Understanding Our Differences

05/27/2026

Great article in today's Fig City News about The Monologue Project this Sunday. Don't miss this meaningful community event, featuring the voices and lived experience of blind, deaf and physically disabled people. Several members of UOD's Board of Directors and Advisory Board will be participating! Join us this Sunday, May 31st at 4:00pm in the multipurpose room at the Cooper Center for Active Living, 345 Walnut Street, Newton. Free but kindly RSVP.

For nearly a decade, the Newton Theatre Company (NTC) has been showcasing diverse voices telling their own stories during its annual “Monologue Project.”  This year, the NTC and the Newton nonprofit Understanding Our Differences (UOD) partnered to create “The Monologue Project: Voices of the ...

05/14/2026

Save the date! Join us for The Monologue Project: Voices of the Blind, Deaf, and Physically Disabled on Sunday May 31st at 4pm, at The Cooper Center for Active Living, 345 Walnut Street, Newton.
Experience powerful monologues that bring to life the unique stories of blind, deaf, and physically disabled members of the Newton community. It's a chance to connect, learn, and be moved by voices that often go unheard.

Free but kindly RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-monologue-project-voices-of-the-blind-deaf-and-physically-disabled-tickets-1987101751831?aff=oddtdtcreator Co-sponsored with Newton Theatre Company of Newton, MA and City of Newton Commission On Disability.

05/02/2026

FINAL HOUR! Bid by 6pm on the Spring Benefit online auction to support UOD.

https://app.galabid.com/uodauction2026/items

This auction is open to you AND your friends and family. Browse and bid on a fantastic collection of experiences and items right now. We have options for all budgets, too! And, if you don't see anything for you, keep an eye out for something for someone you care about! And of course there is always the "Fund-A-Need" to give a donation directly to UOD for our programs and guest speakers.

All proceeds from the online auction support
 Understanding Our Differences.

A special thanks to the many generous donors who contributed items to the auction. Their generosity, and yours, supports our work of fostering respect and inclusion for people of all abilities in schools and communities.

In addition to our wonderful Board and Advisory Board members who donated experiences and items, here is a list of the wonderful businesses:

Bosse Pickledom
Branchline
Carla Shaw Sustainable Fashion
Cookie Monstah
Cristina Garcia Jewelry
Discovery Museum
Diva’s Nail & Day Spa
Fuji at Newton
Greentail Table
Institute of Contemporary Art
Lowell Spinners
Maritime Hotel
Myers+Chang
New England Aquarium
Ogunquit Playhouse
Old Sturbridge Village
Old Town Trolley Tours
Peabody Essex Museum
Tatte Bakery and Cafe
The Red Sox Foundation
The Shamrock Foundation of the Boston Celtics
UOD Board of Directors
West Newton Cinema

05/02/2026

It's the FINAL HOUR to bid on fantastic experiences and items in the UOD Spring Benefit online auction!

Bid by 6pm: https://app.galabid.com/uodauction2026/items

All proceeds from the online auction support
 Understanding Our Differences.

Don't keep the fun to yourself — share the auction link and spark a friendly bidding war with friends. Click below to explore the auction and place your bids! .

A special thanks to the many generous donors who contributed items to the auction. Their generosity, and yours, supports our work of fostering respect and inclusion for people of all abilities in schools and communities.

Thank you to our wonderful Board and Advisory Board members who donated experiences and items.

Please show your support for the businesses who have so generously donated to our auction:

Bosse Pickledom
Branchline
Carla Shaw Sustainable Fashion
Cookie Monstah
Cristina Garcia Jewelry
Discovery Museum
Diva’s Nail & Day Spa
Fuji at Newton
Greentail Table
Institute of Contemporary Art
Lowell Spinners
Maritime Hotel
Myers+Chang
New England Aquarium
Ogunquit Playhouse
Old Sturbridge Village
Old Town Trolley Tours
Peabody Essex Museum
Tatte Bakery and Cafe
The Red Sox Foundation
The Shamrock Foundation
UOD Board of Directors
West Newton Cinema

05/02/2026

Ready for some baseball? Bid by 6pm today, May 2nd, for these great seats for Thursday's Boston Red Sox vs. Rays game and give to UOD at the same time!

This and other great items are available until 6pm today:
https://app.galabid.com/uodauction2026/items/b0a5bf7a-5e78-4776-a6c3-ac9124b6536d

Here's the description:
Boston Red Sox take on the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday, May 7th at 7:10 PM

Bang a uey off Comm Ave and head straight for the pahk! You and your favorite Sox fan will be front and center for a classic rivalry.

Whether you're a diehard fan or just in it for the Fenway Franks, this is baseball at its best. Get ready for a night of peanuts, chants, and maybe even a Green Monster sighting!

The Seats:
Prime Location: Field Box 34, Row G, Seats 1 & 2 Just 7 rows behind the Red Sox Dugout! https://3ddigitalvenue.com/3dmap/clients/fenway-park-redsox/?v360=U19GMzQtRy0x
The View: Close enough to hear the dugout chatter and smell the pine tar.
The Atmosphere: The perfect spot for Fenway Franks, "Sweet Caroline," and every crack of the bat.

Value: Over $300.

Boston Red Sox take on the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday, May 7th at 7:10 PM Bang a uey off Comm Ave and head straight for the pahk! You and your favorite Sox fan

05/01/2026

Spring Benefit Online Auction - Things are heating up on our auction to support UOD. https://app.galabid.com/uodauction2026/items

Please share! This auction is open to you AND your friends and family. Start browsing and bidding on a fantastic collection of experiences and items right now.

We have options for all budgets, too! And, if you don't see anything for you, keep an eye out for something for someone you care about!

And of course there is always the "Fund-A-Need" to give a donation directly to UOD for our programs and guest speakers.

We have too many things to list, but here are just a few examples of some amazing personalized experiences for you to bid on:
-- L'Art de Vivre: An Evening of French Gastronomy & Conversation
-- Digital Photography Starter Session
-- A 90-Minute Journey to Inner Calm (for Two)

And, of course, we have Red Sox Tickets, great restaurant offerings, and some really special items including an amazing beach bundle with so many cool beach items, just in time for summer! Check it out!

04/25/2026

More exciting news! — our Spring Benefit online auction to support UOD is officially LIVE! Start browsing and bidding on a fantastic collection of items right now.: https://app.galabid.com/uodauction2026/items

All proceeds from the online auction support Understanding Our Differences. Don't keep the fun to yourself — share the auction link and spark a friendly bidding war with friends. To place your bid, you will need to complete a simple registration on the auction site. Our auction will run through Saturday, May 2nd at 6:00pm.

We can't list them all, but here are a couple of fun ones!

BBoston Celticsfans, this one’s for you: Score a one-of-a-kind official Payton Pritchard Autographed Poster. Pritchard is considered one of the best 3-point shooters in the league!

Dreaming of a Manhattan escape? Enjoy a stylish two-night stay at TThe Maritime Hotel right by the High Line — one of many amazing adventures and goodies up for grab.

And,many thanks to the many generous donors who contributed items to the auction. Their generosity, and yours, supports our work of fostering respect and inclusion for people of all abilities in schools and communities.

Bid early and bid often!

04/20/2026

We are wishing you good luck on your Boston Marathon run today, Dan Oliveira! Thanks for running AND fundraising for UOD!
If you haven't had the chance to support Dan's fundraising, please help him reach his goal! https://www.givengain.com/project/daniel-raising-funds-for-understanding-our-differences-inc-114256

And if you are going to the Marathon today, cheer Dan on as he runs!

Go Dan Go!

Image below shows a photo of Dan showing off a medal at a finish line; Text reads Go Dan Go! You Got this! Thank you! - UOD

04/09/2026

Did you miss the fundraiser event that our Boston Marathon runner Dan Oliveira held last week? You're in luck! This time the place is Tempo in Waltham. And, this time, there will be live band karaoke from 8:30-11). Mention you are there for the marathon fundraiser for Understanding Our Differences. Go Dan!

Tempo – 474 Moody Street, Waltham
Thursday, April 9
6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
(There's also live band karaoke from 8:30–11)

Promotional flyer for Boston Marathon Charity Night. Location: Tempo, 474 Moody St, Waltham. Date: Thursday, April 9, 6 PM–11 PM. Raising money for the organization Understanding Our Differences. The image features a pub atmosphere with burgers and beer.

04/02/2026

Don't know what to do for dinner tonight? A reminder that today is one of two times you can help Dan Oliveira raise funds for Understanding Our Differences as part of his Boston Marathon run. We admire his determination to not only run, but to give back to our community by raising money to support the mission of UOD and our work to foster more inclusive communities.

The flyer below says:
Boston Marathon Fundraiser
Raising Money for Understanding Our Differences
Margaritas – 211 Moody Street, Waltham
Thursday, April 2
3:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Food, Drink, Music, Community Day Center of Waltham

Another photo shows Dan Oliveira speaking to young students at Service Stars who invited him to come and share about how he trains and why he is giving back through running and fundraising. The kids had great questions and Dan seems like a natural with them!

01/26/2026

Join us for the Disability Dialogues Book Group tomorrow evening, January 27th at 7pm EST on Zoom. We will discuss the Nonfiction Memoir - Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges An Inaccessible World, by Jessica Slice. This is going to be a really interesting discussion about parenting, family, disability, and society.

Here's a link for more info:
https://understandingourdifferences.org/disability-dialogues/

We are a friendly group that does our best to discuss the book and make connections within the broader context of the disability experience. Please join us!

Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/vYMbBa2-SUWqvbVYUsvulg