College of Adaptive Arts Golf Tournament Brings Together Players of All Abilities

Michael Reisman • October 10, 2023

(Saratoga, Calif., October 10, 2023) On Monday October 16, from 2-6pm, College of Adaptive Arts will host its 10th annual Golf Classic at the Santa Teresa Golf Club.

 

College of Adaptive Arts (CAA), a south bay based non-profit, is a unique institution providing collegiate education to adults with special needs. It serves more than 224 students across 9 states, the majority of whom have been diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD).

 

The CAA Golf Team and first Golf Classic began in 2012 when a student proposed the idea of having a CAA golf team. Since then, CAA has hosted 9 wildly successful Golf Classics, pairing a CAA student the fourth member of every team.

 

“This is fundraiser is always one of our most anticipated annual events,” said CAA co-founder and Executive Director DeAnna Pursai. “One of our goals is to connect our students with community members in venues that typically are not associated with adults with disabilities, such as on a golf course. We are truly grateful to Santa Teresa Golf Club for hosting the Classic each year, as well as our CAA golf team. We hope lots of people will come out to show their support people of all abilities!”

 

College of Adaptive Arts was co-founded by Dr. Pamela Lindsay and DeAnna Pursai in 2009 after both witnessing loved ones with special needs become sidelined once they exited the public-school system.

The philosophy of the school is to offer lifelong learning, with no age limitations, to any adult with special needs who wants to pursue higher education.

 

CAA’s vision is to be able to expand its innovative collegiate model, replicating it on every campus of higher learning across the country, and eventually, the world.


Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn't Find. CAA Story #13: Professor Anthony Nguyen

By DeAnna Pursai • May 18, 2026
CAA's Director of the School of Communications

Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn't Find. CAA Story #12: Student Andre C.

By DeAnna Pursai • May 11, 2026
At only 5 years old, Andre lost his parents and began a long and painful stay in the foster care system, not really having anyone to trust or love him. Eventually he started hanging out with the wrong people and faced his share of troubles. Being developmentally and physically disabled, people often took advantage of him or tried extorting him for money. He met two friends, Nancy and Kristin, through his church and they began helping Andre turn his life around.. Both women began helping Andre at first with essentials, making sure he got meals and into a safe housing situation. Nancy helped Andre get set with a bank account and taught him basic budgeting skills, while Kristin got him involved in stable social environments like College of Adaptive Arts. Now, at age 67, Andre is one of the oldest students currently enrolled in College of Adaptive Arts (CAA), a nonprofit providing higher education for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Every week, Andre looks forward to attending his Innercise class, which focuses on mindfulness, meditation and introspection. “The class helps me feel good about myself,” said Andre. “It helps me calm my mind.” According to Nicole Kim, Executive Director of College of Adaptive Arts, students like Andre who have been sidelined from traditional education are exactly who they are trying to reach. “Andre is proof that education has no expiration date,” said Nicole Kim, Executive Director of College of Adaptive Arts. “No matter your age or ability level, you are never too old to learn, grow and cultivate meaningful relationships” According to Nancy and Kristin, CAA has helped Andre further his education but also regain the trust to make friends and find a safe community of like-minded friends. “After our church closed, Andre really missed being able to share things with others that were important or special to him, and I think he’s found that at CAA,” said Nancy. Since meeting both women and attending CAA, Andre has said he has made the choice to change his life, and that he chooses “The New Andre” everyday.

Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn’t Find. CAA Story #11: Mimi Giannini and the Bill and Linda Giannini Family Foundation

By DeAnna Pursai • May 4, 2026

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