"My mind is my best asset"

DeAnna Pursai • March 11, 2024

CAA Supports Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to Reach Their Full Potential

“My mind is my best asset” states Sam Headley, one of CAA’s new workforce development apprentices. This statement epitomizes the work of supporting incredible adults with intellectual disabilities at @CollegeofAdaptiveArts for the past 15 years. Sam represents one of 229 lifelong learners this winter/spring semester 2024 who are so eager to learn, grow, and contribute to the community in ways they know can be so impactful for themselves and the community.


College of Adaptive Arts is immensely grateful for the national, state, regional, county and local recognition the co-founders have received over the past 2 years. From @CNNHereos, @AARPPurposePrize, @Golden State Warriors Community Impact Award, & State of CA & Santa Clara County County support, these recognitions indicate that the mountain is indeed moving to uncover & illuminate the authentic abilities of adults with intellection disabilities to transform perception and move the needle to become impactful successful contributing citizens leveraging the innate abilities, skills, talents, and passions these adults possess.


College of Adaptive Arts’ mission is to provide an equitable, lifelong collegiate experience to adults with disabilities who historically have not had access to college education. The vision is to partner with every campus of higher learning around the world to build a global infrastructure of lifelong learning collegiate opportunities for adults who have been historically sidelined after high school.

 

College of Adaptive Arts provides a win-win-win-win-win-win model for the community.


Win#1: the Students. Adults with special needs get the opportunity to choose from one of 72 course offerings from 10 distinct schools of student at the college around their interests and passions. No tests, no papers to write, homework is optional. They receive diplomas just like they watch their siblings/cousins/friends achieve. After they graduate, they are welcome to re-enroll for strive for another degree as long as they have an interest.


Win#2: the Professors. College of Adaptive Arts recruits individuals of all abilities to be the professors of the college. No formal education or teaching certification required. If you have a trade/skill you would like to teach, and you treat the CAA college students with respect and integrity, you are eligible to be a professor of this college.


Win#3: the Apprentices. CAA has recently received funds to cultivate workforce development opportunities building workforce paths that are non-routine in focus, accentuating and aligning with their intellectual pursuits and aspirations. The initial workforce apprentices are training to be classroom assistants, event planners, marketing team supporters, graphic designers, accessibility quality control supporters, and tour guide ambassadors. Future workforce paths including training adults to be musicians, sign language assistants, social media support specialists, stage actors and actresses, tech support assistants, sports announcer assistants, and radio/DJ support techs. 

 

Win#4: The Volunteers. College of Adaptive Arts is located in the heart of the beautiful campus of West Valley College, thanks to the visionary leadership of @Chancellor Bradley Davis and his incredible and forward-thinking Board of Trustees and faculty. West Valley College and other local universities such as @SanJoseState & @SantaClaraUniversity provide amazing .edu student volunteers who can receive 501c3 volunteer hours for their participation and peer learners & coaches in the College of Adaptive Arts classes.


Win#5: The Parents and Care providers. Being a parent to a child with a disability is one o the hardest and most arduous roles one can ever experience. There are many support services for children with special needs. At age 22, the terrain of services substantially shifts in all 50 states when students are mandated out of the public school system at age 22. The options for continued learning are dramatically reduced if adults are not able to access an Associate's Degree at a community college. This model provides relief, hope, and amazement of how adults are continued to be engaged, to learn, to grow, and to blossom and realize their full potential.


Win#6: The community. CAA takes performers and ambassadors all over the community to engage, transform perception, and foster inclusivity and connectedness. One patron remarked, “I felt so alive when watching (the CAA dancers) perform at a local venue. CAA cheerleaders cheer at events; the children’s music touring ensemble performs for preschools and local elementary schools; the adaptive guitar and concert choir troupes perform at CAA’s annual graduation ceremony. The CAA golfers golf in a community golf tournament whereby one community golfer commented, "That is the best day I've had in such a long time - I really needed that!"


We invite you to take a student-led tour to experience this innovative and vibrant college model for yourself. College of Adaptive Arts is 15 years strong in 2024, and we vow to keep going until we’ve established an #InclusiveCollegiatePartnership with every campus of higher learning around the world. Please share, comment, and reach out to us. We want to hear from you! info@collegeofadaptivearts.org: Take a tour (student-led tours each Friday college is in session); 1pm PST online; 2:30pm in-person at @WestValleyCollege.


Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn’t Find. CAA Story #10: Ann Lunt

By DeAnna Pursai • April 27, 2026
When Ann Lunt was recovering from foot surgery two years ago, she came across a story about CAA on Channel 7’s “Localish” TV show and she immediately knew it was a place where she belonged. “I love CAA,” Ann said. “Everyone is really friendly and the teachers understand us.” Ann has lived on her own for 20 years and navigates to and from campus by herself. In 2002, she went deaf but was able to get a cochlear implant in 2003 which now helps her hear, however the hearing loss still affects her speech. Despite that, or maybe because of it, Ann’s favorite thing is singing and music. Some of the CAA classes which she enjoys are Adaptive Guitar, Choir, and Music Appreciation. One of her goals is to get into the Songwriting class and learn how to write a song. At age 57, Ann is proof that you never stop learning and growing. “In this world, we need to learn as much as we can,” Ann said. Ann is extremely compassionate and had the idea during Compassion Week to make video messages for foster youth. Growing up in group homes for nearly 15 years, Ann could relate to those experiencing the foster care system and wanted to reach out to them. One of the things Ann loves most about CAA is socializing and making friends. “I’m proud that I have friends who I can talk to,” Ann said. “We have each other’s backs and all root for one another.” Ann is excited to continue her learning journey and hopes that one day she might become an Associate Professor at CAA.

Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn’t Find. CAA Story #9: CAA Steadfast Mountain Mover Joe Siecinski

By DeAnna Pursai • April 20, 2026
This is a blog post that is most unexpected and heart-wrenching for our College of Adaptive Arts Mountain Movers community. This past week we lost one of our truest and long-standing Mountain Mover board members, Mr. Joseph Siecinski. Joe walked into our small, rented space at Randol School in 2010. He was in a full suit and tie (which we later would learn that he wore everyday). He politely introduced himself to Dr. Pam and DeAnna. De and Pam were teaching about 90% of the classes at this time, and we may have had about 30 adult students. He asked what was College of Adaptive Arts, and when we explained that we were creating an adaptive collegiate experience for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, he did not blink and eye, and said, “How can I help?” To say that there would not be a College of Adaptive Arts without Joe Siecinski would truly not be an understatement. He quickly joined our board, giving guidance and financial and business support with all of his heart and soul. He helped us to write our very first business plan, which as we look back on now, we achieved within the first 10 years of operation. He formally left the board in 2021 after 8 years of formal service. He stayed on to this day for our regular board meetings, executive board meetings, and monthly financial meetings. He believed in this model through thick and then when it seemed sooooo difficult and tempting to give up. Joe never did. Joe was a most magnanimous, kind, and larger-than-life figure. He *always* told the truth and never glossed over any hard financial findings– but with kindness, integrity, and humility. Through his constant presence CAA has grown operationally that first year in 2009 closing the books at about $65k to closing at over $2million this past fiscal year on June 30, 2025 with another 2 million grant bestowed to us in 2023. When he commended the CAA team on their collective efforts, teamwork, and fiduciary stability this past year at a board meeting, it was a compliment that was genuine and tremendously valued and cherished coming from Mr. Joe. Joe would start any meeting he would attend with, “Happy Monday!!!!!!! or whatever day of the week it was. He made you feel like you were the most important person on Earth to him when he was with you. And his was so positive, knowledgeable, wise, and kind. He just exuded grace, integrity, and hope. Joe was the one who recommended that we read the book Traction by Gino Wickman back in 2019. CAA embraced the tenets and business principles of this book, and it’s been a transformative experience for our business execution. To this day, our staff huddles that we employ each Monday morning before school begins are called the Traction Huddles. Joe would always say that if CAA could bring in $1 for every $1 in tuition, we would be in a financially sustainable position. This is the year that we’re going to honor Joe and bring this sentiment into operational fruition. CAA has been operating in a structural deficit for a number of years now as the demand for our services has outpaced the one and only state funding code that did not pass the rate reform study. There’s significant community and policy momentum and traction to rectify this deficit, and our Q4 fundraising campaign is dedicated to Joe Siecinski. CAA will embrace his spirit and figure out a way to build a sustainable recurring model to reach adults worldwide who want to learn and grow and contribute at their own unique and individual pace. It’s happening, and we vow to keep going until this equitable, lifelong collegiate and workforce model is fully established in communities worldwide to be a beacon of Hope, Joy, Fulfillment, and Traction. This is our Salute to Joe Siecinski.

Where the System Ends, CAA Begins. We Built the College We Couldn't Find. CAA Story #8: Professor Sharon Lea

By DeAnna Pursai • April 13, 2026
Sharon Lea has always had a love of music, but it wasn’t until joining CAA that she could actually meld both her passion and her career. Sharon obtained her degree in English from Chico State and worked most of her life in administrative roles. The companies she worked for made products like medical devices, and she always enjoyed customer service and helping people. After surviving a cancer diagnosis and losing her husband all within a three-year span, Sharon took time off work and began volunteering with CAA. That volunteer work quickly turned into a fulfilling career. CAA came into Sharon’s life at a time when she needed them, and when CAA needed instructors who had compassion and commitment to teach. “At CAA, you don’t need the degree but you need the heart,” said Sharon. Professor Sharon is the Director of Music at CAA and teaches many popular classes, including Concert Choir and Music Appreciation. In both those classes, she stresses to her students to find something that they like in the music and reminds them that it’s not about hitting all the right notes. “One of the reasons I love CAA is because I see the benefits of what I’m doing every day in the classroom,” said Sharon. When she was young, Sharon had to overcome a significant stutter so she can relate to the difficulties some of her students have with being heard and understood. Sharon says that she learns just as much from her students as they learn from her, and she loves coming away from classes hearing new perspectives and ideas. According to Professor Sharon, CAA is a unique place to work because the leadership puts people in positions where they can really thrive. “This has been such a wonderful growth experience for me,” said Professor Sharon. “I feel incredibly lucky to be a part of a supportive environment which celebrates caring and collaborative teamwork.”

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