For a lot of special-needs adults, schooling ends after highschool or school. The School of Adaptive Arts (CAA) provides these adults schooling and social alternatives in any respect ages.
The school, positioned on West Valley School’s (WVC) campus at 14000 Fruitvale Ave., is internet hosting its annual fundraiser on Sept. 18, 2-4 p.m. Cash raised on the occasion will go on to the Saratoga-based program.
“Extra intellectually partaking alternatives must be on the market for adults of all ages and skills, in order that they'll nourish their brains and change into one of the best variations of themselves,” DeAnna Pursai, govt director of CAA, mentioned. “We’re hoping to indicate that different schools can have this sort of mannequin of schooling on their school campus.”
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and Santa Clara County Supervisor Susan Ellenburg will give keynote speeches on how the CAA impacted their lives and the group. There may even be a stay public sale, performances and student-led excursions of the campus.
Curtis Kitaji, who's a scholar ambassador, and Michael Oduma, who's the WVC basketball announcer, will emcee the occasion.
This marks the primary in-person fundraising occasion for the school for the reason that begin of the pandemic, CAA spokesperson Liz Rosinski mentioned.
That is additionally the primary 12 months that the CAA has been on WVC’s campus. The nonprofit was leasing a spot in San Jose till that constructing was offered through the pandemic. Because the CAA regarded for a brand new house, WVC was considering the way forward for an empty transportable classroom on campus.
The CAA was based in 2009 by Pursai and Dr. Pamela Linsay after they watched their relations with particular wants get aged out of the general public faculty system and expertise loneliness.
It began with a small class of 15 college students and has now grown to greater than 160. The CAA affords programs in podcasting, digital media research, golf and cheerleading.
“There’s all these lessons that I feel the final inhabitants won't affiliate folks with developmental disabilities and particular wants as eager to take part in,” Rosinski mentioned. “It’s a tremendous program, (and) all the scholars are simply inspiring. They wish to be taught, they usually’re so excited.”
Pursai mentioned the group is probably going the primary of its type as a result of it encourages college students to maintain coming again to campus. She hopes the group expands to varsity campuses throughout the nation.
“It’s such a singular program and there’s nothing actually like School of Adaptive Arts, not solely within the Bay Space however in all the state,” Rosinski mentioned. “There’s different applications that may serve adults with particular wants. They’re finite applications, so sooner or later they’re over. So the factor about CAA that’s actually completely different is you may simply maintain going again.”
Tickets to the fundraiser are $100 at https://www.collegeofadaptivearts.org/occasions.