​Madelen "Maddy" Simonds, MA, CCC-SLP, is a Faculty Assistant for the SIGNA (Social Interaction Group Network for All) Program in UMD’s Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences. As a bilingual (Spanish-speaking) individual, Maddy has had the opportunity to work with people of all ages—from toddlers to young adults—in a variety of settings, including home, daycare, clinic, and school environments. Before joining the University of Maryland, she worked with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), where she had the exciting opportunity to work in a dual-language school, supporting a diverse group of students and families. She truly cares about offering neurodiversity-affirmative care, striving to make a positive impact. Outside of work, Maddy loves experimenting with different accents (she enjoys hearing how people speak!), staying active with hiking and dancing, and learning new things every day.