SCRANTON, Pa. — Maddie Conway navigates the hallways at John F. Kennedy Elementary in Scranton with confidence, her service dog Viva by her side. She is the school counselor for hundreds of kids, ages kindergarten through fourth grade.
"I love seeing their growth and helping them reach their full potential and, mostly, helping them feel heard.”
One of Maddie’s lifelong missions is to help everyone feel heard. Maddie was born to a loving family in Dunmore with six brothers and sisters. She attended Scranton Prep and got her undergraduate and master's degrees at the University of Scranton. She has always used a wheelchair to get around, and that gives her a special perspective to share with students.
“I hope me being here just shows them that being different is OK, being different is good. My wheelchair isn’t something to be ashamed of or afraid of. It’s something that really helps me and allows me to do my job effectively.”
Maddie believes in celebrating differences. That’s a lesson that Nora Phillips, principal of JFK Elementary, says can make a big impact on students.
“For our students to see the end result and be able to see they might have needs that are different than their classmates, but that doesn’t mean they can be just as successful," Phillips said.
Maddie’s mission to raise awareness began even before her career as a school counselor.
“I would email different retailers and ask them to include people with disabilities in their advertising because I think that's super important. The more people see differences in disability, the more it becomes an everyday part of living.”
It took years, but eventually, Maddie got responses from various retailers like Tommy Hilfiger and Zappos. She also worked with Victoria’s Secret to create the company’s first adaptive clothing line. Maddie is proud of this accomplishment, one she wishes she could share with her mother, Mollie, who was also her biggest cheerleader. Sadly, ten years ago, Maddie lost her mom to colon cancer.
“I remember her saying, too, she just wanted to get to the other side of what she was fighting so she could help other people; she was really passionate about helping people get through cancer and all kinds of things.”
Maddie says her mom was a positive force and a great motivator. To keep her memory alive, Maddie created a blood drive in her memory.
“It's called Mollie's Get Up and Give Blood Drive because when she was diagnosed, she said I just want to get up and fight this, and that was her phrase, so we decided Mollie's Get Up and Give would be a fitting name.”
Maddie says she hopes her story will help many recognize that people with disabilities are capable of so much.
“If anyone ever says I feel bad for you, I always want them to know, please don't feel bad for me. Instead of feeling bad for me, please work with me and help be an ally in creating change.”
Sign up for Mollie's Get Up and Give Blood Drive HERE.