About Us

Remember when you were a child, and someone else was a little bit "different?"  Remember how that child was teased, taunted and tormented by the other children?  It might have been their name, their appearance, the way they dressed, or the way they wore their hair.  It might have been their family, their home, or their hygiene.  It might have been the way they ran, the way they spoke, the way they did or did not do their schoolwork.  Everything was fair game.  Certain children were targets no matter what they did.

 Everyone can identify with this experience, no matter what his or her age.  We either remember being the one being teased, the one who watched or the one who did the teasing.

A Touch of Understanding  (ATOU) provides disability awareness programs designed to educate a new generation to understand the challenges associated with disabilities and to accept and respect all individuals.

 Incorporated in 1996, A Touch of Understanding is a nonprofit organization comprised of dedicated individuals, some with disabilities and some without, who come together to form a strong team working to help students look beyond the disability, the wheelchair, the braces, the unpredictable behavior and see the person.

 Each year, we speak to approximately 4,000 students throughout the Greater Sacramento area.  Each student participates in our two-part program.  In the activity portion of our program, they use wheelchairs and mobility canes, write in Braille, handle braces and artificial limbs, and participate in a mirror-writing activity to understand the frustration of a learning disability.  They also meet with our volunteers who have disabilities, who share their insight and experiences with humor and honesty.

 The impact on the students is positive and long lasting.  Attitudes improve and respectful interactions increase.  Please see our comment section for quotes from students following the presentations.