205 - Confronting the Isolation Fathers Face in the Disability Community with Jamiel Owens

In this episode of The Inclusive Dad podcast, host AAron welcomes Jamiel Owens, an autism father, former first responder, and advocate dedicated to supporting families raising children with disabilities. Jamiel shares his deeply personal journey through trauma, fatherhood, divorce, and ultimately healing through vulnerability and community. Together, AAron and Jamiel explore the importance of creating safe spaces for fathers, breaking down silos within the disability community, and embracing inclusion through education, empathy, and connection. This heartfelt conversation reminds listeners that no one is meant to navigate parenting, grief, or advocacy alone.

Key Takeaways:

Fatherhood & Healing - Unaddressed trauma can shape how fathers navigate parenting, relationships, and disability journeys.

Vulnerability Matters - Sharing personal struggles creates opportunities for deeper connection, support, and growth.

Beyond Diagnoses - Families across disability communities have more in common than what separates them.

Inclusive Communities - True inclusion happens when we intentionally create spaces where everyone feels welcome.

Lead With Love - Choosing compassion and understanding can transform relationships and strengthen families.

Jamiel Owens’ definition of inclusion:

Inclusion is not only having actionable steps to make things physically inclusive, but it's changing the mentality behind it in order to embrace actions or perspectives that don't need anything tangible to be produced.

Jamiel Owens’ Bio:

Jamiel Owens is a nationally recognized autism advocate, community leader, and keynote speaker dedicated to transforming how society understands fatherhood, neurodiversity, and family engagement. As an autism father, his work is deeply rooted in lived experience—fueling a mission to build stronger, more informed, and more inclusive communities.

Jamiel currently serves as the Family Relations Coordinator at the Center for Autism Research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he works directly with families to bridge gaps in access, education, and support. His professional work is complemented by his leadership in the community, where he has become a powerful voice for underserved families navigating autism.

He is the Founder of the Autism Fathers Conference, a growing movement and platform designed to uplift, connect, and empower fathers and caregivers in the autism community. Through this initiative—and events like the Involved and Informed Conference—Jamiel has created spaces where families can engage in honest dialogue, access resources, and build lasting support networks.

In addition, he serves on the Board of Directors for Parent to Parent USA, helping guide a national network that supports families of individuals with disabilities through peer support, leadership development, and evidence-based programming.

Before stepping into advocacy full-time, Jamiel served as a firefighter, bringing with him a foundation of service, resilience, and commitment to others that continues to shape his work today.

Above all, Jamiel Owens is driven by purpose: to ensure that every child, every family, and every caregiver—especially fathers—feels seen, supported, and empowered.

Connect with Jamiel Owens:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiel-owens-75a985213/

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

SPAM© Count:

Host:

Yes

Current Guest:

Yes

Cumulative Guest Stats:

Yes - 90

No - 113

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