EMPOWERNG INDIVIDUALS TO CHOOSE THEIR OWN PATH

Ethical and trustworthy Independent Facilitator dedicated to providing excellent customer service and prioritizing the unique needs of every client.

At Next Level Independent Facilitation, I believe every individual with special needs deserves a champion… someone who truly listens, fiercely advocates, and puts their goals first.

Built on a career rooted in inclusion and service, Next Level brings a rare combination of frontline experience and professional expertise to California's Self-Determination Program. I began as an educator who didn't just teach students with special needs, I transformed how they were served, successfully advocating to move students out of segregated classrooms and into inclusive environments with the right support. That commitment to doing what's right, not just what's easy, has never stopped.

What sets Next Level apart is simple: I show up for my clients the way I'd want someone to show up for me. That means honest, ethical, person-centered planning aligned with California's Self-Determination Program requirements delivered with the organization, responsiveness, and genuine care that individuals and families truly deserve. 

I'm not just a facilitator. I'm an advocate, a planner, and a partner for the individual, and for the family standing beside them. At Next Level, your goals are my goals!

Hi, I'm Amanda, founder of Next Level Independent Facilitation.
I created this practice because I believe every individual with a developmental disability deserves a passionate advocate who listens deeply, plans thoughtfully and never stops fighting for what's right for them.

My journey to independent facilitation began in the classroom.  As a credentialed secondary educator in San Diego School District and other districts, I spent over a decade working alongside students with a wide range of developmental disabilities, including deaf or hard of hearing, adapting instruction and designing individualized supports to ensure every student could access learning fully and meaningfully.

One of my proudest professional accomplishments came when I successfully advocated to eliminate segregated science classes at my school site, integrating students with special needs into general education courses.  Working hand-in-hand with special needs staff, IEP teams and families, I helped create an environment where every student belonged.

After education, I built a long career in professional services where I sharpened my skills that make a great independent facilitator; active listening, organization, prioritization, responsiveness and the ability to manage complex moving-part situations while keeping the individual at the center.  I've always prided myself on delivering results, maintaining the highest ethical standards and treating every person I work with the way I'd want to be treated myself. 

My commitment to this community isn't just professional it's personal.  I have close friends whose children have Down syndrome or are on the autism spectrum.  Through these relationships, I've gained firsthand understanding of the day-to-day realities families navigate from early intervention and school advocacy to long-term planning.  Those experiences gave me a deep appreciation for how much the right support at the right time can change a family's life.

I believe that a full self-determined life looks different for everyone and I try to live that truth myself.  When I'm not supporting clients and families you'll find me weight training, practicing yoga, hiking, at live music shows or out on the pickleball court.  I love travel, domestic and international, tending to my plants, taking creative classes such as pottery.  Those are not just hobbies they're a reminder of why person-centered planning matters.  Everyone deserves a life built around what brings them joy.

I'd be honored to bring that same belief to supporting you and your family on your Self-Determination journey.