with IDD

Kim: Expanding educational pathways for adult students with IDD

- San Jose Spotlight

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CAA Shares Program for Adults with Disabilities

CAA Shares Program for Adults with Disabilities

- Saratoga News

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Medicaid Matters: Supporting Alan’s Safe and Dignified Life

Medicaid Matters: Supporting Alan’s Safe and Dignified Life

- California State Council on Developmental Disabilities

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Class is back in session at College of Adaptive Arts

Class is back in session at College of Adaptive Arts

- Los Gatan

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San Jose Mercury News - September 3, 2025

San Jose Mercury News - September 3, 2025

Sept. 14 fundraiser set to support programs for disabled adults

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NBC Bay Area - September 2, 2025

NBC Bay Area - September 2, 2025

Funding cuts threaten college programs for adults with disabilities

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KRON 4 News

KRON 4 News

Bay Area College Empowers Adults Through Inclusive Education

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Forbes

Forbes

The Missing Pieces of America's Higher Education System

- Nicole Kim

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Adults with Disabilities Gain an Edge at College of Adaptive Arts

Adults with Disabilities Gain an Edge at College of Adaptive Arts

The lively Saratoga program serves students facing intellectual and developmental challenges - Los Gatan

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Saratoga nonprofit tees off for students with disabilities

Saratoga nonprofit tees off for students with disabilities

Golf Fundraiser for College of Adaptive Arts set for April 17 

-- The Mercury News

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Saratoga Non-Profit Tees Off for a Good Cause

Saratoga Non-Profit Tees Off for a Good Cause

College of Adaptive Arts will hold its annual golf tournament fundraiser April 17 at Santa Teresa Golf Club -- Patch.Com

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Student with disabilities, once bullied, now leads class in kindness at South Bay college

Student with disabilities, once bullied, now leads class in kindness at South Bay college

Bay Area Proud - NBC

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College of Adaptive Arts Empowers Students to Reach Their Goals

College of Adaptive Arts Empowers Students to Reach Their Goals

San Jose Mercury News WishBook 2024

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San Jose Barracuda Take the Ice for a Cause

San Jose Barracuda Take the Ice for a Cause

San Jose Mercury News

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Mama’s, Motors & Mother’s Day Tribute Video from our community partners at the School of Art & Culture at MHP.

Mama’s, Motors & Mother’s Day Tribute Video from our community partners at the School of Art & Culture at MHP.

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College of Adaptive Arts Welcomes Our New Executive Director, Nicole Kim.

College of Adaptive Arts Welcomes Our New Executive Director, Nicole Kim.

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Saratoga’s College of Adaptive Arts hires new Executive Director

Saratoga’s College of Adaptive Arts hires new Executive Director

San Jose Mercury News

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College of Adaptive Arts New Executive Director

College of Adaptive Arts New Executive Director

The Silicon Valley Voice

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Saratoga's College of Adaptive Arts on KTVU's ZipTrips

Saratoga's College of Adaptive Arts on KTVU's ZipTrips

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Adult Autism: Education Gap for Adults with Autism in Silicon Valley

Adult Autism: Education Gap for Adults with Autism in Silicon Valley

In Silicon Valley, adults with disabilities face challenges, including lower educational attainment (16.4% hold a bachelor’s degree or higher compared to 34.6% of non-disabled individuals), leading to a stark employment gap (17.9% vs. 61.8%), magnified by the competitive tech market. Additionally, less than 1% of housing units are wheelchair accessible.

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College of Adaptive Arts Students with Disabilities Gain Leadership Skills

College of Adaptive Arts Students with Disabilities Gain Leadership Skills

KRON-TV News Segment 4/4/24

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Major Pain Podcast

Major Pain Podcast

The College of Adaptive Arts Is Providing Continuing Education for Adults With Disabilities

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Success Magazine - How 3 Post-Secondary Programs Are Setting Autistic Individuals On a Patch to Success

Success Magazine - How 3 Post-Secondary Programs Are Setting Autistic Individuals On a Patch to Success

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Empowering Diverse Minds: College of Adaptive Arts' Trailblazing Journey

Empowering Diverse Minds: College of Adaptive Arts' Trailblazing Journey

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Santa Clara County setting up advisory board within disabled community

Santa Clara County setting up advisory board within disabled community

Santa Clara County is asking members within the disabled community to serve on a new advisory group focused on disability issues.

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College of Adaptive Arts co-founder DeAnna Pursai was recently selected as one of the profiles for the prestigious Human Atlas project.

College of Adaptive Arts co-founder DeAnna Pursai was recently selected as one of the profiles for the prestigious Human Atlas project.

Human Atlas projects are research-based, interdisciplinary explorations of the people of a specified geography. They are built on an extensive nomination process from a carefully curated group. These individuals profiled are championing and driving social impact in all its forms: from public servants to entrepreneurs, from non-profit leaders and activists to artists and scientists.

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Dr. Pamela Lindsay Selected as a 2024 AARP Purpose Prize® Award fellow

Dr. Pamela Lindsay Selected as a 2024 AARP Purpose Prize® Award fellow

National award recognizes people over the age of 50 who have had a positive impact in their communities

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Saratoga’s College of Adaptive Arts earns $2.2 million in state funding

Saratoga’s College of Adaptive Arts earns $2.2 million in state funding

Nation’s first special needs college to create educational model for campuses across country

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Congrats, College of Adaptive Arts you're a top-rated nonprofit!

Congrats, College of Adaptive Arts you're a top-rated nonprofit!

Your organization has achieved Top-Rated status for 2023 from your community on GreatNonprofits. You are among the distinguished few to receive this community endorsement. Keep up the great work! 

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Where Diversity thrives, Dreams come Alive with CAA.org

Where Diversity thrives, Dreams come Alive with CAA.org

Non Profit Stories Podcast

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Saratoga’s College of Adaptive Arts gets $250,000 from county budget

Saratoga’s College of Adaptive Arts gets $250,000 from county budget

Funds to be used for federally accredited apprenticeship program

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CAA is featured in the latest edition of DIVERSEability Magazine

CAA is featured in the latest edition of DIVERSEability Magazine

Reimagining Educational and Vocational Opportunities for Adults with Developmental Disabilities (page 71)

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College for disabled is adapting to success at Saratoga campus

College for disabled is adapting to success at Saratoga campus

The Mercury News

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Saratoga Non-profit Leader Honored as District 15

Saratoga Non-profit Leader Honored as District 15 "Woman of the Year"

Patch.com

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Senator visits College of Adaptive Arts

Senator visits College of Adaptive Arts

 Los Gatan Mention

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Santa Clara Weekly

Santa Clara Weekly

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CNN Heroes Social Feature

CNN Heroes Social Feature

CAA’s Oldest Student Bob Rahn

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CNN Heroes – April 2021

CNN Heroes – April 2021

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Mercury News

Mercury News

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Next City

Next City

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Exceptional Parent

Exceptional Parent

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KTVU-TV (Fox 2)

KTVU-TV (Fox 2)

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Student PSA

Student PSA

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Upworthy

Upworthy

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Good Day Sacramento

Good Day Sacramento

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Women at Work - Purdue Alumni

Women at Work - Purdue Alumni

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The Give Back Economy Spotify Podcast

The Give Back Economy Spotify Podcast

Listen to this episode from Give Back Economy on Spotify with CAA Co-founder Dr. Pamela Lindsay. The Giveback Podcast features over 100 interviews from social innovators from all over the world.

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Learning for All Abilities - ABC 7 David Louie

Learning for All Abilities - ABC 7 David Louie

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Reference Point - College of Adaptive Arts - Part 1

Reference Point - College of Adaptive Arts - Part 1

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Reference Point - College of Adaptive Arts - Part 2

Reference Point - College of Adaptive Arts - Part 2

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Localish

Localish

The College of Adaptive Arts opens new location at Saratoga's West Valley College 

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BayAreaLIFE: San Jose's CAA Continues to Grow and Thrive

BayAreaLIFE: San Jose's CAA Continues to Grow and Thrive

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BayAreaLIFE Storyworthy Segment - Learn about the inspiring college model

BayAreaLIFE Storyworthy Segment - Learn about the inspiring college model

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BayAreaLIFE: College of Adaptive Arts Professors Empower Students

BayAreaLIFE: College of Adaptive Arts Professors Empower Students

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BayArea LIFE: Local College Helps Adults with Disabilities Reach Full Potential

BayArea LIFE: Local College Helps Adults with Disabilities Reach Full Potential

South Bay college helps adults with disabilities reach potential

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1% For Good - College of Adaptive Arts

1% For Good - College of Adaptive Arts

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Bay Area Women Magazine: Meet Pamela Lindsay, Co-Founder/Dean of Instruction, College of Adaptive Arts

Bay Area Women Magazine: Meet Pamela Lindsay, Co-Founder/Dean of Instruction, College of Adaptive Arts

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Bay Area Women Magazine: Meet DeAnna Pursai, Executive Director, College of Adaptive Arts

Bay Area Women Magazine: Meet DeAnna Pursai, Executive Director, College of Adaptive Arts

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ABC7 StoryWorthy Commercial

ABC7 StoryWorthy Commercial

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OKLaw: San Jose’s College of Adaptive Arts delivering lifelong learning for adults with special needs

OKLaw: San Jose’s College of Adaptive Arts delivering lifelong learning for adults with special needs

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College of Adaptive Arts delivers lifelong learning for adults with special needs

College of Adaptive Arts delivers lifelong learning for adults with special needs

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College of Adaptive Arts CreaTV PSA

College of Adaptive Arts CreaTV PSA

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San Jose Mercury News: San Jose Dance Teacher Finds Calling Teaching Students with Disabilities

San Jose Mercury News: San Jose Dance Teacher Finds Calling Teaching Students with Disabilities

Latizmo helps San Jose teacher give students with disabilities strength

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The Three Tomatoes Blog: College of Adaptive Arts

The Three Tomatoes Blog: College of Adaptive Arts

SF LIFE: Gabrielle Union, College of Adaptive Arts, Cashmere, Corgis

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CAA 10 Year Anniversary White Board Animation Video

CAA 10 Year Anniversary White Board Animation Video

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San Jose Mercury News: Adults with disabilities learn to perform at college of their own

San Jose Mercury News: Adults with disabilities learn to perform at college of their own

Adults with disabilities learn to perform at college of their own

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Land of Milk and Honey Podcast: College of Adaptive Arts

Land of Milk and Honey Podcast: College of Adaptive Arts

#29-College of Adaptive Arts. This show is part of a 12 episode education series.

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# University of Illinois: Alumna Starts College of Adaptive arts to Make a Differing in the Lives of Diverse Learners

# University of Illinois: Alumna Starts College of Adaptive arts to Make a Differing in the Lives of Diverse Learners

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Arts Education for Everyone

Arts Education for Everyone

Painting, music, dance - anything you would expect to find at a performing arts college you can find at CAA - but they teach it in a way that allows people with differing abilities to comprehend, achieve and grow to their full potential.

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Adults with disabilities learn to perform at college of their own

Adults with disabilities learn to perform at college of their own

Members of the Children's Touring Puppetry Ensemble from the College of Adaptive Arts perform during a puppet show at the Morgan Autism Center in San Jose, Calif. 

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CBS BaySunday: College of Adaptive Arts

CBS BaySunday: College of Adaptive Arts

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College of Adaptive Arts in San Jose helps adults with special needs to get a higher education

College of Adaptive Arts in San Jose helps adults with special needs to get a higher education

College of Adaptive Arts in San Jose is paving the way for every special students to pursue a higher education

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Go inside the school offering adults with special needs the college experience they were missing

Go inside the school offering adults with special needs the college experience they were missing

San Jose, California (CNN)Growing up in rural Indiana, DeAnna Ellenberger Pursai and her sister, Angel, were constant companions and playmates. Only a year apart in age, they called themselves twins.

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College of Adaptive Arts Has New Location

College of Adaptive Arts Has New Location

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North Coast Medical Interview with Pamela Lindsay, Co-Founder, College of Adaptive Arts

North Coast Medical Interview with Pamela Lindsay, Co-Founder, College of Adaptive Arts

College of Adaptive Arts, furthering education and therapy compliance

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CAA Blog

Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn't Find. CAA Story #4: Professor Danie Weaver.

By DeAnna Pursai • March 16, 2026
Danielle Weaver was a beloved Professor, Director of the School of Communications, and Scheduling Manager at College of Adaptive Arts for the past 13 years. She was a shining light and constant source of positivity, joy, and connection at our college. Danie joined CAA’s team soon after she watched her sister perform a CAA puppet show at Abilities Expo in downtown San Jose. The smile, joy, and encouragement she gave her sister made her a natural fit to be a professor at College of Adaptive Arts. Danie started teaching classes with overflowing love and commitment to her beloved Cardinals while we were holding them all over town, without an anchor campus site. She rose quickly to the role of lead professor while helping develop a brand-new School of Communications, and then became the Director of that foundational school of study in 2015. She created one of the most impactful nights in CAA’s history – the inaugural Communications Showcase - held at the Corinthian Center in downtown San Jose. That was such a special night, spent celebrating the abilities of our students and faculty and enjoying the spoken and signed words. She graciously mentored our staff member, Professor Anthony, to take over the role of the directorship of the School of Communications when she embraced our expansion challenges, providing cornerstone contributions through additional managerial roles. Danie will be forever remembered and celebrated for her kind spirit, her acknowledgement to "Always Honor the Introverts," her calm, non-judgmental demeanor, and the grace she extended to everyone. It was almost impossible not to be put in a good mood around Professor Danie – she just radiated joy, faith, and hope. She would often say that if you walked through her classroom, you might be inserted into a poem or story with the students. We also fondly retain her passions for fantasy tales and all things Disney. We could always look forward to enjoying such themes together in shared class experiences and personal conversations. Danie was an accomplished author and poet who had published her own book back book, Catching Teardrops – a personal collection of poetry created during and about her journey with cancer just one year after her marriage. We lost her way too soon from this disease at way too early of an age. She impacted so many lives and was a true 'Mountain Mover' within her school and community. She will forever remain a beloved and cherished core member of our College of Adaptive Arts Super Staff.

Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn't Find. Story #3: ED Nicole & her son Said

By Nicole Kim • March 9, 2026
When my son, Saïd, was born, we discovered he had Down syndrome. I was 21 years old at the time, and I hadn’t done prenatal testing because it was considered a “low-risk” pregnancy. Suddenly I found myself sitting in doctors’ offices and hearing professionals describe what they believed his future would look like. “He may never learn to read.” “His learning will likely plateau around age four.” “It’s unlikely he will live an independent life.” Those are frightening things to say to a young mother. Thankfully, I didn’t believe them. Instead, I chose to raise my son with the expectation that he would learn , would grow , and would live as full a life as he was capable of living . And he did. When the College of Adaptive Arts started in 2009, Saïd was 19—just the right age for college. We became part of the CAA community and never left. He took classes, performed in the community, and truly blossomed as a young man. Along the way he discovered that he loves theater. He also loves to sing. Don’t give him a microphone—you may never get it back. 🙂 Today, at 35 years old, Saïd lives with a roommate and a caregiving couple. He has a vibrant, joyful, independent life. And he still loves taking classes every semester. My own journey with CAA has been equally meaningful. For most of those years, I was a parent in the community. I soon joined the Board and became a professor. I taught classes like Speaking with Confidence and Joy of Baking , and eventually stepped into the role of Executive Director. But the belief that first guided me as a young mother has never changed. The belief I had in Saïd’s ability to learn, grow, and build a meaningful life is the same belief I hold for every student who walks through the doors of the College of Adaptive Arts. And something remarkable happens when you lead with that belief. Students rise to meet it. When we expect growth, they grow. When we expect contribution, they contribute. When we expect full lives, they build them. At CAA, we don’t define our students by limitations. We define them by possibility. And every semester, they remind us that possibility is far greater than anyone once imagined. -- Nicole Kim Executive Director College of Adaptive Arts

Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn't Find. CAA Story #2: Dr. Pamela Lindsay

By DeAnna Pursai • March 2, 2026
The Ties That Bind

Where the System Ends, CAA Begins: We Built the College We Couldn't Find. CAA Story #1: Angel E.

By DeAnna Pursai • February 23, 2026
College of Adaptive Arts is beginning a new weekly blog series featuring a story of a CAA student, professor, or parent/care provider each week. We hope you enjoy and can resonate with these stories. If you could comment and share with your networks to amplify this model, we'd be deeply obliged to you: Angel Ellenberger, sister to CAA Co-Founder DeAnna Ellenberger Pursai, grew up in Bluffton, Indiana alongside DeAnna in the 70's and 80's. It was a glorious childhood, full of love, joy, laughter, and sisterhood bonding. Angel was always quite social, and she was a hit wherever she went with the cheerleaders and the community. DeAnna came home from college one summer when Angel was in a postsecondary program (mandatory 18-22 extended years for students in the special education system). At the time, Angel was actively working with a job coach cleaning the desks at the local high school. DeAnna thought to herself, "Cool! That’s what happens to adults when the special ed students leave the school system." About one year to the date, DeAnna came back home to find Angel more than doubled her size and eating a bag of chips on the couch. She asked what had happened, and their mom said that the funding was cut for the job coach program and that Angel didn’t want to attend the one adult day program shared across their 2 rural counties – the only feeder option once you left the special education system. Angel did indeed end up going to the day program after she gained so much weight that she had congestive heart failure in 2000 and almost passed away. Needless to say, it’s been an arduous and tenuous endeavor. Angel is intelligent, perceptive, social, artistic, creative, and comedic. She needed a support system with more opportunities to socialize, learn, engage beyond coloring in local dime store coloring books for hours. That critical gap that Angel experienced sparked the seed of change, and together with her partner and friend Dr. Pamela Lindsay, College of Adaptive Arts was born. DeAnna and Dr. Pam built the college model they couldn’t find and so many around the world also could not find. To those people searching, CAA's message is, "We hear you, we see you, and we’re coming." CAA will not stop until it has garnered the support, awareness, and public and private levers to scale this lifelong collegiate model worldwide to become as widespread, welcoming, and accessible in the education space that Special Olympics provides so robustly in the sports and athletics space. CAA's revolutionary model is proving everyday that inclusive education is not charity; it is sustainable, transformative and a lifelong right.
CAA Blog