Maddy Dever (they/them) is a non-binary Autistic adult and parent of four who are all also Autistic, living in Carleton Place 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 a former member of the Ontario Autism Program Advisory Panel, and the Ontario Autism Program Implementation Working Group. Maddy is currently a member of the Children’s Mental Health Ontario Autism & Mental Health Advisory Group.
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 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 also the Co-Vice Chair of the Autism Alliance of Canada (AAC formerly known as CASDA), where they are helping with aspects of developing a National Autism Strategy. They have spoke at the annual CASDA Summit in 2020 and were both moderator and panel member of two panels at the CASDA Summit 2021. and CALS Summit 2022. In 2021, they spoke twice to the UN Human Rights Committee regarding the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Maddy was previously on the Board of Directors of ConnectWell Community Health, 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 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.
Maddy is an Autistic Consultant and on the Leadershio 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 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
Maddy was the Campaign Manager for Dr. Marlene Spruyt, Green Party of Ontario candidate for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston in 2022 Provincial Election, and is currently the President of the Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston Green Party of Ontario Constituency Association.
Full Resume of Maddy Dever
Advocacy
- President of Autistic Bridge Inc. 2022 – present
- Director of Policy, Ontario Disability Coalition – 2002 – present
- Writer/Publisher of matthewdever.ca/autisticrambler.com
- Autistic Advisor – Autism Care Network – 2022 – present
- Autistic Advisor – CMHO ASD Mental Health Working Group – 2022 – present
- President, Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston Green Party of Ontario Constituency Association, 2022-Present
- CFO, Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston Green Party of Ontario Constituency Association, 2021-2022
- Autism Consultant through webAdvocacy 2020 – present
- Co-Vice Chair of Autism Alliance of Canada – 2022 – present
- Board Member of Autism Alliance of Canada (Formerly CASDA) – 2021 – present
- Editor of Canadian Journal of Autism Equity – 2021 – 2022
- Autistic Advisor – CHMC/ Housing Through An Autism Lens – 2020 – present
- Hub Expert (Autistic Parent) – ECHO Ontario Autism – 2020 – present
- Board Member of ConnectWell Community Health (formerly known as Lanark & Renfrew Health & Community Services) – 2020 – present
- Member of Ontario Autism Program Implementation Working Group – 2019 – 2021
- CASDA Policy Working Group – 2020 – 2022
- Member of Ontario Autism Program Advisory Panel – 2019
- Board Member – Children At Risk – 2006 – 2009
- Board Member – Advocis Ottawa – 2007 – 2009
Web Designer
- 1995 – 2020