Poses Family Foundation

UNDERSTOOD FOR ALL IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING RESOURCES, EXPERTISE AND COMMUNITY TO THE 1-IN-5 PERSONS WHO LEARN AND THINK DIFFERENTLY SO THAT THEY HAVE A GREATER ABILITY AND OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE. U4A ACCOMPLISHES THIS THROUGH UNDERSTOOD.ORG, A FREE, WEBBY-WINNING ONLINE RESOURCE, WHICH PROVIDES OVER 2,500 EXPERT-VETTED ARTICLES, VIDEOS AND INTERACTIVE TOOLS FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, EDUCATORS AND EMPLOYERS OF THE 1-IN-5 WITH PRACTICAL AND ACTIONABLE INFORMATION, ALONG WITH DAILY ACCESS TO EXPERTS AND AN ONLINE COMMUNITY THAT FOSTERS CONNECTIVITY. CURRENTLY SUPPORTING SOME 2.5 MILLION PEOPLE PER MONTH, UNDERSTOOD.ORG IS A PLATFORM FOR LARGE-SCALE CHANGE IN THE LEARNING AND ATTENTION ISSUES FIELD. U4A ALSO STRIVES TO BE A CATALYST FOR CHANGE IN HOW THE NATION VIEWS DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AND INCLUSION. THROUGH THE WORKPLACE INITIATIVE POWERED BY UNDERSTOOD, U4A FOCUSES ON LOCAL/REGIONAL COLLABORATION, NATIONAL COMPANY-BASED PROJECTS, AND DISABILITY INCLUSION FIELD-BUILDING EFFORTS.

THE FAMILY DINNER PROJECT (TFDP) IS A 10-YEAR-OLD GROWING GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT ABOUT FOOD, FUN AND CONVERSATION THAT MATTERS. MORE THAN 20 YEARS OF RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES THAT FAMILY MEALTIMES ARE A STRONG PREDICTOR OF POSITIVE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, MENTAL HEALTH AND ACADEMIC OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. BUILDING ON THIS RESEARCH ABOUT THE "WHY" OF FAMILY DINNERS, TFDP IS THE "HOW" OF FAMILY DINNERS, OFFERING RESOURCES TO HELP TODAY'S BUSY FAMILIES IMPROVE THE FREQUENCY AND QUALITY OF THEIR MEALS TOGETHER. NOW A NATIONAL AUTHORITY ON FAMILY DINNERS, TFDP IS QUOTED AND FEATURED IN MAJOR MEDIA. TFDP HAS SUPPORTED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES THROUGH PARTNERS AND DIRECTLY WITH IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS AS WELL AS ONLINE WITH ITS WEBSITE (WWW.THEFAMILYDINNERPROJECT.ORG), WEBINARS AND SOCIAL MEDIA. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY DINNER PROJECT.

THE SHEFA SCHOOL, A PLURALISTIC JEWISH COMMUNITY SCHOOL, SPECIFICALLY SERVES STUDENTS WITH LANGUAGE-BASED LEARNING DISABILITIES. THE PROGRAM IS GEARED TOWARD STUDENTS WHO HAVE AVERAGE TO ABOVE AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE WHO HAVE NOT REACHED THEIR POTENTIAL LEVELS OF SUCCESS IN TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM SETTINGS. STUDENTS RECEIVE LANGUAGE AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY BASED ON INDIVIDUAL NEEDS DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. A PSYCHOLOGIST CONSULTS REGULARLY WITH TEACHERS, SPECIALISTS, AND PARENTS AROUND QUESTIONS REGARDING STUDENT LEARNING STYLES AND BEHAVIORS AS WELL AS SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL ISSUES. THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES A SEMI-ANNUAL IN-DEPTH EVALUATION OF THE SHEFA SCHOOL AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS INTENDED PROGRAM WITH WRITTEN AND VERBAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MODIFICATION AND IMPROVEMENT.