By Maddy Dever, June 2026
For many people, attending a conference, networking event, dance, or community gathering is something they barely think about. You register. You show up. You participate.
For many disabled people, however, attending an event often starts with a different question:
- Will this space work for me?
- Will I be able to get in the door?
- Will there be a quiet place if I become overwhelmed?
- Will the lighting trigger migraines or sensory overload?
- Will I be able to hear what is happening?
- Will information be available in ways I can access?
- Will people understand if I communicate differently?
- Will I belong here?
As someone who is Autistic, a wheelchair user, diabetic, and someone who experiences both sensory and vision-related challenges, these are questions I ask every time I consider attending an event.
Too often, accessibility is viewed through a single lens. We think about ramps and accessible washrooms. Or we think about sensory accommodations. Or we think about captioning.
But true inclusion is bigger than any one disability.
Real inclusion means recognizing that people arrive with different bodies, brains, communication styles, sensory needs, and ways of experiencing the world.
Accessibility does not look like just one thing. It is a tapestry of possibilities.
When we focus on only one aspect of disability, we unintentionally create barriers for others. A space that is physically accessible may still be overwhelming from a sensory perspective. A sensory-friendly event may still be difficult for someone with low vision to navigate. A well-intentioned event may still exclude people if information is not communicated clearly or if assumptions are made about how participants should interact.
The most inclusive events recognize that disability is diverse.
- They ask questions.
- They listen.
- They adapt.
That is one of the reasons I have enjoyed working with Substance Cares and Neil Forester.
Last year I had the opportunity to participate in the advisory group supporting Spectrum Works, their Autistic job fairs. What impressed me most was not that every detail was perfect from the beginning. It was the willingness to listen. When concerns were raised, changes were made. That commitment to learning and adapting is what creates inclusion—not perfection, but progress.
That is also why I am excited about Inclusiv.
What is Inclusiv? InclusiV is a free, all-inclusive community celebration created by Substance Cares that brings together people with disabilities, their families, friends, and allies for an evening of music, dancing, connection, and fun. Formerly known as DanceABLE, the event features live DJs and performers, interactive entertainment, free food, sensory-friendly elements, accessible spaces, and opportunities to simply enjoy being part of a welcoming community where everyone belongs. Held at Toronto’s Cabana waterfront venue, InclusiV is designed to remove barriers and create a space where people of all abilities can participate, connect, and celebrate together.
As someone who is Autistic, uses a wheelchair, manages sensory challenges, and navigates vision-related barriers, it is rare for me to attend an event without wondering what obstacles I will encounter. Inclusiv is one of the few events where I am arriving excited about the experience rather than worried about the barriers.
Events like Inclusiv create something that many disabled people rarely experience: the ability to participate without constantly worrying whether the environment was designed with them in mind.
For me personally, it means having the opportunity to experience an event that considers multiple dimensions of accessibility at the same time. Not just mobility. Not just sensory needs. Not just communication access. Not just vision.
All of them.
When that happens, something remarkable occurs.
The conversation shifts from accommodation to participation, from access to belonging, and from simply being present to truly being included.
Not checking a box. Not meeting a minimum standard but creating spaces where people can show up as themselves and fully participate.
Because when we build events that work for those with disabilities, we usually create better experiences for everyone.
Clear communication helps everyone. Flexible participation helps everyone. Thoughtful design helps everyone.
Inclusive events are not “special” events.
They are simply better events.
I am looking forward to attending Inclusiv and experiencing what happens when accessibility is treated not as an afterthought, but as a core value.
Because inclusion is not something we say.
It is something we build.
And when we build it well, when we build it together – everyone benefits.
I hope to see you out there at Inclusiv with me on June 29th!
Maddy Dever (they/them) is the Chair of the National Autism Network. They are an Autistic advocate, speaker, writer, podcaster and parent working to build a world where Autistics are understood more fully, supported more respectfully, and able not just to survive, but to thrive. Through speaking, writing, consulting, and frameworks like NeuroTapestry, they help organizations, professionals, and families move toward more neuro-affirming, relational, and practical support. Learn more at autisticbridge.ca.
