Amanda Owen is a children’s book author, speaker, podcaster, nonprofit founder/director and lifelong advocate for those with disabilities.

Her big brother, Nick, was the 11th person in the world diagnosed with his rare chromosomal disability, which meant Amanda grew up as an advocate. She became a special education teacher to help students like her brother, but desired to offer her students and their families more.

Taking a leap of faith, Amanda left the classroom 11 years ago to launch Puzzle Pieces, a Kentucky-based nonprofit that serves individuals with disabilities, offering them targeted autism services, residential living, vocational training, supported employment, behavior services and more. She has grown Puzzle Pieces to serve more than 400 clients with a staff of over 100 and manages a $6 million operating budget.

Amanda’s work has become a state and national model for disability services, allowing her to speak all over the country on advocacy, provider services and her perspective as a sibling. She has dedicated her life’s work to ensuring others with disabilities are included in their communities and live meaningful, fulfilled lives.

Amanda loves connecting with caregivers, helping them better understand the neurotypical child’s perspective and having the hard conversations that only special needs families can understand. Her role as a sibling has shaped who she is and set the trajectory of her life’s work and passion.