Hello, my name is Anna Hoban and I am 27 years old. I am a very social person and enjoy large gatherings of people. I was born with a disability called Cerebral Palsy and use a Vanguard Communication device to communicate. I really enjoy being a speaker for A Touch of Understanding because the kids are very curious about my communication device and me.
I love spending time in my community. I enjoy swimming, listening to music, watching my favorite movies especially Annie, and going to aerobic class at my local gym. I enjoy living in my own apartment with a roommate and my support staff. But I still visit my Mom and Dad on the weekends. I am the co-owner of a business called Buttons N Bears Oh My! My business partner Jackson designs the buttons and/or magnets and I make them using a machine. We also sell adorable stuffed animals. I also volunteer at Kaiser once a week. I do the paper cutting for them.
I am really thankful for A Touch of Understanding, it is really important for children to understand disability and what it means. Just because someone has a disability does not mean they can’t do something, they just find another way to do it.
I’m still a teenager, and I had a stroke at birth which caused a disability called hemiplegia. I have right-side hemiplegia, which means my right side is weaker than my left.
My name is Darlene O’Brien, and I have been associated with A Touch of Understanding since August of 2000, and I am the proud mother of two beautiful young women, Bailie and Kelsie. I originally came on board with the organization as a speaker, as I lost my sight completely in November of 1998. ATOU has truly transformed my life in the most profound of ways.
I was born with congenital hydrocephalus. My mother found out about my condition when she was 7 ½ months pregnant from an ultrasound picture that showed my head was abnormally large for that stage of her pregnancy. I am now a speaker for ATOU, and my mom serves on the Board of Directors.
I have so much to say about A Touch of Understanding that I just don't know where to begin or which thread to follow. I just told a friend that I'm reviewing A Touch of Understanding's website, and he expressed an interest in becoming involved. I referred him to the videos on the website and made the following comment.
Jenny Zimmer was born with Cerebral Palsy.Despite her disability, she has thrived in many aspects of her life.Jenny prefers to focus her energy on her talents and it has served her marvelously thus far!
Lena was born blind, due to premature birth and lack of oxygen.Growing up in Marysville, CA, she attended public school and graduated from Marysville High School. She has a passion for advocacy and outreach, and is an excellent speaker for A Touch of Understanding.
Melinda is 26 years old and greatly enjoys being part of the A.T.O.U. team. She articulates, “I was so excited when I learned what they were all about. I said to myself that this is where God wanted me to be. I knew that through my own disability I could reach others and that is exactly what I am doing.”
It seems like a long time ago ... drinking my morning coffee and skimming through the Sacramento Bee en route to the sports section. What's this? The second section had most of the entire front page dedicated to a group called 'A Touch of Understanding'. As a person who was disabled, I read the article ... this sounds interesting!
I've had Parkinson's Disease (PD) for fifteen years — since age 35. I'm now 50 years old. Needless to say, I'm a "young on-setter" (Young Onset Parkinson Disease - YOPD). Due to PD, I was forced to retire from my career as an urban planner about nine years ago.
I live with a chronic pain condition called fibromyalgia, which leaves me dealing with disabling pain and fatigue. I wanted to be a part of a program that would help people to better understand the lives of people who have disabilities.
Dan is a below-knee, double amputee as a result of a toxic blood infection, complicated by diabetes, in 1996. He really enjoys sharing his story with all people, especially the young ones, in a humorous way.
I was born with cerebral palsy. I was born two months early. I did not start talking until I was four years old. I have used a variety of devices to help me get around throughout my life, including a crawligator, a walker, and various wheelchairs. I lift weights now which has helped me a lot with getting around. My disability has made learning difficult for me, I struggle with reading and writing and other subjects, but I have learned to communicate well. I have worked at the Cinemark theater in Roseville for over a decade, where I am an Usher. I found out about A Touch Of Understanding through another organization I work with. I like speaking for ATOU.
Hope Adrian, one of our younger volunteers, was born with Cerebral Palsy.She utilizes her walking sticks or wheelchair to get around.Hope also serves as a member of A Touch of Understanding’s Youth FORCE (Friends Offering Respect, Creating Empowerment).
Jeannie, a long-time volunteer with A Touch of Understanding, is a beautiful woman in her 60’s who has severe cerebral palsy.She is unable to move her legs, her left arm or hand.Admirably, Jeannie lives independently, with a caregiver’s help for just a few hours each morning and evening.
Karen Parsegian is full of charisma and simply a delight to be around.Karen, who previously had a driver’s license and good working vision, was thrown a shocking curveball in 2002.Complications from an accident to one eye left her unexpectedly and totally blind in both eyes.
Born profoundly deaf, Lynnette Simas certainly foraged a unique path through life and it has brought her much success!
Lynnette taught herself to lip read at a young age and her mother and brother taught her to speak without the usual recognition of the tonal inflections used to identify most deaf individuals. Despite her lack of hearing, Lynnette successfully attended mainstream school and never required special training. She eventually acquired hearing aids at 52 years of age.
In November 1991, when Mike Marasso was three weeks from graduation from college, he was home for a family reunion. He was standing on the flat carport roof, videotaping activities in the yard below. He took a misstep and fell about 10 feet to the driveway below.
Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I was born three months too soon, weighing one pound, twelve ounces. My parents were told that I had suffered a severe stroke on both sides of my brain during birth, due to my premature birth. If by some miracle I would survive, they were told I would never walk or talk.
Paul is a caring, likeable person who uses obstacles and experiences to propel himself into challenging opportunities. A survivor of a serious auto accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury, he uses compensatory strategies to minimize the negative effects and maximize his life choices.
Volunteers 
My name is Darlene O’Brien, and I have been associated with A Touch of Understanding since August of 2000, and I am the proud mother of two beautiful young women, Bailie and Kelsie. I originally came on board with the organization as a speaker, as I lost my sight completely in November of 1998. ATOU has truly transformed my life in the most profound of ways.
I was born with congenital hydrocephalus. My mother found out about my condition when she was 7 ½ months pregnant from an ultrasound picture that showed my head was abnormally large for that stage of her pregnancy. I am now a speaker for ATOU, and my mom serves on the Board of Directors.
I have so much to say about A Touch of Understanding that I just don't know where to begin or which thread to follow. I just told a friend that I'm reviewing A Touch of Understanding's website, and he expressed an interest in becoming involved. I referred him to the videos on the website and made the following comment.
Jenny Zimmer was born with Cerebral Palsy.
Lena was born blind, due to premature birth and lack of oxygen.
Melinda is 26 years old and greatly enjoys being part of the A.T.O.U. team. She articulates, “I was so excited when I learned what they were all about. I said to myself that this is where God wanted me to be. I knew that through my own disability I could reach others and that is exactly what I am doing.”
It seems like a long time ago ... drinking my morning coffee and skimming through the Sacramento Bee en route to the sports section. What's this? The second section had most of the entire front page dedicated to a group called 'A Touch of Understanding'. As a person who was disabled, I read the article ... this sounds interesting!
I've had Parkinson's Disease (PD) for fifteen years — since age 35. I'm now 50 years old. Needless to say, I'm a "young on-setter" (Young Onset Parkinson Disease - YOPD). Due to PD, I was forced to retire from my career as an urban planner about nine years ago.
I live with a chronic pain condition called fibromyalgia, which leaves me dealing with disabling pain and fatigue. I wanted to be a part of a program that would help people to better understand the lives of people who have disabilities.
Dan is a below-knee, double amputee as a result of a toxic blood infection, complicated by diabetes, in 1996. He really enjoys sharing his story with all people, especially the young ones, in a humorous way.
I was born with cerebral palsy. I was born two months early. I did not start talking until I was four years old. I have used a variety of devices to help me get around throughout my life, including a crawligator, a walker, and various wheelchairs. I lift weights now which has helped me a lot with getting around. My disability has made learning difficult for me, I struggle with reading and writing and other subjects, but I have learned to communicate well. I have worked at the Cinemark theater in Roseville for over a decade, where I am an Usher. I found out about A Touch Of Understanding through another organization I work with. I like speaking for ATOU.
Jeannie, a long-time volunteer with A Touch of Understanding, is a beautiful woman in her 60’s who has severe cerebral palsy.
Born profoundly deaf, Lynnette Simas certainly foraged a unique path through life and it has brought her much success! 
In November 1991, when Mike Marasso was three weeks from graduation from college, he was home for a family reunion. He was standing on the flat carport roof, videotaping activities in the yard below. He took a misstep and fell about 10 feet to the driveway below.
Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I was born three months too soon, weighing one pound, twelve ounces. My parents were told that I had suffered a severe stroke on both sides of my brain during birth, due to my premature birth. If by some miracle I would survive, they were told I would never walk or talk.
Paul is a caring, likeable person who uses obstacles and experiences to propel himself into challenging opportunities. A survivor of a serious auto accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury, he uses compensatory strategies to minimize the negative effects and maximize his life choices.
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