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!

The team of ATOU volunteers has become a circle of friends, more like family than coworkers.  This close relationship is easily observed through the laughter and cooperation shown when we arrive for a presentation.  The fact that some of us arrive using white canes, service dogs, wheelchairs, artificial legs or arms and share this camaraderie is a lesson in itself.

The combination of meeting the teammates, speaking with our disabled volunteers and participating in activity stations gives the students a true glimpse into the lives of disabled people.  Through this newfound understanding, students are more likely to invite a person with disabilities into their lives.

My life has been enriched exponentially by the friendships I share with individuals with disabilities.  It is my hope that the students we reach will have their lives enriched as I have, and enrich the lives of those with disabilities as well.