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Award Winning Best Selling Author and Speaker

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About

Mickey Rowe (he/him) is an acclaimed autistic and legally blind author, actor, and speaker whose groundbreaking work has reshaped the landscape of disability representation in the arts. He made history as the first autistic actor to play the lead role of Christopher Boone in the Tony Award-winning play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and later starred in the title role of Amadeus. With a global reputation for advancing inclusive practices, Mickey partners with institutions across borders to help build more equitable, accessible, and culturally relevant arts and education systems. His memoir, Fearlessly Different: An Autistic Actor’s Journey to Broadway’s Biggest Stage, is an award-winning bestseller that chronicles his journey from special education classrooms to center stage .

As the founding Artistic Director of National Disability Theatre, Rowe has championed authentic disability inclusion by partnering with major institutions like La Jolla Playhouse and the Goodman Theatre. His advocacy extends beyond the stage—he is a sought-after speaker and DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility) consultant, having led trainings for organizations such as Nordstrom, Pfizer, TD Bank, Casella, Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Opera, and the New York City Ballet, and more. Mickey is deeply committed to culturally responsive storytelling and believes inclusion must center all voices—including indigenous and historically marginalized communities.

Mickey is also a leading expert on inclusive and accessible education. He is the author of A Kids Book About Special Education (DK Publishing/Penguin Random House). Rowe’s compelling keynotes have been featured at Yale University, Columbia University, The Kennedy Center, and the International Council on Development and Learning, and the Association for Learning Environments. His insights have been highlighted by major media outlets including The New York Times, The TODAY Show, NPR, CNN, PBS, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Vogue. He is also a council member of the International Center for Development and Learning and is endorsed by the National Organization for Youth Safety. As a specialist in inclusive education, Mickey equips educators with tools to support neurodivergent and disabled learners, helping to build classrooms where all students thrive. His insights have influenced thought leadership in education, policy, and the arts, offering governments and institutions a blueprint for building inclusive, thriving communities.

A native of Seattle, Rowe continues to inspire audiences worldwide with his message of inclusion, resilience, and the power of embracing differences. For more information or to book him for speaking engagements, visit mickeyrowe.com. Mickey consults with theatre companies and arts organizations on making performances accessible and equitable for all, from casting to production design—fostering creative spaces where disability is not a barrier, but a catalyst for excellence. His work has earned him numerous accolades, including recognition as a D-30 Disability Impact List honoree, a finalist for the Washington State Book Award, and recipient of the AudioFile Earphones Award for his memoir's audiobook narration.

Mickey Stands Out

CNN: Great Big Story

PBS: The Great American Read

HuffPost: Mickey Rowe

Testimonials

  • “Mickey’s warmth and grace instantly put our guests at ease. All of the guests I spoke to said that this was the best event we’ve ever had, and last year our speaker was Maya Angelou, so that is saying a lot! He gave our audience the ability to understand their own children and feel hope for the first time.”

    NC CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER

  • “Mickey’s speech moved one of the attendees so much that he gave us a check for $10,000 on the spot and promised to pay all of the expenses to bring Mickey back next year.”

    MERISTEM HS

  • "Mickey Rowe was a HUGE hit at our conference. His ability to take his personal story and experiences and tailor it to our audience was artful, to say the least. I received so many positive comments. They started with text messages I received while he spoke that said, “Mickey is amazing!” and “incredible choice for a keynote.” It then continued during the two days of the conference, where dozens of people came up to me specifically to rave about Mickey."

    INTERNATIONAL COUCNIL ON DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING

  • “Mickey was amazing; I have heard nothing but compliments for his talk and the Q&A session. He was the perfect kickoff to a wonderful day of learning.”

    CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA

  • "Mickey is known for his ability to captivate a crowd, and he was equally as powerful in our team’s more intimate setting. He was open and relatable. Mickey had a way of expressing familiar ideas in new and insightful ways that left our team feeling energized. We look forward to engaging with him again!"

    PHIZER AND BCG BRIGHTHOUSE

  • “Mickey Rowe was wonderful! What a great presentation. He provided our audience with a great keynote. Had the entire audience loving his presentation. He was authentic. Love to have him come back again!”

    THE FAMILY CAFE

#FearlesslyDifferent

“You may not have autism like me. But regardless, your differences are your strengths.” - Mickey Rowe