Maddy Dever
President, Coach, Speaker, Writer, Parent
is a non-binary Autistic advocate, parent, and leader based in Smiths Falls, Ontario. As President of Autistic Bridge Inc. and Interim Chair of the National Autism Network, Maddy works to elevate Autistic voices in policy, education, healthcare, and disability supports across Canada. They serve in multiple national and provincial leadership roles, including with the Autism Alliance of Canada, Autism Care Network, and Ontario Disability Coalition. A frequent speaker and contributor to research and advocacy efforts, Maddy brings lived expertise to shaping inclusive systems, advancing human rights, and building bridges between Autistics, families, and professionals.
About Maddy
Maddy Dever (they/them) is a non-binary Autistic adult and parent of four who are all also Autistic, living in Smiths Falls in rural Eastern Ontario. Maddy advocates with both provincial and federal governments for inclusion and acceptance of Autistic individuals and for Autistic people to have their own voice in policy decisions. Maddy has been an advocate for change in education, affordable and accessible housing, as well as moving disability supports rates out of poverty levels.
Maddy is President of Autistic Bridge Inc., an Autistic-led organization fostering connections between Autistics, their families and those who support them, and a leader in the National Disability Strategy movement to build a nation-wide coalition of disability organizations to advocate for meeting all needs of all disabilities at all ages. They are the Interim Chair of the new National Autism Network, and former Vice-Chair and current member of the Board of directors of Autism Alliance of Canada (AAC formerly known as CASDA), where they are helping with aspects of developing a National Autism Strategy. They spoke at the annual CASDA Summit in 2020 and were both moderator and panel member of panels at the CASDA Summit 2021. and Canadian Leadership Summit 2022 and upcoming in 2025. In 2021, they spoke twice to the UN Human Rights Committee regarding the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Maddy is a former member of the Ontario Autism Program Advisory Panel, and the Ontario Autism Program Implementation Working Group. and Children’s Mental Health Ontario Autism & Mental Health Advisory Group.
Maddy is an Autistic Consultant and on the Leadership and Executive Team of the Autism Care Network, and is a member of the hub expert team on the Autism Family ECHO. They are part of the research team of several studies in both Canada and the US.
Maddy has also led workshops and panels on topics surrounding autism and education. They have spoken about autism with many groups including ECHO Autism Ontario, which works to educate and inform health professionals on issues related to autism. They are a member of the ECHO Autism Ontario Expert Hub Team and ECHO Ontario Brain Health Expert Hub Team
Maddy has worked hard alongside other Disability organizations and advocates in Ontario pushing for immediate and lasting change to disability supports, especially through their #DoubleODSPNow campaign and website. They are currently the Director of Policy for the Ontario Disability Coalition. Nationally they are involved with the movement to advocate for the Canada Disability Benefit to be immediately implemented.
Maddy was previously on the Board of Directors of ConnectWell CommunityHealth, a rural organization supporting thousands of citizens, including supports and services for Autistic children, youth, adults and their families. They were a liaison to the Alliance for Healthy Families.
Maddy was also an inaugural member of the Editorial Board of the Canadian Journal of Autism Equity, which won the Autism Ontario 2022 Gerry Bloomfield Award for outstanding professional contributions to the field of autism