One by one, the students took turns asking each other questions, whether they were at a table together or in a Zoom window at this College of Adaptive Arts’ “You Are Not Alone” class in Saratoga.
Their goal: to foster a feeling of togetherness and support.
If some were feeling glum, fellow students would respond with a heart gesture using their hands, and knew what else to ask to get their colleagues talking.
“What’s your favorite snack?” Michael Odum asked.
“What did you do this weekend?” Rowan Timmermann inquired.
The class, otherwise known as YANA, was not created by an academic at the school, whose mission is to support adults with special needs who have not had access to a college education.
Instead, it was the brainchild of Brighid Kohl, a student with autism and a stutter who has now transitioned into an associate professor role, showcasing the power of inclusive education and casting aside the limitations and perceptions of people with disabilities.
At the head of the classroom on West Valley Community College’s campus in Saratoga with her green highlights and black hat, Kohl’s infectious laughter and energy help others in the hybrid class engage. The school believes Kohl’s leadership has spurred stronger social skills, emotional resilience, and a sense of empowerment in others as they seek to achieve their goals.
As a social media influencer herself, who advocates for people with disabilities and helps CAA draw attention to its programs, Kohl drew inspiration from a Canadian YouTuber named Jessii Vee, who conceived creating a space for students who felt alone or bullied to feel safe without judgment.
“I wanted to start a YANA club to take care of mental health, isolation and anti-bullying,” Kohl said.
After receiving a PowerPoint proposal from Kohl, the school administration approved her request.
“We’ve discovered that through our programs, we can train and actually hire from our pool of students for positions such as associate professor and teacher’s aides,” CAA co-founder DeAnna Pursai said. “It opens up a new world to what is possible.”
Although Kohl said she previously held a job, she quipped that her current position was “just way better than the other job.”
“The reason why I like being a teacher and teaching classes is because I have so many more ideas,” Kohl said.
Just as Kohl’s use of technology and social media prowess have helped elevate the school and empower fellow students, the school is hoping to use Wishbook donations to support its School of Digital Media. It wants resources to provide cutting-edge technology training, social media safety education, and tools for creative digital expression while helping students achieve their goals.
“Our vision is to change how the world views people with intellectual developmental disabilities,” CAA CEO Nicole Kim said. “We want to get them out of the shadows and into the mainstream, and show what they’re capable of. Everything we do for the program is about supporting our students and our staff so that people can see that they are just human beings who want the same things that everybody else does.”
While Kohl helps lead the class, she is not the only person in the classroom who has taken on more responsibilities.
Kim said that Anthony Nguyen — who has struggled with speech and motor issues, and operates the classroom’s technology — has become another professor at the school and was slated to become director of school communications next year.
“For all of our associate professors and our apprentices, we offer a different type of job,” Kim said. “My son has Down syndrome and he’s worked at Chili’s wrapping the utensils, and he loved it. He was the fastest one and he was so proud of himself and that’s great. But I think our students always get pigeonholed into those very routine types of roles. Here, we want their ideas. We want them to use their brains and create something new and better and that’s what they do.”
She added that the school has always strived to become “a place that can employ people with disabilities, visible and hidden, and make this a safe place for them to grow.”
Sitting in Kim’s office with a Ted Lasso-esque yellow “Believe” sign on the wall, Kohl is in her element – free from the stigma associated with intellectual and developmental disabilities – brainstorming ideas of what the college can do next.
“I like being a student at CAA because I like to learn and how this college class is growing,” Kohl said. “It’s surprising because different is the new normal.”
THE WISH BOOK SERIESWish Book is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operated by The Mercury News. Since 1983, Wish Book has been producing series of stories during the holiday season that highlight the wishes of those in need and invite readers to help fulfill them.
WISHDonations will support College of Adaptive Arts‘ digital program by providing technology training, social media safety education and tools for creative expression. Goal: $7,500.
HOW TO GIVEDonate at wishbook.mercurynews.com/donate or mail in the form.
ONLINE EXTRARead other Wish Book stories, view photos and video at wishbook.mercurynews.com.