Inclusion in action: K.I. Jones Elementary fosters compassion with ATOU's hands-on activities.
FAIRFIELD, CA – November 6, 2025 – K.I. Jones Elementary School proudly hosted the non-profit organization A Touch of Understanding (ATOU) on October 24, 2025, for the second consecutive year. The immersive, three-hour workshop engaged all 5th grade students in a crucial discussion and hands-on activities centered on disability awareness, acceptance, and inclusion.
The program was brought to K.I. Jones campus to proactively address and increase understanding of both visible and invisible disabilities among students and staff. By providing real-world learning and first-hand accounts, the school aims to foster a more empathetic and supportive community, emphasizing that everyone — regardless of ability — can face challenges and at the same time achieve their goals. The success of this second annual event confirms the school’s commitment to making the ATOU workshop a yearly tradition and an integrated core value.
Superintendent Jennifer Sachs commended the school’s initiative, stating, "The commitment K.I. Jones has shown to bringing A Touch of Understanding back for a second year reflects our district's dedication to equity, inclusivity, and comprehensive character education. Programs like this are vital for building a future generation that champions diversity and supports all members of our community."
The workshop format provides a unique learning environment, split between powerful personal storytelling and hands-on exploration. The speaker portion allows students to meet and interact with ATOU’s dedicated volunteers who have various disabilities. These volunteers candidly share their life experiences, challenges, and how they achieve their personal goals, creating a safe space for students to ask questions they might hesitate to ask elsewhere.
The activity portion further cemented these lessons through four interactive stations:
Mobility Station: Students navigated the campus using wheelchairs and examined different braces and artificial limbs.
Vision Station: Students learned to use white mobility canes and practiced writing in Braille, offering a glimpse into the visual impairment experience.
Invisible Differences Station: Students performed a challenging mirror-writing exercise to understand learning differences and used audio recordings to comprehend some of the sensory challenges associated with autism.
Principal Krista Nichols shared her perspective on the program’s positive influence, saying, "This workshop directly supports our school's mission to create an inclusive and compassionate learning environment. Seeing our 5th graders engage with the ATOU volunteers and participate in the hands-on stations confirms the deep impact this program has on their character development. It is an invaluable day of learning for everyone here."
Victoria Rodgers, a 5th grade teacher, emphasized the program's value: “I first learned about A Touch of Understanding when I interned for them as a Sacramento State University student. I am very excited that we were able to welcome them back for a second year in a row to engage our 5th graders in real-world learning experiences and learn from the speaker's first-hand stories. It was a meaningful opportunity to spotlight visible and invisible disabilities. The students were engaged and enjoyed their day."
