About Us

 Paije Lopez is the Founder and CEO of The ATA Lopez Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting individuals with disabilities and their families through advocacy, resources, and inclusive community support. She also leads ATA Pediatric Care Navigation Services, LLC, providing personalized guidance for families navigating special needs services.

As a mother to three boys with special needs — Aiden, Tony, and Adrian — Paije brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her mission. The foundation’s name, ATA, was inspired by her sons, whose strength and resilience fuel her commitment to ensuring no family feels alone.

Paije holds over a decade of hands-on experience and more than 40 diplomas and certifications across special education, autism, child development, and healthcare. Her expertise, paired with her compassion, has made her a trusted advocate.

Her work has earned significant recognition, including features in POWER Magazine, Parents Magazine, Unfiltered with Kiran, and honors such as Best of Baton Rouge Nonprofit, Family Favorites Special Needs Service, and 2025 Baton Rouge Activist.

Before stepping fully into nonprofit leadership, Paije worked in management, accounting, property management, and home healthcare. Her journey as a special needs parent ultimately inspired her to expand her early business—Autism Allies Sunflowers and Butterflies, LLC—into The ATA Lopez Foundation, now serving individuals with all disabilities.

Today, the foundation offers a wide range of bilingual services, including IEP and 504 advocacy, waiver assistance, caregiver support, evaluation guidance, inclusive playdates, mom meetups, and community events—meeting families with empathy and real-world solutions.

Paije also leads in statewide advocacy as President of the Florida Parish RAC and as a member of LaCAN and COPAA, actively shaping policies and conversations around disability inclusion.

Driven by a passion for equality and access, Paije is committed to bridging cultural, linguistic, and system gaps so every family—regardless of background—has the support they need to thrive.