Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Baar.
Hi Amanda, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born at St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital and raised in Manatee County, and I’m incredibly proud to call Florida home. I am 31 years old and have a degree in Business Administration. I have an amazing family and have been blessed with a strong, supportive extended family as well. I currently live in Downtown Sarasota and love to play pickleball!
One of the greatest influences in my life is my younger brother, Joey, who was born with Down syndrome. Growing up with him shaped the way I see the world and taught me the value of inclusion, patience, and celebrating each person’s unique strengths.
For the past five years, I’ve worked in roles focused on supporting individuals with disabilities through employment, recreation, and community-based programming. I have also served as a Coach with the Special Olympics for the last ten years.
I come from a family with deep roots in Manatee and Sarasota Counties. Members of my immediate and extended family have helped start organizations and businesses such as Hunsader Farms, Manasota BUDS (Bringing Up Down Syndrome) and Meals on Wheels Bradenton.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My path was not always what I expected. During my teens and early twenties, I watched both of my brothers face childhood cancer and undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Those experiences had a profound impact on me and shaped the way I approached life’s challenges.
At 25, I was pursuing a degree in dental hygiene when my life changed unexpectedly. In 2020, I was diagnosed with a thalamic brain tumor and underwent a high-risk brain surgery. Although the surgery was successful, I was left with deficits that made it difficult to continue my degree. At the time, it felt like I was losing the future I had envisioned for myself.
Not long after, I met Beaver Shriver, owner of Rise Up Cafe, a coffee shop that employed individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He was looking for a new manager and believed my background, knowledge and experience would make me a great fit. I started the day after my interview.
Looking back, that opportunity changed the entire trajectory of my life. It awakened a deep passion: advocating for individuals who are neurodiverse and helping create spaces where everyone has the chance to thrive.
That journey eventually led me to found Mission ABLE (Adventuring, Belonging, Learning and Exploring). Mission ABLE was born from my personal experiences, my love for my brother Joey, and my belief that every person deserves opportunities to be included.
Looking back, the moments that once felt like setbacks became the experiences that shaped my purpose: advocating for a world that recognizes, celebrates, and invests in the abilities and potential of every person.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Mission ABLE is a Florida 501(c)(3) committed to providing inclusive recreational, social and educational programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Manatee and Sarasota Counties.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Mission ABLE was founded from both personal experience and purpose. My younger brother, Joey, inspired my passion for advocacy, and my own journey through a life-changing brain tumor taught me that life’s unexpected challenges can often lead us to our true calling. Mission ABLE is more than a non-profit that provides programs. It is an organization built to shift perceptions.
What sets us apart is our focus on partnership and community integration. Rather than operating in isolation, we work alongside nonprofits, businesses, farms, and community organizations to create opportunities for our participants. I have always been a strong believer that teamwork makes the dreamwork haha!
At Mission ABLE, we have four core program areas – some are partnered others are not:
Our Outdoor Warriors Program is a three-month outdoor adventure series that finishes with an overnight campout in December. This year, we will be taking a cohort of 10 participants through hiking and outdoor education.
We host a Monthly Nature Program in partnership with Big Waters Land Trust. Through this program, participants from The Haven and All Friends Network learn about local ecosystems, the importance of the environment and the benefits of staying active outdoors.
Our Rooted & Rising Program is a gardening and market initiative created in partnership with The Haven, Inclusion Revolution, Sunnyside Village, and Hunsader Farms. Through gardening, participants gain hands-on experiences, build practical skills, and help grow produce and flowers that can be shared with the community.
Lastly, we are proud to partner with Manasota BUDS through a contracted relationship to help plan and execute programs for their participants and families throughout the year.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the next 5–10 years, I think we’re going to see a real shift in how inclusion is approached, especially in recreation, education, and workforce development. One of the biggest changes will be moving away from “separate programming” and toward true community integration. More organizations, schools, and local partners are realizing that inclusion doesn’t mean creating parallel spaces, it means opening existing spaces and making them accessible and welcoming for everyone.
I’ve already witnessed how much progress has been made in just the last 10 years, especially in how language and awareness have evolved. It’s exciting to think about where the future of inclusion is headed, and I truly believe we’re just getting started.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.missionablefl.org
- Instagram: @missionablefl https://www.instagram.com/missionablefl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=mission%20able – Mission ABLE
