UOD Spring Benefit 2026

Visionary Leader Award – Rebecca Lubens

Rebecca Lubens has worked in nonprofit management for more than 25 years, most recently serving as UOD’s Executive Director from 2011 to 2025, and now as its Advancement Consultant. She is personally passionate about UOD’s mission, having a family member with a disability and seeing firsthand the urgent need for disability awareness education. During her time leading UOD, Rebecca championed a professional, forward-looking approach that embraced change and growth while staying true to UOD’s core values of respect and inclusion for all. She brought steadfast leadership through a period marked by disruption and COVID-19, grounded in her belief that this essential program is more critical than ever.

Community Leadership Award – Jini Fairley

Jini Fairley has been a dedicated disability advocate since the 1980s. Jini’s journey with Understanding Our Differences (UOD) began in 1981, when fellow Bowen Elementary parent Carolyn Spengler invited her to volunteer. At Bowen, Jini served as a Unit Leader and School Coordinator during her 5 children’s years there. At the invitation of former Executive Director Beth Mendel, she joined the Board of Directors where she served for nearly 25 years, including 10 years as Board Treasurer. She continues to serve on the Advisory Board.

For Jini, UOD was transformative. Diagnosed with an inherited retinal degenerative disease at age 30, she credits the program with helping her “come out of the closet” regarding her vision loss—moving from “faking it” to proudly navigating the world with a white cane and her guide dogs.
Jini’s advocacy eventually became her profession, culminating in her recent retirement as the ADA Coordinator for the City of Newton. Her legacy is most visible when she walks through Newton with her guide dog, Rubicon, and hears a parent—educated by the programs Jini championed—tell their child not to pet the “working dog.” Jini’s lifetime of leadership and her commitment to inclusion has made our community a more welcoming place for people of all abilities.