Biography
Amy Shives holds a masters degree in education from western Washington university in Bellingham Washington. Prior to diagnosis, Amy had a career as a counseling faculty member at Spokane community college. After 25 years in her position , Amy noticed she was having difficulty performing her varied professional duties. After a difficult and lengthy process of diagnosis, she was eventually diagnosed with younger onset Alzheimer’s disease at the university of California San Francisco memory and aging center where she is enrolled in lifelong research studies for people with dementia. Amy grew up with her mother having had the disease. She currently works to increase awareness about the stigma surrounding dementia. Amy currently is on the National Alzheimer’s Association Early Stage Advisory board where she is a national speaker speaking for people with dementia. Amy has a husband of 31 years and two successful happy daughters.