Why is DeAnna Pursai a 2022 CNN Hero? Join us to hear how DeAnna is making a difference in her community by providing “equitable” higher educational opportunities to special needs adults who historically have not had access. Inspired by her sister Angel, who has Downs Syndrome, DeAnna and Dr. Pamela Lindsay (whose daughter is autistic) co-founded the College of Adaptive Arts. CAA offers a unique, arts-based approach to existing programs for adults with differing abilities such as vocational or job training programs. It’s designed to give those without traditional higher ed pathways access to a real college experience and provide a safe and engaging educational space to learn and grow. CAA’s vision is to empower its student body to creatively transform the perception of disability and become the best versions of themselves.

About DeAnna Pursai
DeAnna is Co-founder and Executive Director of the College of Adaptive Arts. She holds a Master’s in Education Policy Analysis in the School of Education from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an undergraduate degree in Elementary and Special Education from Purdue University. DeAnna has been named an Architect of Change on the Maria Shriver blog and co-awarded the Delta Kappa Gamma State Distinguished Career/Professional Service Award along with her CAA Co-founder Dr. Pamela Lindsay. DeAnna is active in the downtown Rotary Club of San Jose as a board member and as the mentor to the newly-formed Rotaract Club at San Jose State University. One of DeAnna’s bucket list items is to give a TED Talk on how to innovatively cast a wider higher education net to include adults with differing abilities who historically have not had access to the college experience.