Amanda Parker
Amanda Parker’s lived experience has shaped how she shows up as a leader, lifelong learner, a teacher, and advocate. She has spent years focused on furthering her education so that one day she could pour back into her own community.
“I was inspired to study child development because I like being around children and working with children,” said Amanda. “My own life experiences shaped the way I approached my studies in child development, by me having a disability and understanding children with disabilities better.”
Amanda earned her bachelor’s degree in child development from California State University, Sacramento in 2015. She faced some challenges. “Not being able to pay attention to lectures and take notes at the same time, not being able to complete tests in the allotted time and having trouble reading and understanding assigned books.” But she’s proud of what she accomplished with the support of her parents and the campus disability office.
Today, Amanda is using what she has learned to make an impact in the lives of people across the State as the president of California Autistic Self Advocates and serving on several advocacy committees. She’s also completing the Northern California Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program at UC Davis MIND Institute. The program trains self-advocates, family members, and graduate and post-graduate professionals, and other professionals to develop leadership skills to work with people who have autism and other developmental disabilities.
“The advice I give to someone who is working toward a big goal and facing setbacks along the way is to keep with it and not give up,” said Amanda.
When she’s not working or in school, Amanda enjoys painting with acrylics and spending time with her service dog Jasmine at their home. She also plays basketball, soccer, bocce ball, bowling and track through Special Olympics.
