College or university for disabled is adapting to achievement at Saratoga campus

DeAnna Pursai and Dr. Pamela Linsay started College or university of Adaptive Arts in 2009 to give grown ups with disabilities the collegiate experience.

Right now, CAA is centered out of Saratoga’s West Valley Higher education and serves approximately 200 college students across nine states, most of whom are living with a developmental or mental disability.

“DeAnna has grown College of the Adaptive Arts from a 12-particular person course into a countrywide collegiate product for persons with exclusive wants,” mentioned condition Sen. David Cortese, whose District 15 features Cupertino. “She methods her operate with kindness and dynamism, and her steadfast devotion has enhanced a great number of lives across our location.”

Pursai, who serves as CAA’s executive director, was named Female of the Yr from Cortese’s district as portion of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus’ “Women Making Herstory” campaign. The caucus celebrated women’s historical past month with a March 20 ceremony to honor women in the course of the point out who have built sizeable contributions to their local community.

CAA’s contributions are growing, as the nonprofit is registering as an apprenticeship plan with the U.S. Section of Labor in order to provide paid out operate at the higher education for its college students.

The new apprenticeships are designed to broaden students’ vocational expertise, improve the sorts of professional competencies that college students can find out at CAA and let additional learners entry to employment with the nonprofit.

“So several of the existing vocational possibilities out there are entry-stage positions,” said Pursai. “We’re carving a new vocational route for these eager and quite ready older people.”

The Institute for Workplace Abilities and Innovation America is facilitating CAA’s registration with the labor office to develop educating assistant and/or receptionist positions.

“We supply technical assistance and modest incentive funding to both new or increasing registered apprenticeship systems,” mentioned the institute’s vice president Deborah Williamson. “(CAA) learners will get the job done as classroom training assistants and administrative workers for the academy, subsequent rigorous apprenticeship expectations.”

CAA’s apprenticeships will start as shortly as probable, say officials, but will be unpaid to start out. Four moms and dads have volunteered 3 hrs a week as task coaches for one to three learners for each shift. Every single probable TA or receptionist has long gone by way of two to 4 quarters of CAA’s employment competencies course.

“We have decided it’s time,” explained Pursai. “We know the dollars is coming, and the pupils are champing at the little bit. They are genuinely, definitely on the lookout ahead to just take the following measures.”