"My mind is my best asset"

“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.