Founder.CEO

Founder and CEO, Tiffany A. Allen created United Learning Foundation (U.L.F.) in an effort to educate and inspire, shifting the energy of this world to a more compassionate, safe and inclusive place for each one of us. Ms. Allen has become a change agent by employing her personal experiences of living life with a physical disability, coupled with her professional expertise in a number of different industries and with a number of different individuals that live with both seen and unseen challenges, as well her education; to create an all-inclusive boutique disability consulting firm focused on solving problems, writing and advising policies and filling gaps in service.

Ms. Allen, born and raised in the Central Valley of California, began life with a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy of her hands and arms (Arthrogryposis) that left her hands completely immobile. It was expected that she would have no ability to maintain her independence and live a life unassisted by modifications and special treatment. Today, through a mixture of daily exercise of her upper extremities, a belief that she could learn to live in an inflexible world and thrive, tenacity, resilience, and sheer stubbornness, she has gone on to achieve a life and a career that she had only once dreamed of.

Education:

Bachelor of Arts: Political Science/State Diego State University

Minor: Social Work/ San Diego State University

Master's Degree: Homeland Security/ San Diego State University (Graduation: May 2020)

Post Graduate Studies: Cornell University

Employment Disability Institute

Specialization: Person Centered Work

Disability Subject Matter Expert (DSME) / Disability and other Access and Functional Needs Expert (D/AFNE):

Ms. Allen has become a nationally recognized and sought after DSME and D/AFN Expert for a number of local and national projects for various agencies and organizations where a disability point of view is needed. From living with a physical disability to working extensively with individuals that live with cognitive and developmental challenges in a day program setting, to working with school-aged children that were classified as “emotionally disturbed” via a therapeutic school site, and older adults that live with Alzheimer’s/Dementia as a result of her work with San Diego Hospice; Ms. Allen is uniquely qualified to speak on, teach, and consider, a number perspectives for each project. The depth of her personal and professional experience is rare to find.

In regards to Emergency Management, Ms. Allen is also, currently, the Access and Functional Needs Senior Emergency Services Coordinator for the City of San Diego, Office of Homeland Security and has also worked as a Lead Associate in Mass Care/Disaster Response for the American Red Cross San Diego and Imperial County Chapter. As a result, she has also consulted for the organization through individual chapters and presented at the ARC Health Summit, speaking on Access and Functional Needs. As well as having responded to Hurricane Irma Disaster Response Operation (2017) as the Disability Integration Lead for the entire bottom half of the state of Florida. She is also a DSME for the State of California FAST (Functional Assessment Service Team) program and a technical adviser on the Emergency Function Work group 6 (sheltering) for the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), appointed by Richard Devylder, past Chief, Office of Access and Functional Needs, CA Governor's Office of Access and Functional Needs.

Though her work travels take her far and wide, San Diego, CA is where she calls home.

Affiliations

-Ohio Department of Health

-State Legislature Appointed Commissioner: California Commission on Disability Access (CCDA)

-City of San Diego, Office of Emergency Services

-U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce

-City of Fresno/ Disability Advisory Commission; 2012-2017 (Vice Chair)

-Monthly Columnist: Community Alliance newspaper

-Muscular Dystrophy Association/ San Diego Chpt.:Volunteer (Volunteer of the Year, 2008)

-Fresno County Juvenile Hall

-San Diego Hospice

-San Diego Humane Society