2024 Year In Review

What’s the old saying? “The days are long but the years are short.” That was never more true at 6 Wheels Consulting than it was this year.

Like many businesses, we experienced ups and downs during 2024. Economic uncertainty, election year politics, and personal pocketbook issues affected of our core constituencies, which in turn impacted our business model. But, we persevered. Our mission and the work that binds us to our common cause is too important to abandon. To this point, here are some highlights from 2024.

January:

• We exhibited at Friendship Circle of Virginia's first community-wide Disability Expo, presented by Markel, in partnership with the Weinstein JCC.

• We worked diligently on disability and inclusion advocacy work on behalf of our clients at Virginia's General Assembly session.

• It seems like small thing but updating and organizing our Linktree site so our clients, collaborators and followers can succinctly find great disability information was an effort we viewed as essential. Now there is have a central hub to make following us even easier! Websites, social media, blogs, videos, podcasts, and articles of interest. Click and subscribe!

February:

• We highlighted Tablespoons Bakery here in Richmond, a super organization that celebrates the potential of young adults with developmental disabilities. Great food with an even greater purpose!

• The Virginia House of Delegates approved a measure that mandates school divisions update emergency plans to include students with mobility impairments. Read or listen to the article.
  Additional Resources:
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

  • Job Accommodation Network (JAN)

  • World Health Organization (WHO) - Disability and Rehabilitation

March:

• 6 Wheels celebrated Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month with a series of posts and articles highlighting challenges, advances and opportunities in the Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Disabilities Communities.

April:

• 6 Wheels will participated in a panel discussion as part of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association 2024 Adult and Junior Division Wheelchair Basketball National Tournaments at the Henrico Sports & Events Center in Henrico, Virginia.

• We also celebrated and drew awareness to Autism as we helped kick off World Autism Awareness Month.

• We released a series of Tik Tok videos that stretched in to May that garnered great responses for the disability community at large.

• On a personal note, my team participated in a soccer tournament in Atlanta where I received a nice pass and scored seconds thereafter. We upped our game and I reached my goal! 😀

May:

• I answered questions during an interactive Q&A with Visit Tampa Bay staffers. It was a great opportunity for those who welcome tourists to their area to be even more welcoming!

• We participated in Friendship Circle of Virginia's 3rd Annual Inclusion Day at the Diamond, highlighting disability inclusion and mental health.

• I attended a training to receive credits and to get re-certified as an ADA Coordinator. This ensures I'm at my best and in compliance when advising clients and partners.

• We celebrated Mental Health Awareness Month with a series of posts.

• I met with Richmond International Airport (RIC) to discuss making their already great facility even more welcoming to people with disabilities!

June:

• I became an Advisory Board member for TruFit Adaptive Fitness, who works to further the mission of providing affordable and effective adaptive health and wellness solutions!

• I was video interviewed by Social Hire's Tony Restell in which we talked about making your business more inclusive.

July:

• We celebrated Disability Pride Month, in which we recognized the importance of people with disabilities as diverse and who experience unique ways of living in our society!

• 6Wheels was featured in an animated video in the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services' (DARS) newsletter. Check it out!

August:

• We attended the Autism Society Central Virginia RVA Duck Race. What fun!

September:

• We presented at Part 1 of humanidei's two-part series, Unlocking Talent: Transforming Credit Union Hiring Through Inclusivity.

• I traveled to Pocahontas State Park to speak about Foundations of Accessibility for Parks and Recreation Professionals, sponsored by the National Center on Accessibility Program and the Indiana Institute for Disability and Community.

October:

• October was all NDEAM all the time. In daily posts we illuminated National Disability Employment Awareness Month with articles and information as we celebrated the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy. In 2025, we will be partnering with like-minded organizations to present original content who share relevant voices in the disability community.

November:

• We attended two events sponsored by the Peaces of Me Foundation, in which we enjoyed enlightening discussions regarding how organizations of all stripes can level-up their inclusion efforts.

December:

• We attended a Peaces of Me Foundation Sneak Peak event, in which they recapped 2024 successes, announced new 2025 projects, and shared how you can be part of the movement that makes inclusion of people with disabilities ubiquitous.

• We recently closed out 2024 when I participated in Friendship Circle of Virginia's Disability & Adaptive Fashion Show. Here's a WTVR CBS 6 News article on the full rundown:

And, EXHALE! Phew. Big year!

With a hopeful yet clear-eyed look toward 2025, we plan on solid year of growth and opportunity as we continue to bridge the gap between the perception of disability and the reality of how much more bountiful the world can be as we work with those in both the private and public sectors to assist them in expanding their understanding of disabilities and inclusion.

All the best to you and yours during this festive holiday season.

General Assembly Building Renovation Complete

We could recap our breakfast meeting with the Greater Richmond Association for Commercial Real Estate (GRACRE), but it can’t be said better than W.M. Jordan Company’s Business Development Manager, Hayley Evans’, LinkedIn Post. And oh yeah, 6 Wheels presented at the breakfast!
Hayley writes…
”This morning’s Greater Richmond Association for Commercial Real Estate (GRACRE) breakfast featured a panel discussion on the recently completed General Assembly building touching on unique challenges the project encountered like adding an underground tunnel beneath a 1912 foundation, the COVID pandemic, and protestors marching on Capitol Hill during construction.
A special treat this morning was being joined by 25 local commercial real estate interns, including two from our W. M. Jordan Richmond office, Natalia Ayala-Torres and Lainie Thompson, who are working in estimating and marketing, respectively. What a great idea from our DEI committee to include our young talent!”

6 Wheels Launches the Inaugural Issue of THE CONNECTOR Newsletter!

As a supporter of 6 Wheels Consulting, we’re pleased to announce the inaugural edition of THE CONNECTOR, our quarterly newsletter designed to connect and inspire disability rights and inclusion advocates of all stripes.

Take a look and enjoy the content, knowing that we’ll bring you relevant, timely information that doesn’t bomb your inbox.

6 Wheels 2022 Wrap-Up!

It’s been an amazing year at 6 Wheels, and I wanted to share some of the highlights with everyone!

2022 was my best revenue year to date, which means I’ve gotten to do a lot of consulting, lobbying, and speaking! I’m so thankful to have been able to work with so many amazing people and to see how much progress we’ve made in terms of growing the business!

I did several architectural projects this year. Earlier in the year, I went to Dollywood Theme Parks in Tennessee and assessed the parking and the park itself to see how it could be made more accessible and inclusive. I also did a facility assessment for EAB, where I reviewed two office spaces (one in Washington, D.C., one in Richmond) to make those spaces more inclusive for people with disabilities.

Of course, I’ve also continued to do my architect work with Baskervill as we build out the plan for the new Supreme Court building and two recreation centers in different parts of Richmond. I also worked with PlanRVA as they changed the location of their headquarters and worked with Dupont Elementary School to create more accessible playground equipment for their students with disabilities.

In 2022, I had some incredible speaking opportunities as well. I was also able to do some programming in North Dakota again with the North Dakota Developmental Disabilities Counsel, which was a great experience. In July, I was a panelist for a virtual ADA town hall with the Partnership for People with Disabilities at VCU. We discussed how the ADA has changed over the past 30 years and how it could further change to help people with disabilities.

At the end of August, I attended the No Barriers Summit once again and provided consultation on their space, which was a great experience! 

October, which was Disability Employment Awareness Month, was one of my most productive months to date! I got to speak again to the African American Credit Union Diversity and Inclusion Cohort, Coastal Credit Union; I also returned to Anthem and did another event with them regarding disability employment. Additionally, I had an event with Virginia Housing, where I talked about inclusivity and accessibility. In October, I also talked to New Editions Consulting Incorporated and did a program for them. I also attended the National Family Voices Conference in Washington, D.C., where I represented Youth as Self-Advocates on October 18th-20th.

I’ve gotten to do some webinars with the National Disability Institute talking about entrepreneurship and employment for people with disabilities. I also was able to virtually do a program overseas this year, which was a first!

I continue to do awesome work with my youth group as we develop a new strategic plan with them. I was able to see some great growth within the youth in that group.

We had a really successful legislative session in 2022, where were able to get a few pieces of legislation passed through the Virginia General Assembly.

Throughout the year, I’ve continued to work on some ongoing projects, including my book and podcast. We’ve also made some progress on the book and put out some new podcast episodes, which you should definitely check out if you haven’t already!

I’ve been able to connect with wonderful new partners in the past year. I’m so grateful to meet so many great people with whom I have had the opportunity to do some incredible projects!

We already have some things scheduled for 2023 with more in the pipeline, and we look forward to continuing to grow and putting some structures into place to guarantee our continued long-term success.

Thank you for all your support! I’m very excited about what 2023 has to offer. Make sure to follow 6 Wheels on social media to keep up with our latest projects!

PHOT0: White background photo that reads thank you and black lettering with some green leaves and twigs off to the right.

A Busy Summer at 6 Wheels!

This summer has been pretty eventful at 6 Wheels, and there’s more to come!

I left for Denver for the No Barriers Summit on August 23rd, where I participated in the summit and provided consultation as well! I looked at the new space for the No Barriers Summit to help ensure it was fully accessible and inclusive.

On August 30th, I was a panelist on the Shine the Light Inclusivity Webinar, where we discussed inclusivity in design.

I have quite a few upcoming trips planned both locally and out of state. From September 5th-8th, I’ll going to Dollywood Theme Park in Pigeon Forge, TN, to do an assessment of three parking space structures and help them improve their parking facilities. Locally, on September 27th, I’m going to speak about disability in the workplace at the African American Credit Union.

October is Disability Employment Awareness Month, and I have several events coming up related to that. On October 5th, I’m doing a speaking engagement with VA Housing around disability in the workplace as well. On October 13th, I’m also doing a lunch-and-learn with Coastal Credit Union around disability in the workplace from noon to 1 p.m.

If you or anyone you know is looking for a speaker for Disability Employment Awareness Month, please reach out now as my calendar’s filling up quickly! I’d love to speak at your event.

Later in October, I’ll be working with Anthem Insurance on October 18th; we’ll be doing an event series around people in foster care. Then, I’ll attend the National Family Voices Conference in Washington, D.C., where I’ll be representing Youth as Self-Advocates on October 18th-20th.

I’m continuing to work on evaluating Baskervill and the construction work related to that project. Additionally, I will be working with the same team to consult on the accessibility and inclusivity of community centers that are going to be built in the Richmond area.

 There are several upcoming projects, including lobbying work and meetings with potential clients. I’ve also been continuing to work on my book and podcast episodes, so stay tuned for both! 

Make sure to follow 6 Wheels on social media to keep up with our current and future events! I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable end of the summer!

A Spring 6 Wheels Update!

I’ve had a busy start to spring at 6 Wheels, and I wanted to share some of the projects I’ve been working on as well as some upcoming events! 

I recently attended the ACLU’s biannual conference in Los Angeles, California, as a representative from the ACLU’s Virginia chapter. It was great to network with so many people involved in all sorts of advocacy work, and I’m thankful I had the chance to attend the conference! 

One project that I’m really looking forward to is working with Hopewell County Public Schools to evaluate one of their playgrounds. Hopewell County Public Schools is working to make their elementary school playgrounds more accessible, and I’m working as a consultant to help them figure out some of the best ways to do that.

I’ll also be a panelist for a virtual town hall around the ADA sometime in July with the Partnership for People with Disabilities at VCU. We’ll be talking about how the ADA, after 30 years, has changed and how it could continue to change to benefit people with disabilities. I’ll make sure to share the time and date soon, so keep an eye out for that!

I’m continuing to work with PlanRVA, which has been awesome. They’re moving into new headquarters soon, so I’m helping them think through the accessibility of that space, along with Baskerville, which is an ongoing project.

As I’ve done previously, I’ll be attending the No Barriers Summit in Colorado this August. This year, they’re hiring me to help them think through accessibility and inclusion for the summit they have in August. I’ll be reviewing plans, making suggestions, and looking at logistics, so I’m excited to work with them to make the summit and even more inclusive space.

Behind the scenes, I’ve been working on securing a specific copyright. I can’t talk about what for just yet…but I’ll be sure to share when I can!

On May 26th, I’ll be hosting along with Synapse a 6 Wheels Social at Brambly Park from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. We’ll be mingling and meeting, and we’ll have food and drinks. Here’s the Facebook invite, and here’s the LinkedIn invite if you want more information! I’d love to see you there!

I’ll also be meeting with the county manager of Henrico to discuss some upcoming projects as well as to review ongoing projects.

I’ve been continuing to work on my book, which has been an interesting and exciting process. Currently, I have parts of about four or five chapters.

If you’ve been missing the 6 Wheels Consulting Disability Podcast, there’s good news! New podcast episodes will be coming soon, so stay tuned!

I also wanted to note that the 6 Wheels Instagram account was recently hacked. I’m in the process of getting that sorted out, but I may end up needing to create a new account altogether. If that’s the case, I’ll be sure to share the new account! In the meantime, please ignore any sketchy messages or posts you see there!

As always, I hope everyone’s doing well, and I’m looking forward to some awesome events this summer!

6 Wheels 2021 Year In Review!

I’ve gotten to do some really cool projects this year, and as 2021 comes to an end, I wanted to share some of the highlights from the past year!

One of the most exciting parts of this year was being included as the accessibility consultant for Baskervill's winning bid to redesign the new Supreme Court of Virginia building.

In November, I also became an ADA Certified Coordinator! An ADA coordinator works with different entities within the government to ensure ADA compliance.

Another awesome moment of the year was when 6 Wheels Consulting became certified as a micro-SWaM this year! The SWaM (the Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned) Business Certification Program helps a variety of business owners access opportunities. It was awesome to be recognized in this way!

I keynoted several events in 2021, including at North Dakota’s Power Up Health Conference, Sentara Healthcare, Anthem HealthKeepers Plus, and Virginia Board for People With Disabilities just to name a few. It was great to connect with so many communities!

This year, I also did sensitivity training for the North Dakota court systems. Additionally, I did a lot of programming around hiring people with disabilities with Richmond SHRM, the African American Credit Union, and Coastal Credit Union. These opportunities really allowed me to share the importance of hiring and employing people with disabilities.

6 Wheels has had a great year of making an impact and connecting with some amazing people and organizations, and 2022 is setting up to be a great year already! I have some projects already lined up and can’t wait to see what the year has in store!

I hope everyone has a safe, happy holiday season, and make sure to keep a check on our social media pages to see what we’ll be up to in the new year!

PHOTO: 6 Wheels Consulting logo holiday card with Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa graphics.

Redesigning a New Supreme Court of Virginia Building

*Article originally published on Richmond BizSense.

The state government’s procurement arm has taken the next incremental step in one of two major downtown redevelopment projects.

Virginia’s Department of General Services last month tapped a team led by local architecture firm Baskervill to design the future home of the Virginia Court of Appeals and Supreme Court of Virginia.

The selection is one of the first dominoes to fall in the process to replace the current Supreme Court of Virginia building at 100 N. 9th St. with a new building at 900 E. Main St., where the Pocahontas Building currently stands. The east wing of the Pocahontas Building is expected to be demolished to make way for the new building that the Supreme Court of Virginia and state’s Court of Appeals will share.

The project is estimated to cost at least $155 million.

DGS Director Joe Damico confirmed that a design contract for the new courts building was awarded in November. Renderings and finer details have not yet been disclosed.

“There’s still a long way to go, still a lot of discussions to be had before we really get into some serious design decisions,” Damico said.

The first public look at the future courts building will likely come at a public meeting of the state’s Art and Architecture Review Board next spring or summer, Damico added.

“Baskervill didn’t come in with a specific design. What they did is they came in and said, ‘Here’s how we’re going to approach developing the space needs and the design of the building.’ That’s how the procurement evaluation was conducted,” Damico said. “They now sit down with the courts, understand what their program needs are, then they take that and design it into the space.”

Other local firms that were part of Baskervill’s winning bid included engineering firms Timmons Group, Froehling & Robertson and Dunbar, as well as accessibility consulting firm 6 Wheels Consulting.

The state issued a request for proposals for the project over the summer, along with an RFP to replace the James Monroe Building at 101 N. 14th St., which at 26 stories is the city’s tallest building.

Both the Supreme Court and Monroe buildings have myriad issues involving compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, security and safety and other design problems, which prompted the need for replacements.

 Damico added that they have not awarded a design contract for the approximately 13-story, 350,000-square-foot tower that’s planned to replace the Monroe Building at 703 E. Main St. That site currently houses the former Virginia Employment Commission building. Damico said he anticipates a winning bid will be selected within the next two months. The project is estimated at $283 million.

“My hope would be before the end of the year,” Damico said.

Multiple state agencies call the Monroe Building home, including the Department of the Treasury and Department of Education, and the Department of Veterans Services.

The 40-year-old Monroe Building and 101-year-old Supreme Court of Virginia building are likely to face different ultimate fates.

Damico previously said he’d expect the state to retain the Supreme Court building due to its historic significance and proximity to Capitol Square, while the Monroe Building may be declared surplus and put up for sale.

Those decisions will ultimately be decided by the General Assembly and the new governor’s administration. Damico said DGS is continuing down the path for these projects as currently authorized.

“Each administration can establish their priorities and I can’t answer for them, but I’ll tell you that this is how we’re proceeding at this time and we’ll see how it plays out going forward,” he said.

PHOTO: At the corner of East Franklin and North Ninth streets is the current Supreme Court of Virginia building, which was initially built in 1919 before being added on to in the 1950s. (BizSense file)

6 Wheels Consulting Is SWaM Certified!

I have some exciting news! After applying a few months ago, 6 Wheels Consulting became SWam Certified this October!

The SWaM (the Small, Women-owned, and Minority-owned) Business Certification Program helps a variety of business owners access opportunities. According to SWaM, “the purpose [of the certificate] is to enhance procurement opportunities for SWaM businesses participating in state-funded projects.”

6 Wheels Consulting falls under the small business category and is considered a Micro-SWaM, meaning we have “no more than twenty-five employees and no more than $3 million in average annual revenue over the three-year period prior to certification.”

The SWaM Certification will last until October 2026 and will give 6 Wheels Consulting a leg-up when it comes to getting state contracts and other opportunities and jobs.

I’m grateful that 6 Wheels received SWaM Certification and I can’t wait to pursue new opportunities!

PHOTO: Blue and green photo that reads Certified SWAM Small, Women and Minority-Owned. Supplier Diversity Strengthens the Commonwealth by the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity

Rolling Into Fall With Some Awesome Events!

I’ve been super busy lately and wanted to catch everyone up on what I’ve been doing!

On August 24th, I partnered with Beyond Boundaries and provided sensitivity training for an organization called Keep Virginia Cozy. Keep Virginia Cozy focuses on preserving green spaces and keeping them clean, and it was great to educate people about sensitivity training!

In early August, I also completed my credits to become an ADA coordinator through the ADA Coordinator Program, so now I just need to take and pass the test. I’m planning on taking the test in early October!

I recently presented at the North Dakota Power Up Conference on September 10th, which was a great opportunity. Following that, I did another event for the Richmond SHRM chapter where we continued to expand on the conversations we’d started around disability and employment in the workplace.

On September 27th, I also provided sensitivity training for Plan RVA, and we discussed how to best work with people with disabilities.

Coming up, I also have some exciting events! On October 2nd, I’ll be doing an event with the Arc of Virginia and will be working with a group of youth. On this webinar, we’ll discuss how to research candidates for the upcoming election in November, who’s on the ballots this election, and much more.

October is Disability Awareness Month and Disability Employment Awareness Month! On October 28th, I’ll be the keynote speaker for the Richmond Anthem chapter’s Disability Employment Awareness Month Event (Disability Mentoring Day). The event runs from 9:30 AM­–10:45am, and we’ll focus on the importance of hiring people with disabilities in the workplace.

Otherwise, I’m still working on my book, and I have some other things in the works which I’ll talk about soon! I’ve also done lots of networking recently, which I love, and have schedule some upcoming meetings with some awesome people and organizations!

 Make sure to keep an eye out for changes to my speaking programming, which will be unveiled in the coming months!

As always, keep an eye on the blog, our podcast, and our social media pages to see what I’m up to! There will be some fun and exciting announcements soon!

I hope everyone’s staying safe and healthy and enjoys the beginning of fall!

PHOTO: An image of Fall burgundy red, yellow and brown leaves, and trees. A white box is overlaying this image with black lettering that reads Bring On The Fall.  Who’s ready for crisp air and falling leaves?

A Busy Summer for 6 Wheels!

The past few months have been super busy for 6 Wheels, and I wanted to give an update on what I’ve been up to lately and share a few upcoming projects!

On May 10th, I gave a presentation at Lakewood Assisted Living Facility about my work at 6 Wheels Consulting. It was great to present to a really engaged group of people at Lakewood.

I also had the opportunity to be part of the promotional video for CBS’s “Heroes Among Us” segment. I was featured on this segment last year, so it was great to be a part of this video!

SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) had its 2021 Diversity and Inclusion Symposium on May 20th, and I had an awesome time speaking at the event! I focused on the importance of hiring people with disabilities in the workplace and how employers can recruit, retain, and hire people with disabilities.

On June 15th, I spoke at the 2021 Virginia Emergency Management Symposium. There, I discussed the ways emergency management efforts can become more inclusive towards people with disabilities.

As I’ve done previously, I did my professional development training for the Youth Leadership Academy of Virginia. This program helps local youth with disabilities hone their skills and prepare for their futures. I had a great time talking with everyone on Zoom and sharing the ways to best prepare for job interviews as people with disabilities.

On July 20th, I’ll be giving a similar presentation for the African-American Credit Union Coalition for their Division, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Academy. It’s important to share the benefits of hiring people with disabilities in all workplaces, and I’m thankful that more organizations are taking the time to learn the ways in which they can support disabled people. 

You might have noticed that 6 Wheels has been more active on social media lately, and that’s because I’ve also partnered with my social media manager, Steve, who will manage my social media posts. Steve is doing a great job and I really appreciate his help. Thanks, Steve!

Recently, I’ve also signed contracts with two awesome organizations. I’ll be working with Inclusively, an organization that helps people with disabilities find jobs, to help develop articles on their site. I’ll also be working with Grit and Flow, an organization that offers training and consultations to businesses in various fields, to work on programming sessions for people with disabilities to discuss the societal issues that affect us.

Behind the scenes, I’ve been working on some other great projects, including revamping the 6 Wheels podcast and working on my book. I’ve also started to think about ideas for our next legislative session and have been working with others to implement the hiring initiative that was signed for people with disabilities at last year’s session.

I’ll also be helping with a political engagement event with the ARC of Virginia. This event will talk about gubernatorial elections and why it’s important to vote during these elections and who is involved. It’s so important to vote in local elections, not just during presidential elections, and we want voters to be informed about the issues that affect them.

I’ll be keynote speaker and will hold a breakout session for North Dakota’s Power Up Health Conference on September 10th. There, I’ll talk about the ways in which I maintained my physical, emotional, and mental health during the COVID pandemic as a person with a disability.

As you can see, it’s been a busy time for 6 Wheels, and I’m really looking forward to all the events and partnerships to come! Make sure to stay tuned and follow 6 Wheels Consulting on social media so you can keep up with all things 6 Wheels!

PHOTO: Black lettering on a white background. The lettering reads “We have been busy”

Speeches and Planning Ahead

I’ve been fortunate to have been super busy this past while, and I’m excited to share some of what I’ve been doing and upcoming plans!

I have several upcoming (virtual!) speeches scheduled, the first being at SHRM’s 7th Annual Diversity & Inclusion Panel on May 20th. I’ll have a one-on-one conversation and answer questions from an interviewer about promoting disability inclusion in the workplace, setting up a disability corporate culture, and more. Last year, there was an audience of around 300 people, so we’re hoping to see just as many people this year, too!

On June 15th, I’ll be doing a breakout session for the Virginia Emergency Management Symposium. I’ll be talking about the ways to include people with disabilities in emergency planning process and the importance of making sure people with disabilities are prepared for emergencies, too. I spoke at this event previously, and I’m excited to be a part of it again!

Then, I’ll be presenting about professional development for the Youth Leadership Academy of Virginia on July 14th. I’ll be talking with students with disabilities—sophomores, juniors, and seniors—about things everyone should know about professional development, such as what to wear during an interview, how to conduct yourself on social media, how to write a resume, and how to find a job. I’m excited to continue to share my experiences with the next generation and discuss how to feel prepared for the workplace!

Additionally, I’ll be a keynote speaker at the 2021 North Dakota Power Up Health Conference on September 10th. I’ll be sharing the ways I’ve maintained good health during the pandemic. I’ll specifically highlight how I’ve maintained virtual connections with friends and family, how I’ve started eating better, exercising, and virtually visiting a therapist to maintain my physical and mental health. I’ll also be doing a breakout session that will focus on my transition from being a youth advocate to becoming an entrepreneur and starting my own business. We’re hoping to see 300 or more people at this virtual event!

On March 15th, I presented my disability sensitivity training to Beyond Boundaries’ Board of Directors. On March 16th, I spoke at an event held by Jewish Learning Venture and Inclusion Innovations called Everyone’s Welcome: A Fresh Discussion on Disability.

Matthew provides his disability sensitivity training to the Beyond Boundaries Board of Directors as part of a zoom presentation.  The slide reads nonverbal learning/social communication disorders. It is white lettering on a red background with the wheelchair symbol without the wheel on the slide.  Six people on a zoom call listen to the presentation.

 I’m also continuing to redevelop the podcast and work on my book, and I have several meetings lined up in April to talk to some potential clients. In other exciting news, I got my first Moderna shot and will get the second in April!

I’m glad that I’ve had so many opportunities come up lately and look forward to staying busy in the next few months, too! hope everyone is doing well and staying safe and healthy!

An Eventful Final Quarter of 2020 for 6 Wheels Consulting

The last few months of 2020 have been busy for 6 Wheels Consulting, and we have some great upcoming activities during the last few weeks of the year as well!

In mid-October, I took part in a really cool photoshoot. I can’t say much more since the campaign hasn’t been launched yet, but keep an eye out for news about that coming soon!

On October 27th, I spoke at the 2020 Virginia Ability Forum, which was titled The Ability Equation: Employer Engagement minus Disincentives equals Abilities Reimagined. October was National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and at the forum I discussed my experience starting a business, as well as the importance of hiring people with disabilities. COVID has made working remotely an option for so many people, and this should open the door for people with disabilities to work from home. Employers should take advantage of this and value what people with disabilities bring to the table!

I worked with Sentara earlier this year and am excited to be working with them once again on December 9th to do a keynote discussion for HR managers. We’ll be talking about the importance of hiring and retaining individuals with disabilities.

Right after that, I’ll be moderating a legislative policy discussion on December 3rd. We’ll be talking about how to self-advocate for yourself during a pandemic.

I’m also preparing for the upcoming General Assembly. One of my biggest goals this session is to focus on legislation that provides hiring preferences for people with disabilities within the Virginia state government. This session will be different since everything is going to be virtual, so it’ll be interesting to see how that pans out—but we’ll make it work!

 I’ve also been working on a video series about how to have difficult, important conversations. These conversations will cover different topics, including racial equality and the way people, especially students, engage with one another during the pandemic.

Finally, I’ve been getting ready for 2021. I already have different projects I’m working on for the new year, so make sure to follow 6 Wheels Consulting on social media to keep up with our most recent activities and accomplishments!

As the year’s coming to an end, I hope everyone has a safe holiday season, even if it looks a little different this year. I hope 2021 is a wonderful year for everyone, and I’m sure it will continue to be a year for growth and exciting new opportunities!

PHOTO: Green Cursive writing that reads Thank You

Accessibility Widget Added to 6 Wheels Site!

I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe! I wanted to update everyone on an exciting new accessibility feature on the 6 Wheels Consulting website!

We now have User1st’s accessibility widget on our site! You can find this widget on the upper left-hand corner of the website labeled ‘accessibility’ in the color yellow. When you click the button, you’re offered a variety of features, including using a screen reader, navigating the site by keyboard, changing the color contrast on the site, magnifying the screen, and more. These features all make the site easier to access, which is incredibly important to us at 6 Wheels Consulting. You can go to User1st’s website HERE

I’m happy to now have User1st’s accessibility widget on the site and am excited to continuously make 6 Wheels Consulting more accessible in every way. If you have any questions about this new feature, please let me know.

PHOTO: Letters in different shades of blue spelling out User1st World Wide Accessibility.

Keeping Busy In A Remote World: 6 wheels Consulting Update

I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe and healthy in this strange time we’re in! I’ve been busier than ever these past few months and wanted to share some of what I’ve been up to!

On October 15th, I’ll give a virtual keynote presentation to Sentara Healthcare staff, as Sentara Healthcare is trying to expand its diversity and inclusion efforts. October is Disability History and Awareness Month as well as Disability Employment month, so I’ll be discussing my experience starting my business and why employers should hire folks with disabilities. I’ll also discuss the current work environment; right now, a lot of us are on a digital platform, and that could open up the door for more people with disabilities as far as employment goes. The presentation will be an hour in total with the last quarter will including a Q&A. I look forward to working with Sentara Healthcare and continuing a strong relationship with everyone there as we continue to work in other avenues.

I’m also now on a speaking roster with an organization called Evolve Productions, a production company that hosts in-person and virtual events focused on inclusion and diversity content. I’m on the speaking roster as a motivational speaker and to discuss disability inclusion. Currently, we’re working on a video project that focuses on having difficult conversations in our current climate about topics such as race, disability, the LGBTQ+ community, etc. The project will also highlight ways to connect with people in this unique time—I personally have experience being isolated societally as a disabled person, so I know how to establish a social network when not everything is accessible. Our goal with this project is to share this video with businesses, colleges, etc., as a resource to help promote connection and having hard conversations.

Throughout October, I’ll also be working on my book project, which will combine humor and stories to talk about different subjects surrounding disability and life. I’m hoping to interview different subjects and share my experiences and others’ experiences to give people a true picture of what life is like for disabled folks and give strategies to navigate different spaces and conversations.

Over the past few months, I’ve continued to work with Rachel Kaplan on our online course. The course is for HR professionals who want to know how to hire people with disabilities in different areas of work. The course will detail how to establish a good disability corporate culture, how to provide appropriate workplace accommodations, and more. We’re hoping to launch this course in the first quarter of 2021.

Several new episodes of the 6 Wheels Consulting Disability Podcast have been released lately as well, so make sure to check those out!

Finally, I’d like to encourage everyone to get out and vote! This year, any registered voter can vote absentee in-person or by mail; if you’re a Virginian, you can register if you haven’t already or find out more information about where and how to vote here.

As always, thank you for your support and make sure to keep an eye out for more updates on my social media pages and on the blog!

PHOTO: Pink cursive lettering on a black background with a white border. The cursive writing reads What we've been up to lately…

A 6 Wheels Summer Update

I hope everyone’s been doing well and is remaining safe and healthy during these difficult times. It’s been a busy summer for us at 6 Wheels, and I’ve been grateful that I’ve been able to work remotely.

I’ve been doing my off-season lobbying work and recently met with 23 legislators, and we discussed budget concerns regarding people with disabilities and employment. As we look forward to the 2021 session, we know that it might look a bit different, but we still have the same goal of advocating for people with disabilities.

I’m also continuing to serve as an adult ally for the Youth As Self-Advocates (YASA). We meet several times a week with youth board members and talk about various issues, including how the pandemic is affecting youth with disabilities.

In other news, I’ve signed on to be an affiliate partner with User1st, an organization that focuses on improving internet accessibility.

I’ve also been working with a fellow disability consultant, Rachel Kaplan, who runs an organization called Kintsugi Consulting. We’re working to develop an 18-module disability employment training course that will be marketed to businesses. The modules will be focused around interviewing, corporate culture, ADA in the workplace, etc., with 12 mandatory modules and an additional 6 optional modules. Keep a look out for more information as we continue to work on the course!

Additionally, I’ve been working on the idea of moving public speaking content to virtual content and have been spending some time working on writing a book. I’ll make sure to share more information with you all as I continue to work on both processes!

Again, I hope everyone is doing well and is staying healthy and safe! As always, I appreciate everyone’s support.

PHOTO: This is a picture of some sand with the word summer written in it. In the upper right-hand corner, there is a purple star fish and in the lower left-hand corner there is a green sand bucket. The water is also coming in on the sand.

User1st & 6 Wheels Consulting Announce Strategic Partnership

PHOTO: 6 Wheels Consulting, LLC Logo

WASHINGTON, DC (July 20, 2020) – User1st and 6 Wheels Consulting today announced a strategic partnership to advance web accessibility for people with disabilities. The two organizations will work to encourage and consult with businesses, health organizations, and government entities to adopt inclusive technology practices.

“I am excited to expand the already wonderful partnership with User1st. Their world class web accessibility tools open doors for many people with disabilities to have access to the web. In our current climate access to the web has become even more vital for those can’t freely leave their house. This expanded partnership will be beneficial for both parties as we make all aspects of the world more inclusive to everyone. I am excited to see where the work takes our two amazing organizations,” said Matthew Shapiro, Founder and CEO of 6 Wheels Consulting.

“The need for web accessibility is more critical than ever with the COVID-19 pandemic keeping people with disabilities even more isolated. As we approach the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act which opened physical doorways, we look forward to working with Matthew to open digital doorways for the disability community,” said User1st CEO Amihai Miron.

Statistics show that home internet use surged upwards of 70% during the peak months phase 1 stay-home orders. The most used online services were grocery, e-commerce, health, and home improvement, with a nearly 50% increase in telehealth services and a doubling of online grocery sales. Even as many states have reopened, nearly all health guidelines encourage those who fall within a vulnerable population to continue to shelter in place, even extending the warning to household members or caregivers for people who may need assistance. Website accessibility should be counted among the essential services for people with disabilities.

Digital accessibility is the ability of a website, mobile application, or electronic document to be easily navigated and understood by all users of varied abilities, including those who have visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities. Unfortunately, most websites and other digital assets were not created with accessibility in mind, blocking users with disabilities from using your online resources and apps which can lead to litigation risk under the ADA and several other civil right laws.

About 6 Wheels Consulting, LLC:
6 Wheels Consulting, through professional consulting, dynamic public speaking, and lobbying services, strives to educate and guide organizations of all types in both the public and private sectors with the goal of strengthening their understanding of disability culture and the issues that affect this population. We do this through inclusive, common-sense, cost- effective, solutions to disability related concerns. This enhanced education hopes to broaden the understanding and appreciation for those with disabilities. For more information on 6 Wheels Consulting, visit www.6wheelsconsulting.com; Contact: Matthew Shapiro, 804-317-0819; matthew.shapiro@6wheelsconsulting.com

About User1st:
Founded with the purpose of making the power of the internet accessible for persons with varied and changing abilities, User1st provides the most advanced web accessibility solutions on the market for testing, remediation, monitoring, and compliance. User1st’s solutions are deployed in a variety of industries worldwide, including financial services, retail, government, education, and healthcare. For more information, visit http://www.user1st.com/ and follow User1st on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter @User1st.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Raegan Bartlo, VP Communications
202-919-6216
Raegan.bartlo@user1st.com

Written by Raegan Bartlo

Originally posted on User1st https://www.user1st.com/press-blog/user1st-6-wheels-consulting-announce-strategic-partnership

Lobbying, Outreach, and Remote Work

2020 has been an exciting, interesting year for 6 Wheels Consulting so far, and I wanted to check-in with everyone and share what I’ve been up to lately.

I started the year lobbying at the Virginia General Assembly. One of the highlights of my lobbying work was working with legislature to remove the harmful, outdated term “physically deficient” in reference to people with disabilities in the Code of Virginia.

At the beginning of the year, Governor Northam signed executive actions to help create more job opportunities in the Commonwealth for people with disabilities. I worked with the Department of Human Resource Management to work out ways to hire more people with disabilities in our local government in order to fulfill this initiative.

After the session ended, I did a keynote presentation for the Virginia Board for People With Disabilities and discussed self-determination.

I’ve also been working with STEM students from Scarsdale High School in New York, which has been a great experience. I’ve been consulting with the school’s program to develop resources for students with disabilities.

Students at the school have also been designing and creating prototypes of items that could be useful for individuals with disabilities and for other populations. It’s been really fun to see what the students come up with!

Prior to universities closing their campuses for the remainder of the spring semester, I was a guest lecturer for a class at the University of Virginia. The class focused on innovative leadership, and I discussed my personal approach to leadership. It was great to connect with students and to share my experiences!

On April 8th, I’m going to partner with Gordian Partners, LLC., a consulting firm that focuses on inclusion, and Hallie Murray, a person with autism, to present The Business Case of Inclusion. This webinar will focus on the importance of inclusion and the ways inclusive business practices lead to success. I hope you’ll join me for this presentation and workshop!

I’ve enjoyed working in such diverse environments in the past few months, and I look forward to continuing to spread the message of inclusion.

Please make sure to be smart and vigilant at this time in regards to the coronavirus. Even though life looks a little different for us all right now, it’s important to do our part to keep each other well.

I hope everyone is healthy, happy, and safe!

PHOTO: Black cursive lettering that reads “stay safe and healthy”