About Amanda Morin:

Amanda Morin is an impact-driven, mission-oriented expert within the fields of education and neurodiversity. She's also a nationally known speaker, published author, host of a successful podcast, early childhood specialist, and certified special education advocate. She's dedicated her career to working in social impact, professional development, instructional design, and programmatic development to ensure families, educators, and employers have resources and support to build accessible, empathetic spaces for neurodivergent people.

Amanda works in print and digital media as a writer and editor, empowering parents and educators to affirm the pivotal roles they play in children’s education. She played an integral role in launching Understood.org in 2014. Amanda has also worked with other organizations and publications, including: Bright & Quirky, Matan, Hidden Sparks Without Walls, Edutopia, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), Education.com, Parenting Special Needs Magazine, DotDash (formerly known as About.com), and Popsugar Moms.

In the role of Director of Thought Leadership at Understood, Amanda headed up a team of committed researchers, subject matter experts, and thought leaders in efforts to build knowledge about neurodiversity, to ensure the organization’s work is evidence-based, and includes the most up-to-date thinking in the field. She provides unique expertise, and innovative perspectives to other mission-driven education and family-facing organizations and coalitions.

Amanda is the author of five books: The Everything Parent’s Guide to Special Education, The Everything Kids’ Learning Activities Book, On-the-Go Fun for Kids: More Than 250 Activities to Keep Little Ones Busy and Happy — Anytime, Anywhere!, What Is Empathy? A Bullying Storybook for Kids, and Adulting Made Easy: Things Someone Should Have Told You About Getting Your Grown-Up Act Together.

During her years as an early childhood educator, she taught kindergarten and worked with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with disabilities. She provided education and training to parents of children with disabilities and led multidisciplinary teams in developing and implementing Individual Family Service Plans.

Amanda received special education advocacy training from the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. She holds a certificate in Universal Design for Learning from the UDL Implementation and Research Network, sits on the Center for Incl