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.
18- 74 yrs+
Student Age Range 18 to 74+
210+
Average Students Per Semester
1000+
Class Seats Filled Per Semester
3000
Total Class Registrations To-Date
10/21
Total CA. Regional Centers Served
News
CAA News and Press
In The News
College of Adaptive Arts on "Today in the Bay" 3/18/26
- Copyright NBC Bay Area / NBC Universal
Amplifying Silent Voices: A Higher Education Revolution | DeAnna Pursai | TEDxViikki
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Reinventing College for Disabled Adults
Dali Talks Podcast
Kim: Expanding educational pathways for adult students with IDD
- San Jose Spotlight
CAA Shares Program for Adults with Disabilities
- Saratoga News
Medicaid Matters: Supporting Alan’s Safe and Dignified Life
- California State Council on Developmental Disabilities
Class is back in session at College of Adaptive Arts
- Los Gatan
San Jose Mercury News - September 3, 2025
Sept. 14 fundraiser set to support programs for disabled adults
NBC Bay Area - September 2, 2025
Funding cuts threaten college programs for adults with disabilities
KRON 4 News
Bay Area College Empowers Adults Through Inclusive Education
Forbes
The Missing Pieces of America's Higher Education System
- Nicole Kim
Adults with Disabilities Gain an Edge at College of Adaptive Arts
The lively Saratoga program serves students facing intellectual and developmental challenges - Los Gatan
Saratoga nonprofit tees off for students with disabilities
Golf Fundraiser for College of Adaptive Arts set for April 17
-- The Mercury News
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
Student with disabilities, once bullied, now leads class in kindness at South Bay college
Bay Area Proud - NBC
College of Adaptive Arts Empowers Students to Reach Their Goals
San Jose Mercury News WishBook 2024
San Jose Barracuda Take the Ice for a Cause
San Jose Mercury News
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.
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Saratoga’s College of Adaptive Arts hires new Executive Director
San Jose Mercury News
College of Adaptive Arts New Executive Director
The Silicon Valley Voice
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
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.
College of Adaptive Arts Students with Disabilities Gain Leadership Skills
KRON-TV News Segment 4/4/24
Major Pain Podcast
The College of Adaptive Arts Is Providing Continuing Education for Adults With Disabilities
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
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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.
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.
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
Senator Cortese Secures Funding To Expand College of Adaptive Arts
Senator Dave Cortese joined with leaders of special education to announce a $2.2 million state investment into the College of the Adaptive Arts (CAA). This funding will expand on CAA’s first-in-the-nation efforts in delivering lifelong, equitable, and college-level education to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities — along with a greater career pipeline including educational apprenticeships and teaching classes.
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
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!
Where Diversity thrives, Dreams come Alive with CAA.org
Non Profit Stories Podcast
Saratoga’s College of Adaptive Arts gets $250,000 from county budget
Funds to be used for federally accredited apprenticeship program
CAA is featured in the latest edition of DIVERSEability Magazine
Reimagining Educational and Vocational Opportunities for Adults with Developmental Disabilities (page 71)
College for disabled is adapting to success at Saratoga campus
The Mercury News
Saratoga Non-profit Leader Honored as District 15 "Woman of the Year"
Patch.com
CNN Heroes Social Feature
CAA’s Oldest Student Bob Rahn
CNN Heroes – April 2021
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Exceptional Parent
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KTVU-TV (Fox 2)
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Student PSA
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Upworthy
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Good Day Sacramento
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Women at Work - Purdue Alumni
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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.
Learning for All Abilities - ABC 7 David Louie
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Reference Point - College of Adaptive Arts - Part 1
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Reference Point - College of Adaptive Arts - Part 2
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Localish
The College of Adaptive Arts opens new location at Saratoga's West Valley College
BayAreaLIFE: San Jose's CAA Continues to Grow and Thrive
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BayAreaLIFE Storyworthy Segment - Learn about the inspiring college model
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BayAreaLIFE: College of Adaptive Arts Professors Empower Students
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BayArea LIFE: Local College Helps Adults with Disabilities Reach Full Potential
South Bay college helps adults with disabilities reach potential
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
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Bay Area Women Magazine: Meet DeAnna Pursai, Executive Director, College of Adaptive Arts
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ABC7 StoryWorthy Commercial
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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
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College of Adaptive Arts CreaTV PSA
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San Jose Mercury News: San Jose Dance Teacher Finds Calling Teaching Students with Disabilities
Latizmo helps San Jose teacher give students with disabilities strength
The Three Tomatoes Blog: College of Adaptive Arts
SF LIFE: Gabrielle Union, College of Adaptive Arts, Cashmere, Corgis
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
Adults with disabilities learn to perform at college of their own
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.
# 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
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.
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.
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 is paving the way for every special students to pursue a higher education
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.
College of Adaptive Arts Has New Location
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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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