Events
![Street Faire Circle Plastic jars of colored beads on a table outside at the 2022 Fall Street Faire](http://www.understandingdisabilities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1.jpg)
Fall Street Faire
Understanding Disabilities’ signature fundraiser takes place at the Reading Fall Street Faire every September. Since 2019, we have raised money with a community raffle highlighting local businesses. Reading elementary schools compete to raise the most, and the winning school also wins a prize.
![Gala Circle Green bottle and electric candles on a white tablecloth](http://www.understandingdisabilities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2.jpg)
Spring Gala
Understanding Disabilities celebrates our partners, supporters, and speakers with a Spring Gala. Galas are an opportunity to gather, reflect, connect, and learn from our featured keynote speaker.
![Speaker Circle Mandy Harvey singing and playing acoustic guitar onstage in Reading](http://www.understandingdisabilities.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/3.jpg)
Community Speakers
In 2010, UD created a speaker series to encourage thoughtfulness in the community in which our children grow and learn. Prior speakers include: (2018) Mandy Harvey (pictured here), a Deaf singer, songwriter and musician; (2014) Jeff Bauman, who was recovering from double amputation resulting from the BostonMarathon bombing; (2012) Dr. Ned Hallowell, who spoke on finding the buried treasure in ADD/ADHD; (2011) Shonda Schilling, who spoke to us about her familys journey with autism; and (2010) Karen Gaffney, who challenges conventional barriers we place on people with Down Syndrome.