Rosa retired from the State of California in 2009, with over 32 years of service, 22 of those years in the field of Information Technology.  She has been involved in disability awareness since childhood, providing love and support to her wonderful Aunt Ruth, who had severe Cerebral Palsy. Rosa has volunteered for many organizations throughout the years, but after her aunt passed away in January 2010, she wanted to continue to educate individuals so they would recognize and appreciate the ‘person’, not the disability. She attended the 2010 AccessToCare Fair and immediately knew ATOU was the program that would allow her to continue to provide those lessons to others that her very special aunt taught her.

Rosa feels that her participation in ATOU allows her to continue her aunt’s teachings of compassion, respect, and acceptance for those with disabilities, and she can introduce her Aunt Ruth to others. She tells others about Aunt Ruth’s passion of being an artist and the challenges she had as an artist. Rosa said, “Aunt Ruth taught me how to see the person and their ability, not their disability. Aunt Ruth was so proud that I became an advocate for the disabled.”

Rosa’s volunteering for ATOU includes participating at schools and other events to explain the tools used and to share the wonderful stories of her Aunt Ruth’s travels of becoming an artist. She is thrilled to watch the faces of the participants as they go through the program and realize that they too can see the ability, and with the help of tools, those abilities overcome challenges.

As founder and Executive Director of ATOU, Leslie’s vision for the program has helped thousands of students throughout the region.

The mission of A Touch of Understanding, Inc. is to encourage acceptance and respect for all individuals and to minimize the discrimination and misunderstanding experienced by people with disabilities.  What a privilege it is to work with this team of incredible human beings toward our goal!

When Susie Glover retired from the United States Postal Service in 2004, she didn't know what to do with herself. She had worked hard for the past 35 years, finishing out a career with the Postal Service in a senior-level public relations position. Besides her family and close friends, work was Susie's top priority.

"Wow!"  "Way cool!"  "That's amazing!"  "No Way!"

In the spring of 2002, I was looking for some new volunteer opportunities. I had been doing a number of volunteer activities since early 2001 after becoming a widow in September 2000. Those activities had all been involved with elderly folks. I wanted to find some worthwhile activity which involved people of different ages.

A Touch of Understanding is a life-changing program; and as we all work together to understand others' challenges, we are amazed to find how much all our lives have been enriched.

A Touch of Understanding gives my retirement days special meaning and value.  It's very satisfying to watch attitudes, particularly children's, change before your eyes.