Testimonials

“Your time and attention to detail as we walked the Colgate Inn and its environs has
been most helpful. I share this letter with you in thanks because your insights will be
most valuable as we continue to have more areas where we can be more welcoming
and inclusive of people with disabilities and their families.”

“I watched you come into contact with our staff from our Head of Operations to clerks at
the Concierge desk and you live what you speak about in terms of Diversity & Inclusion.
I know that any organization that works with you will benefit from the value and the
energy that you bring to this work. for us in the hotel and excursion world, and beyond.”

“We would like to thank you for visiting Ballsbridge College as a guest speaker.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a hugely relevant issue in our College, which has a
diverse international student population. We particularly appreciated the way in which
you were able to broaden the conversation, to include all forms of difference and that
you addressed the various -isms which can make people feel excluded from full
participation in society and the workplace.”

“It was indeed a pleasure and privilege to have someone with your extensive personal
and professional knowledge about inclusion conduct an abbreviated workshop in my
online graduate class. … You were very respectful of my students’ identities and
intentionally made explicit connections between the workshop content and their own narratives. It is no small feat to establish rapport with your audience online during one class session.”

“Tami Luchow spoke about "Self-Care" to my medical practice. She is a wonderful,
engaging, poignant, and inspirational speaker who has the perspective of the struggles of a person living and succeeding on every front with a physical disability. … I would
highly recommend Tami as a motivational speaker for any workplace, however large or
small! She makes a real difference!”

“It is no small task to captivate close to three hundred students, especially 9th graders.
However, Tami's authenticity and compelling story gripped everyone's attention. Her
tale is inspiring and her amazing ability to connect with people shines through as she
delivers her story. I could not think of a more relevant topic and speaker to address our
students in a time when many are struggling to find the motivation and ability to push
through adversity. Tami was extremely professional and thorough in her preparation for
her presentation. It was evident from our very first conversation prior to her arrival that she works with passion and aims to leave a lasting impression on students. She was an absolute joy to have in our school and we look forward to hosting her again in the
future.”

“What a pleasure it was having Tami Luchow speak to our 9th graders. Our students were truly moved by her message and story. She personalized her presentation for students and provided an engaging presentation based on school and personal values.”

"I have heard rave reviews about your presentation at the Middle School. This is the kind of program our students need to hear. Being unique and different is something that children struggle with, especially at the Middle School level. Your story, I know touched many students and faculty members."

"Tami is truly a special person; unique in her energy level and commitment. Surely her disability has shaped her life and made her stronger. It has given her a confidence in
her abilities, and yes, a sense of joy and creativity... One understands almost immediately, that she has a purpose for her life and that it will always include education
and helping others appreciate special people. I really cannot say enough about the
outstanding qualities of this woman."

"Camp is a place where children of all backgrounds are brought together with common
goals–independence, growth and fun. When we value what makes each person unique
we have a richer camping experience. Tami did an incredible job of personalizing the difficulties of working with differences and diversity. Our staff members related to her
background and presentation and her message really resonated with them."

"My daughter enjoyed Tami Luchow's program about valuing differences. Not only did she enjoy the workshop, but she came home talking about it...and she has actually retained some of the important messages over time. She is at an age where kids are starting to be a bit harsh in terms of how they relate to each other, and so Tami's points on recognizing what is unique about each of us and treating everyone with respect really hit home."

"Recently I was reflecting on the powerful impact of the program which you delivered to our faculty and seventh grade students. As we had discussed initially, the strength of the program lies in the presentation which you first do with the faculty to sensitize them about your work, and the follow-up meetings in small groups with each seventh grade class. Students, faculty and parents were quite impressed with the program. In particular, many parents told me that their children were very animated in their discussion with them at home."

"Any group of young people would benefit from a presentation by Tami Luchow. It is an experience they are not likely to ever forget, and one that can help to develop sensitivity, compassion and courage in all children."

Please accept this letter as an expression of gratitude for your many contributions to the Tenafly Public Schools during my tenure. As both an active parent, advocate and professional, you have served us in ways that advanced our knowledge of and service to people with visible and invisible disabilities. I would be remiss if I did not extend to you this note of thanks prior to my retirement from the district.

The time you spent with our Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds resulted in facilities that continue to become more and more inclusive and welcoming to all individuals. Following our Geissinger Field bleacher replacement project, which enabled wheelchair access, a parent shared a photo of her son smiling ear to ear with excitement. Now, he could wheel his chair up to the bleachers, join his friends, and watch his sister cheer from the stands, no longer seeing her through the fence at ground level.

This, Ms. Luchow, is a direct reflection of your voluntary service as an informal consultant and a testament to the care and compassion vou have for all individuals as well as your commitment to spreading this to others through your educational efforts on the importance of inclusivity.

Similarly in your professional capacity as a facilitator of a self-care workshop, you demonstrated to staff the significant ways they can contribute to their own well-being in order to foster the well-being of those they serve. This workshop not only supported the district's efforts in staff social-emotional wellness, but also provided strategies and tools that would later prove highly beneficial as our educators faced the challenges brought on by the pandemic which followed shortly thereafter.

I understand that your contributions to the district started well-before my time here and will likely continue on in the years to come, as you are just "that kind of person." My sincere gratitude to you for all that you are, all that you do, and all the good that you will continue to put into the world.