Maddy Dever
CoachAutistic. Parent. Speaker. Writer. Advocate.
Hi! I’m Maddy Dever
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 has been an advocate for change in education, affordable and accessible housing, as well as moving disability supports rates out of poverty levels.
My Story
Our family has a few mottos. One of them is “Never a dull moment in the Dever house”, and we literally live that life. My journey as an adult, these last 3 decades, has been one with many varied and different stops along the road. It all started 30 years ago when I opened a computer store and Internet service provider right out of high school. Jump right into chaos I said! It was a fast and furious learning experience over those 3 years. I learned lots, made so many mistakes, and set in motion the path a good portion of my life would take.
I spent 25 years in IT, as a developer, web designer, project manager, trainer, mentor. I worked with small companies, big giant companies, and many many different types of people. The thing I loved most was when I worked with people one-on-one or in small groups coaching, training, sharing and leading.
The pandemic changed everything.
In June 2020, I was in a car accident that left me severely disabled. I lost the use of my left hand, and my ability to do the IT work that I had been doing for over 25 years ended. Fortunately I had begun doing advocacy work on autism and disability related issues actively in 2019, and the pandemic rules of staying at home, switched everything to online meetings. This enabled me to participate in more things, and this turned into a new vocation of advocacy, educating and coaching.
I’m Autistic, and I have 4 kids who are also Autistic. 25 years of parenting and over 45 years of my own life experiences has given me a lot to share. What I’ve learned. The mistakes I have made. I’m excited to work with other parents, with clinicians and organizations as well as fellow Autistics.
My Values & Beliefs
My Purpose
It’s taken me a while, but I believe that my central purpose in life is to build a world where Autistics, and people with disabilities can enjoy a great quality of life and thrive.
You can’t improvise unless you have a plan
Another motto in our family is taken from The Flash TV Show, where Captain Cold tells the Flash “You need to make the plan. Execute the plan. The plan goes off the rails. Throw away the plan and improvise.” You need to have a baseline to start things, and learning how to do the next right thing can lead to amazing things, especially that you don’t expect.
We all have core beliefs. That can be a problem.
Each one of us has the central tenets that guide our thinking and our actions, even when we don’t think about them. These are rock solid and so many of our choices, words, thoughts and actions deride from these things. When they are positive, it is amazing what we can do with them. But when things in the world go counter to our core belief, it can rock our world, and we can fight against what others may see as obvious reality. Only when we understand our core beliefs can we begin chiseling those parts that may need to be adjusted. This is where growth comes from. Even, and especially, Autistics.
The only way to answer questions is with questions. Be curious.
I take a very Socratic approach with people as I mentor and coach people. That means I know you have the answers inside you. We just need to be open to questions to get there.
Who do I partner with?
Spero Careers Canada has the knowledge and experience to coach and advise a variety of groups. We each bring certain skill sets and lived experiences to the table. If run in to an area where another coach could be helpful, then we’re lucky to have a good talent pool to ask for help!
Individuals
As an Autistic myself, I understand the challenges of navigating the hidden systems of housing, employment, and education. We can explore paths together to learn how to adapt, pivot and find a path forward through peer mentoring.
Educators
Do you want to know how to support your neurodivergent students? Do you want advice on building universal design classrooms? For many students, school is a sensory hellscape, but with support, accommodation and care, we can find the balance that will help your student succeed and thrive.
Agencies
We never know who could walk through the doors or what support they might need. There’s no way to cover everybody. That’s where we come in. We work with agencies to fill the skill gaps in supporting neurodivergent individuals.
Parents
I’m a parent of 4 Autistic teens and young adults ages 16-25 who are all over the autism spectrum. We’ve been through a lot, and my lived experience alongside the professional experience as an advocate and autism researcher have given me insight to share with other parents of neurodivergent kids.
Clinicians
Do you want to build a practice that is neurodivergent-friendly and centered on the neurodivergent client? Let’s look at the barriers that may be in the way, and unpack how to build a practice that has a culture of accommodation and thinks inclusion from the start.
My Approach
I’m an Autistic with decades of lived experience in my own life, as a parent for over 25 years, as an advocate for the last 10 years, as an writer, speaker, researcher, educator, lecturer, mentor and coach for the last 5 years. This has helped me develop a diverse knowledge and experience base and set of skills with practical application.
I believe in starting with where you are, how you got there and exploring where you want to be. I ask a lot of questions. The Socratic method has always appealed to me in my life as a consultant, as an educator and as a parent.
I have a passion to see the lives of neurodivergent people improve, and to thrive. In order to get there, I see the need to help parents, educators, clinicians & organizations understand how they can adapt and mold a world better suited for us. I also want to help Autistics and other neurodivergent folks understand themselves and what they can do to grow and adapt. I want to help build that bridge.
