The conversation explores the importance of talking to kids about disabilities and how to approach the topic. Amanda Owen, who has a brother with a rare chromosomal disability, shares her personal experience and passion for advocating for individuals with disabilities. They discuss the need to normalize disabilities early on, finding common ground with individuals with disabilities, and the importance of open and honest conversations. They also touch on the generational shift in attitudes towards disabilities and the impact of societal norms on children's perceptions. In this conversation, Amanda Owen discusses how to address children's curiosities and teach empathy and inclusivity towards individuals with disabilities. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing similarities and finding common interests, as well as using moments of curiosity as teaching opportunities. Amanda also suggests using the phrase 'excuse us while we're learning' to address inappropriate comments and engage in a respectful conversation. She encourages parents to have scripted conversations with their children about differences and to model empathy and inclusivity in their own behavior. Amanda also shares her books, 'Owen the Wonder' series, which teach children about disabilities and promote understanding and acceptance.

Chapters

00:00: Introduction and Personal Experience

02:50: Normalization and Early Conversations

07:46: Finding Common Ground

13:00: Open and Honest Conversations

17:55: Challenging Societal Norms

22:21: Recognizing Similarities and Finding Common Interests

27:17: Modeling Behavior and Having Scripted Conversations

31:45: Promoting Understanding and Acceptance Through Books

About Amanda

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. 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 inspires everyone she meets to dream big, work hard, own their mistakes and learn from them, be themselves, and most of all -- laugh!

Amanda loves to connect! Find her at:

Website: piecesofme.org

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pieces-of-me/id1547078857

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/piecesofmebyamanda

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piecesofmebyamanda/

Episode Sponsors:

Invest in your whole family’s health with Seed. Go to Seed.com/MAMAKNOWS and use code 25MAMAKNOWS to get 25% off your first month of DS-01® Daily Synbiotic or PDS-08® Pediatric Daily Synbiotic. 

Never skip therapy day, with BetterHelp.

Visit BetterHelp.com/MAMAKNOWS today to get 10% off your first month.

Disney Jr.’s Ariel is an animated musical series for preschoolers inspired by the beloved story of “The Little Mermaid.” It follows 8-year-old mermaid princess Ariel as she and her friends embark on fun-filled, action-packed underwater adventures throughout their Caribbean-inspired fairytale kingdom of Atlantica and beyond. The series features fan-favorite characters, including King Triton, Ursula, Sebastian, and Flounder, as well as exciting new additions like Ariel’s two best friends, mer-children Lucia and Fernie, and lots of other adorable sea creatures. The series debuts Thursday, June 27 on Disney Jr. and next day, Friday, June 28 on Disney+.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices