Magnusmode

Our Story

Magnusmode was founded by the sister of an autistic young man, who was driven by passion and love to build an accessibility movement powered by technology. Get the MagnusCards App and join the revolution.

— Our Incredible Story

Magnusmode founder Nadia with her younger brother

Inspired by Sibling Love

Nadia Hamilton, Founder of Magnusmode, grew up helping her autistic brother Troy to complete everyday tasks, like brushing his teeth. To lessen his anxiety and support independence, she created hand-drawn step-by-step guides that he was able to follow along with and re-enact. Just simple crayon drawings on paper, the guides nonetheless provided the structure and foresight he needed to do things on his own.

When Troy graduated from high school, the homemade drawings were not enough to support him to participate in the world. Nadia worked as a Support Worker throughout university and realized that many families were facing a similar issue: the world was not designed with the special needs of their loved ones in mind. That’s when she decided to build Magnusmode, a company dedicated to removing the barriers that affect an individual’s ability to thrive in the world.

Magnusmode’s first solution, MagnusCards, is the digitalized version of the hand-drawn solution she made for her brother when they were younger. It’s the ultimate strategy guide for life, with an ever-expanding library of guides (Card Decks) for home and community experiences. Companies and venues across North America share Nadia’s vision of an accessible world, and sponsor the creation of branded Card Decks to help welcome and support all customers.

What began with the love of a sister for her brother has grown into an accessibility movement powered by technology, with a fun character mascot named Magnus (designed by and for the community), transforming home, school, and community life worldwide.

Our Vision & Mission
“MagnusCards is fantastic for lowering anxiety levels and ultimately making trips smoother and more enjoyable.”

- Beverly, mother of an autistic teen

Our Vision

We envision a world where autistic and neurodiverse people live with independence and inclusion, and their caregivers have greater peace of mind.

Image of child using tablet

Our Mission

Our mission is to create practical tools that improve everyday experiences and enable people with neurodiverse abilities to participate in the world in ways that are meaningful to them.

Image of child using smart phone

— Meet the Team

Our Team

  • Nadia

    Founder, President & CEO

  • Aimée

    Production Manager

  • Valentin

    Technology Team Lead

  • Nikita

    Production Assistant

  • Helena

    Production Assistant

  • Stefanie

    Board-Certified Autism Education Specialist

  • Raquel

    Graphic Designer

  • Debbie

    Finance/Treasurer

  • OPEN

    Collaboration for Cognitive Accessibility - Autistic Community Advisors

Board of Directors

  • Nadia Hamilton

    Director

  • Julie McDowell

    Director

Supporters and Advisors

Thank you to the organizations and people who have helped us along the way.

Centre for Social Innovation Logo
2011

Centre for Social Innovation

Winner, $25K Project Wildfire Social Business Pitch Competition.

Centennial College Logo
2014

Centennial College

Applied Research Collaboration

MagnusCards Logo
2015

MagnusCards

Beta Launched

Communitech ASCent (Accelerating Social Cause Entrepreneurs): Logo
2015

Communitech ASCent (Accelerating Social Cause Entrepreneurs):

Mentorship Program

Golden Triangle Angel Network Logo
2015

Golden Triangle Angel Network

Private Investment

NRC-IRAP Logo
2015

NRC-IRAP

Grant Recipient

Ontario Centres of Excellence Logo
2015

Ontario Centres of Excellence

Grant Recipient

SheEO Logo
2016

SheEO

Radical Generosity Fund Recipient

Waterloo Accelerator Centre Logo
2018

Waterloo Accelerator Centre

Accelerator Program Graduate

43North Logo
2018

43North

$500K Winner

Quality Services for the Autism Community (QSAC) Logo
2018

Quality Services for the Autism Community (QSAC)

Changemaker Award

Magnusmode U.S. Inc. Logo
2019

Magnusmode U.S. Inc.

Launched

Community Access Partners

A&W logo

A&W

Barrie Transit logo

Barrie Transit

Brampton Library logo

Brampton Library

Brampton Transit logo

Brampton Transit

Burlington Transit logo

Burlington Transit

CAMH logo

CAMH

Centre in the Square logo

Centre in the Square

CIBC logo

CIBC

Colgate logo

Colgate

Egg Farmers of Canada logo

Egg Farmers of Canada

Giant logo

Giant

Grand River Transit logo

Grand River Transit

Halton Hills Public Library logo

Halton Hills Public Library

Hamilton Public Library logo

Hamilton Public Library

Harry Reid International Airport logo

Harry Reid International Airport

Idea Exchange logo

Idea Exchange

Kent District Library logo

Kent District Library

Kraft Heinz logo

Kraft Heinz

London Drugs logo

London Drugs

London Transit logo

London Transit

Metro logo

Metro

Milton Public Library logo

Milton Public Library

Milton Transit logo

Milton Transit

M&T Bank logo

M&T Bank

MTA New York City Subway logo

MTA New York City Subway

New England Aquarium logo

New England Aquarium

NFTA logo

NFTA

NJ TRANSIT logo

NJ TRANSIT

Oakville Public Library logo

Oakville Public Library

Oakville Transit logo

Oakville Transit

Oishei Children’s Hospital logo

Oishei Children’s Hospital

Pizza Pizza logo

Pizza Pizza

Robin Hood logo

Robin Hood

Royal Ontario Museum logo

Royal Ontario Museum

San Francisco International Airport logo

San Francisco International Airport

The Huntington Bank logo

The Huntington Bank

Toronto Pearson International Airport logo

Toronto Pearson International Airport

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) logo

Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)

Toronto Zoo logo

Toronto Zoo

Town of Halton Hills logo

Town of Halton Hills

Trader Joe’s logo

Trader Joe’s

TransHelp logo

TransHelp

Vaughan Public Libraries logo

Vaughan Public Libraries

Whirlpool logo

Whirlpool

Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport logo

Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport

York University logo

York University