A Touch Of Understanding

06/18/2026

Throwback Thursday – Carpool Conversations with Kristen Dinsbach
As we continue celebrating 30 years of changing lives through empathy, inclusion, and understanding, we're taking another ride down memory lane with one of our favorite Carpool Conversations episodes.
This week, we're featuring a conversation with Kristen Dinsbach, a valued community partner and supporter of A Touch of Understanding.
Over the years, ATOU has been fortunate to build meaningful relationships with individuals and organizations who believe in the power of creating more inclusive communities. In this Carpool Conversation, Kristen shares her connection to ATOU, why our mission resonates with her, and the importance of helping young people develop empathy, understanding, and respect for others.
These conversations weren't just interviews—they were an opportunity to highlight the incredible people who have helped shape ATOU's story over the years. More than 60 episodes later, they remain a wonderful reminder that lasting change happens when communities come together.
So buckle up, enjoy the ride, and take a look back at one of the many voices that helped fuel our mission.
Watch here: https://youtu.be/xPelD8xKg7o?si=q0YY0K080rT7Dc0x
Celebrating 30 years of impact—and the people who made it possible.

06/18/2026

Your Voice Can Help Us Reach More Students
As A Touch of Understanding celebrates 30 years of building empathy, inclusion, and understanding in our communities, we need your help.
If ATOU has touched your life—as a volunteer, donor, educator, student, parent, or community supporter—we invite you to share your experience by leaving a review on GreatNonprofits.
Your story helps others discover the impact of our work and supports our efforts to earn the 2026 Top-Rated Nonprofit Award.
* It only takes a few minutes, but your words can make a lasting difference.
Leave your review here:
https://greatnonprofits.org/org/a-touch-of-understanding-inc
Thank you for helping us continue changing hearts and minds for the next generation.

06/16/2026

Gratitude: The Heartbeat of 30 Years of Impact
Gratitude is more than saying “thank you.” It’s recognizing the people, moments, and opportunities that make a difference in our lives.
Research has shown that practicing gratitude can improve happiness, strengthen relationships, reduce stress, and even support better overall health. Simply taking time to focus on what’s good can change our perspective-and our lives.
As A Touch of Understanding celebrates 30 years of teaching empathy, inclusion, and respect, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for the incredible community that has made this journey possible.
* Our volunteers who share their stories and inspire thousands of students each year
* Our donors and sponsors whose generosity helps us reach more classrooms and communities
* Our teachers, administrators, and school partners who welcome us into their schools
* Our Board of Directors who guide our mission and vision
* Our dedicated team members who work tirelessly behind the scenes
* And YOU-our supporters, followers, advocates, and friends who believe in a world where differences are understood, respected, and celebrated
Because of you, ATOU has reached more than 167,000 students, delivered over 4,000 workshops, and spent 30 years changing hearts and minds—one conversation, one classroom, and one act of kindness at a time.
Today, we invite you to pause and reflect:
✨ What are you grateful for?
✨ Who has made a difference in your life?
✨ Have you told them lately?
Gratitude has a ripple effect. When we share it, we inspire more kindness, more connection, and more understanding.
Thank you for being part of our story. Thank you for helping us create a more inclusive world.

06/11/2026

To Our Extraordinary ATOU Volunteers…Thank You for 30 Years of Impact!
As we wrap up another incredible school year, we want to pause and celebrate the heart and soul of A Touch of Understanding—our amazing volunteers.
As ATOU proudly celebrates 30 years of changing lives through empathy, inclusion, and understanding, we recognize that this milestone would not be possible without the dedicated individuals who have given their time, talents, and hearts to our mission.
Whether you shared your personal story with students, guided hands-on activities, helped behind the scenes, supported special events, served on committees, or championed our mission in the community, you helped create experiences that students will carry with them for a lifetime.
* Because of YOU, thousands of students learned to see beyond differences and embrace understanding.
* Because of YOU, classrooms became places where empathy grows and kindness thrives.
* Because of YOU, ATOU has touched more than 167,000 students over the past 30 years—and the ripple effect continues every day.
Every workshop, every conversation, every smile, and every act of service helps build a more inclusive and compassionate world.
To each volunteer who helped bring our disability awareness workshops and programs to life during the 2025/2026 school year: thank you for believing in our mission and for helping us create lasting change.
As we celebrate this remarkable 30-year journey, please know that you are an essential part of our story-and our future.
💙 Thank you for making a difference.
💙 Thank you for changing lives.
💙 Thank you for being the heart of ATOU.

06/11/2026

A Safe Place for Every Child
On May 16th, A Touch of Understanding was honored to participate in the annual Special Kids Day at Depot Park in Elk Grove-a heartwarming event hosted by Lions Clubs from throughout the Sacramento region.
Designed specifically for children with special needs and their families, Special Kids Day creates a safe, inclusive, and joyful environment where every child can experience the fun and excitement of a carnival-style celebration without barriers.
For ATOU, it was a perfect reflection of the values we have championed for the past 30 years.
Our mission has always been simple: help build a more inclusive world by teaching understanding, empathy, and respect. Through hands-on disability awareness workshops and the powerful stories shared by our volunteer speakers with disabilities, we help students see that while people may use different tools or navigate life differently, everyone deserves the opportunity to belong.
As Volunteer Coordinator Shanna Lowder shared, events like Special Kids Day remind us that it's OK to ask questions, engage in conversation, and learn from one another. True inclusion begins when we replace assumptions with understanding and stigma with connection.
We were grateful for the opportunity to meet families, share our mission, and celebrate the incredible strengths and abilities of every child in attendance.
Because when we create spaces where everyone feels welcome, everyone wins.
*Celebrating 30 Years of Building Empathy, Inclusion, and Understanding.

06/10/2026

The Ripple Effect Continues… And There’s Still Time to Vote
For 30 years, A Touch of Understanding has worked to build a more compassionate world by helping students see ability before disability and kindness before differences.
Thanks to supporters like YOU, we’ve been honored to be recognized as one of STYLE Magazine’s Top Three Nonprofits for the past five years.
As voting continues for the 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, we would truly appreciate your continued support. To cast your vote, go to: STYLERCA.COM
Every vote helps shine a light on the importance of empathy, inclusion, understanding, and respect — values that continue to impact thousands of students, families, and communities throughout our region.
✨ If you haven’t voted yet, there’s still time.
✨ If you already have, THANK YOU for helping us continue this meaningful mission.
Together, we’re creating lasting change… one classroom, one heart, and one community at a time.

The 22nd Annual Style Magazine Readers' Choice Awards Voting! It's your chance to vote on who you think is the best in the best in the local region: From Placerville, Cameron Park and Shingle Springs to Folsom, El Dorado Hills and Gold River and ...

06/04/2026

Planning a Trip This Year? Don’t Forget This!
If you have travel plans coming up—whether it’s a summer vacation, family getaway, or business trip—here’s an easy way to turn that trip into something meaningful
When you book through Adam Endick Travel, they donate 20% of their proceeds (up to $5,000 per trip!) back to A Touch of Understanding—at no cost to you.
✔️ Expert travel planning
✔️ Access to great deals
✔️ 100% free service
✔️ Real impact for our programs
💡 Quick reminder on how to participate:
👉 https://www.adamendicktravel.com/booknow
👉 Complete the form
👉 Be sure to write A Touch of Understanding as your referral
Every trip booked helps us continue reaching thousands of students with our life-changing disability awareness workshops.
💙 Thank you for helping us spread understanding—one journey at a time.

06/02/2026

YOUR STORY MATTERS
Have you ever walked away from an A Touch of Understanding workshop feeling inspired, emotional, hopeful… or simply reminded that kindness still matters?
Now’s your chance to turn that feeling into impact.
As we celebrate 30 YEARS of changing lives through empathy, inclusion, and understanding, we’re asking our incredible community to help us earn the 2026 Top-Rated Nonprofit Award from GreatNonprofits — and we can’t do it without YOUR voice.
Whether you’re:
⭐ A parent
⭐ Teacher
⭐ Student
⭐ Volunteer
⭐ Donor
⭐ Community partner
⭐ Or someone whose life has been touched by ATOU…
…your story can help inspire others and help us continue reaching thousands of students with our life-changing disability awareness workshops.
-Just a few heartfelt sentences can make a BIG difference.
👉 Share your story here:
https://greatnonprofits.org/org/a-touch-of-understanding-inc
Click “Share Your Story” and help us continue creating classrooms — and communities — filled with compassion, acceptance, and respect.
Together, we’re building a kinder world… one story at a time.

a-touch-of-understanding-inc

05/29/2026

A Gentle Reminder… Your Vote Can Help Change Lives
As A Touch of Understanding celebrates 30 years of creating more inclusive schools and communities, we would be honored to have your vote in STYLE Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards 2026.
Every vote is more than recognition for our organization — it’s a vote for kindness, empathy, understanding, and inclusion. It’s a vote that helps shine a light on the importance of teaching students to see beyond differences and build meaningful connections with others.
For three decades, ATOU has worked to create ripple effects of compassion that continue far beyond the classroom walls. With your support, we can continue reaching thousands more students, families, and communities throughout our region.
✨ If ATOU has touched your heart, inspired your family, impacted your school, or made a difference in our community, we would truly appreciate your vote. https://email.cloud2.secureclick.net/c/3423?id=1198818.4525.1.ea25376a6491acbc1b517ac66acd629f
Thank you for believing in our mission and helping us continue this journey together.

05/28/2026

Volunteer Spotlight: Olivia Schweitzer ✨
At A Touch of Understanding, some of the most powerful lessons come from the lived experiences shared by our incredible volunteers — and Olivia Schweitzer is one of those truly special voices making a difference in the lives of students every single week.
Olivia may be one of our newer volunteer speakers, but her impact has already been tremendous.
Before joining ATOU, Olivia spent several years working with disability advocacy groups and discovered how rewarding it is to support and connect with individuals with disabilities. When she learned about A Touch of Understanding, she completed our online application, attended one workshop…and immediately knew she had found something special.
“She was hooked.”
What makes Olivia’s story even more meaningful is that she speaks not only from compassion — but from personal experience. Olivia herself has a disability, and through her honesty, humor, warmth, and openness, she helps students better understand what it means to live with challenges while also embracing life fully.
Students are naturally curious and often ask thoughtful questions:
“Is it hard having a disability?”
“How do you handle everyday things?”
“What’s the best part of having a disability?”
Olivia’s answer is one that leaves a lasting impression:
“It allows me to have a deeper connection with people.”
That simple but powerful perspective helps students see disability through a completely different lens — one rooted in empathy, understanding, connection, and humanity.
Olivia says one of the things she loves most about ATOU is how welcomed she felt by the team right from the start. Her energy is contagious, her enthusiasm shines in every workshop, and her passion for helping children learn kindness and acceptance is impossible to miss.
When she’s not volunteering, Olivia enjoys going to movies, spending time with family and friends, riding bikes, and running with her dad using adaptive equipment.
Volunteers like Olivia remind us why ATOU’s mission matters so deeply. Through every story shared and every conversation sparked, lives are being changed — one classroom at a time.
Thank you, Olivia, for helping students discover that differences don’t divide us…they connect us.