A TOUCH OF UNDERSTANDING, INC.

Report of Activities 6/01-6/02

Mission Statement: To encourage acceptance and respect for all individuals. Its educational programs are designed to enhance understanding of differences, thereby minimizing discrimination and social isolation suffered by children and adults who are perceived as different for any reason, but especially those with disabilities.

In support of this mission, A Touch of Understanding has been involved in the following activities:

We have made presentations to the following schools:

9/14	Twin Oaks Elementary, Rocklin	4^th grade	3 classes	100 students
10/5	Breen Elementary, Rocklin	6^th grade	3 classes	90 students
10/11	Crestmont Elementary, Roseville	4^th grade	3 classes	80 students
10/12	Antelope Creek Elementary, Rocklin	6^th grade	3 classes	90 students
10/25	Bijou Elementary, S. Lake Tahoe	5^th grade	3 classes	90 students
10/26	Myers Elementary School, S. Lake Tahoe	5^th grade	3 classes	90 students
10/26	Tahoe Valley Elementary, S. Lake Tahoe	5^th grade	3 classes	90 students
11/1	Valley High, Sacramento	Soph./Juniors	2 classes	100 students
11/16	Penryn Elementary, Penryn	4^th-6^th grade	3 classes	95 students
11/29	Cobblestone Elementary, Rocklin	4^th grade	3 classes	90 students
12/7	Excelsior Elementary, Roseville	6^th grade	6 classes	150 students
12/14	Sierra Oaks Elementary, Sacramento	4^th grade	2.5 classes	85 students
1/17&18	Maidu Elementary, Roseville	2^nd grade	7.5 classes	150 students
1/24&25	Greenhills Elementary, Granite Bay	2^nd grade	7.5 classes	150 students
2/22	Colfax Elementary, Colfax	6^th grade	3 classes	80 students
4/12	Sacramento High, Sacramento	soph./sen.	3 classes	75 students
4/18	Foresthill Elementary, Foresthill	4^th grade	2 classes	60 students
5/22	Vencil Brown Elementary, Roseville	6^th grade	3 classes	100 students
5/24	Folsom Hills Elementary, Folsom	6^th grade	3 classes	110 students

Including teachers, parents and administrators, the number of individuals who participated is approximately 2,000.

A Sampling of Students’ Comments:

“I learned that just because someone is disabled, they still need to be treated the same as everyone else. I also learned that people can make their lives better even after they’ve faced a bad accident.”

“Thank you for showing your disabilities. You made me able to not be afraid of anyone with disabilities. Thank you for helping to understand people with disabilities. You should always treat people with more respect, the same way you want to be treated. We are all the same on the inside.

You should be nice to everyone.”

“I learned that it doesn’t matter what you look like, as long as you feel good about yourself.”

“I learned not to judge people on how they look or what they wear. Mike encouraged me to keep up on my dreams so matter what happens to me. Now I know how disabled people feel and I will never laugh at anyone again.”

“I learned to appreciate my eyesight as well as many of my other abilities. I learned that just because somebody is different, they still need to be treated with respect.”

“What I liked best was that you took the time to share the stuff that happened to you and showed that if that happens to us, we can still do whatever we want.”

“I learned about our modern day technology. There are fake legs, fake arms and battery-powered arms. I also learned that your life isn’t over when something really bad happens.”

“I learned a lot about having a disability. I used to make fun and call people with disabilities names, but now I’m a lot nicer to them.”

“I am eleven and I have cerebral palsy, and I am in a wheelchair. I think my class learned a lot from all of you.”

“Because of you, I now know what it is like to be laughed at, instead of being the one laughing.”

“I get kind of spooked when I see someone with an artificial leg or arm, but now don’t need to, because I know why they have artificial legs or arms, so now I’m not spooked.”

“I always thought that when you became disabled you would just be disabled, you can’t do anything you are just some sort of background thing. Mike really impressed me with what he can do. Disabled people can follow their dreams, sometimes they can do even better than someone that has never broken or sprained a thing.”

“I found out that there was such a thing as a learning disability. When I did the mirror-writing, my brain was telling me one thing and my body was telling me something else.”

“You’ve shown me some important things I needed to know. I will be sure to look out for people in this world and help them. Thank you very much. I think I understand.”

“You’ve changed our lives and theirs because now people won’t stare as much and won’t make fun of them just because they look different. I hope someday nobody will be made fun of just because they are a little different.”

“A Touch of Understanding, you are one of the best programs we’ve ever had.”

Teacher Responses to Questionnaires:

82% of reporting teachers noted an increased awareness of disabilities on the part of their students
94% indicated their students demonstrated more respect for each other
80% of teachers indicated their students had an opportunity to interact with students with disabilities
- 81% of those teachers reported improvement in those interactions
98% think A Touch of Understanding will have a long-term positive effect on their students and would like to have it presented to their class each year.

Our Growth and Expansion:

Thanks to:

Jeanne Culhane, volunteer graphic artist and publisher for our wonderful newsletter
Access Sacramento, KVIE Channel 6 and the Nonprofit Resource Center for our 60-second public service announcement and 20 minute video.
Jonathan Palley for website maintenance
Randy Dusseau for our completed strategic plan
Ted Mitchell for the donation of our equipment van
Home Again Medical for their ongoing donation of wheelchair and storage rental

Our team continues to grow. The following outstanding individuals have joined our team:

Joyce Beeman – program assistant, editor - volunteer handbook

Bill Bowden - program assistant

Charleen Schroder – speaker

Dave and Joyce Taylor – program assistants

Michele DeCardenas – program assistant

Collaboration with other agencies strengthens our impact. Our partners are:

Advanced Biomechanics

Disabled Sports, USA

Learning Disabilities Association of Northern California

Joni and Friends

Ride to Walk

A Touch of Understanding has had the following media coverage:

Article, Sacramento Bee, August 5, 2001

Television exposure through “Caregivers Series” – Access Sacramento and KVIE Channel 6

A Touch of Understanding has received the following honor:

Proclamation from the State of California for “spreading its valuable message to elementary schools and high school districts across Northern California, as well as to adults at churches, colleges, universities and businesses.”

We are grateful for the sponsorship from the following sources which makes A Touch of Understanding possible:

California Endowment $10,000.

Give Something Back Community Fund $735.

Hewlett Packard Company $1,500. and color printer

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. $2,000.

River Cats Foundation $2,500.

United Way $10,700.

United Way Campaign Designations $1,272.

USAA $2,500.

American Leak Detection $50.

Cool River Pizza $30.

Roseville Host Lions Club $200.

Soroptimists International of Roseville $1,000.

Spiritual Life Center, Sacramento $2,000.

Foothill Volunteer Center Fund-Raiser

“Human Race 2002” $853.

Home Again Medical $500., wheelchair rental, and van storage

Sams Club, Roseville Volunteer Appreciation Picnic Supplies

Togos, Roseville Volunteer Appreciation Picnic Sandwiches

Ted Mitchell equipment van

The following individuals have generously donated to A Touch of Understanding:

(These donations were made directly to ATOU; many other generous individuals have donated to our mission through United Way and the Foothill Volunteer Center “Human Race 2002”)

Memorial Donations by Lauris and Edward Ennis in Memory Of:

Ron and Shannon Briggs Mary Lou Alvord

Jeanne and Kevin Culhane Thelma Glinsman

Lauris and Edward Ennis Ronald Hauge

Marge Gengler Jerry Kruppenbacher

Barbara Gnirk Mary Porter

David Halbrook

Bobbie Hooker

M. Dorothy Hurley

Marty Kabele

Joan Karr

Annmarie Mallo

Wally Moore

Richard and Olga Mac Garva

Russell Nash

Jo Ann Neider

John and Ruby Rodina

Karen Routon

Jennifer Stuck

Dave and Joyce Taylor

Mary Walton

Our Challenge for 2002-2003

We have developed our Five-Year Strategic Plan. Our board members, staff and volunteers are committed to reaching more students with our message of acceptance and respect and feel that the guidance this document provides will increase our efficiency and ensure our sustainability.

We are up against additional obstacles due to lack of funding.

With the unstable financial picture in the United States, funding is increasingly hard to secure. United Way, who had provided small grants to us for the last two years, is unable to offer us a grant this year. Many of the grant proposals submitted were denied.
Our volunteer van needs to be replaced with a much more reliable vehicle
Darlene, our past assistant director responsible for scheduling and volunteer coordination was unable to stay with us due to our lack of ability to compensate her fairly.
Additional schools are hearing about our program and interested in having their students participate, but without sufficient funding, this is not possible.

Thank you to each of you for your support of our mission of encouraging acceptance and respect for all individuals. As you can see, your efforts are touching the lives of our young people, increasing their emotional IQ, and improving attitudes and behaviors. In short, you are making this world a better place through your involvement with A Touch of Understanding, Inc. Thank you!!