College of Adaptive Arts
DeAnna Pursai has over two decades of experience in education, primarily focusing on special needs and literacy interventions. Currently serving as the Director of Development & Community Outreach and Executive Director/Co-Founder at the College of Adaptive Arts since August 2009, DeAnna is dedicated to providing equitable collegiate experiences for adults with special needs. Prior roles include District Literacy Coach for the San Jose Unified School District and Founder of Angels on Stage, a musical theatre troupe for special needs children. DeAnna's educational background includes a Master of Arts in Educational Policy with an emphasis on special education reform from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, along with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Purdue University.
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College of Adaptive Arts
The College of Adaptive Art provides an equitable, lifelong collegiate experience to adults with special needs who historically have not had access to college education. The vision of CAA is empowering the student body to creatively transform the way the world views individuals with disabilities. CAA's long-term vision is to be an extended layer of education on every campus of higher learning around the world to become the Special Olympics-type model for lifelong learning. College of Adaptive Arts Strategic Plan 2020-2022 Initiative 1: Sustainable Fundraising: To build a sustainable fundraising model to ensure staff sustainability, fiscal responsibility, and to position CAA to be a replicable model. Initiative 2: Improve CAA's Messaging and Set Measurable Goals: To align CAA’s mission, vision, and messaging to be strategic, succinct, and resonant with the broader community. Initiative 3: Outreach & Student Recruitment: To grow CAA’s student body to reach more adults with special needs who want to continue their education to become successful contributing citizens. Initiative 4: Institutional Collaborations and Partnerships: To build and foster partnerships with like-minded institutions.