Amanda is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant since 2002 and moved to San Diego from New York in 2015. She has been working with children with special needs since 1999, beginning her career as a teacher assistant at the preschool her sister attended as a child with spina bifida. It has been her dream for years to combine her love of martial arts with her passion for working with children with special needs, whether it’s autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, learning disabilities, hearing/vision deficits, etc. She has studied karate, Muay Thai, and jiu-jitsu since 2006 and has competed in kickboxing and grappling on an amateur level. Coaching is her passion and she believes martial arts has many benefits for all children, particularly children who have difficulties with sensory processing, attention span, focusing on tasks, impulse control, body awareness, and low muscle strength. Amanda has taught adaptive martial arts and self-defense at South East Consortium for Special Services, Inc., We Rock the Spectrum, Gigi’s Playhouse, The Challenge Center, Adaptive Sports and Recreation Association, and various martial arts gyms around San Diego.