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.

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

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.

# # #

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”

Highlighting 6 Wheels Consulting's Best Moments of 2019

2019 has been a busy year at 6 Wheels Consulting! I’ve had the chance to make new connections and work with some amazing people, and it’s been exciting to see 6 Wheels Consulting continue to grow!

At the start of the year, I went to the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio, and shared a presentation called “Get Out of Your Comfort Zone.” A month later, I worked with ACAC, the health center, and helped them with disability etiquette training to ensure they are able to work with people in our community who have different kinds of disabilities.

In April, I joined Gayton Elementary School in their Gators Choose to Include Campaign. It was great to have the opportunity to talk to such engaged and curious kids about celebrating our differences. Following that, I talked to more students, though this time, they were students at George Washington University who were studying to become physical therapists and occupational therapists. It was great to discuss the ways these future medical professionals could improve the lives of people with disabilities with their interactions.

On May 20-24, I attended the 2019 Global Pathfinders Summit in Charlottesville, Virginia. This summit brought together delegates from all over the world to discuss important issues from global warning, to democracy, to corruption in politics. It was amazing to see how similar our lives were even though we all came from unique backgrounds.

I headed back to school in June, this time at Echo Lake Elementary School. I attended the school’s career day and shared my experience as a consultant, speaker, and lobbyist. It’s always great when I get to answer kids’ questions and share my experiences.

A few days later, I went to the No Barriers Summit. I’ve attended this summit for several years now, and it’s a great way to meet new people and try out some really fun activities. This year, I participated in improv and falconry.

As fall began at the end of September, I took part in the Visit Richmond Diversity Panel. There were several other speakers on the panel, and it was interesting to hear others’ perspectives and share my own perspective about what Richmond does and doesn’t do well well along with travel writers in terms of making there writing and destinations more inclusive to all minority groups including those with disabilities.

In August, I was a keynote speaker at the Central Virginia Mass Care Symposium. There, I talked about emergency preparedness for people with disabilities and the elderly and discussed the importance of inclusive planning when prepping for emergencies and disasters.

Towards the end of October, I went to Toronto, Ontario to attend the 8th annual DEEP (Designing Enabling Economies & Policies) conference. This year, the conference focused on inclusion, particularly in regard to technology.

On November 8, I attended the Diversity Summit at George Washington University where I served on a panel. While on the panel everyone discussed entrepreneurship and what it takes to start your own business.

Throughout the year, I’ve worked with a great team of people who have helped 6 Wheels Consulting continue to grow and expand. To everyone on the team: thank you for helping me to make 2019 such a wonderful year 6 Wheels Consulting! I appreciate your talents and hard work.

I’ve also continued to work on the 6 Wheels Consulting Disability podcast throughout the year. It’s been great to explore current disability events and interview different disability stakeholders. I always love hearing feedback from our audience. Please let us know what you would like to hear about next on the podcast!

Overall, it’s been a great year for 6 Wheels Consulting! I’m grateful for an amazing 2019, and I’m looking forward to seeing what 2020 has in store for 6 Wheels Consulting!

PHOTO: White and gray lettering on a black background. The lettering reads 2019 year in review.

Looking Back on a Busy Summer and Looking Forward to Fall!

Summer has gone by so quickly, and I wanted to share some of the events I’ve participated in and the opportunities I’ve had in the past few months.

As I mentioned in my last blog, I attended the Global Pathfinders Summit in Charlottesville, Virginia on May 20-24. The Global Pathfinders Summit celebrated the 400th anniversary of democracy in Virginia and brought together 150 delegates from 50 different countries. During the summit, I had the opportunity to meet people from all over the globe. We talked about democracy and global issues, such as corruption, politics, and policies. Then, we participated in service projects and developed a framework for future democracy based on our conversations. When talking about our cultures, I was surprised that other young people face very similar problems that young people in America encounter. I took away from this event the importance of looking at issues globally. If we worked together globally, we could begin to tackle issues that affect us all.

PHOTO: Matthew, outside,In a blue colored shirt, In a photo with five new friends that he met at the Global Pathfinder Summit In Charlottesville Virginia early in the summer.

PHOTO: Matthew, in his wheelchair, in a black shirt and cap with khaki shorts holding a falcon with a smile on his face. This took place at The No Barriers Summit.

On June 13-16, I attended my fifth No Barriers Summit in Lake Tahoe. No Barriers hosts these summits yearly to provide people with disabilities the chance to participate in some great activities. This year, I participated in an improv course and falconry. I also did a boxing course with my brother, which was great. As always, I had a great time at this year’s summit!

On August 8, I was the keynote speaker at the first Mass Care Symposium hosted by the Emergency Management Alliance of Central Virginia. At this event, I spoke to 200 people about the importance of making emergency preparedness plans inclusive for people with disabilities and for the elderly population. I talked about why people with disabilities should be involved in the planning process and in practice scenarios when it comes to emergency preparedness, and also discussed what items shelters can include to make people with disabilities feel more comfortable.

PHOTO: Matthew on stage, in a blue shirt, in his wheelchair. He front of an audience listening to his keynote. A TV to the right of him reads Disaster Dialog. There is also a picture of a fire on the screen. This keynote took place as part of The Virginia Mass Care Symposium.

Throughout the summer, I’ve also submitted several presentations to several organizations for different events. I submitted a presentation to Virginia’s state-wide Emergency Preparedness Conference. I also submitted two proposals focusing on making workplaces more inclusive and disability-aware for a conference in Canada.

I’m looking forward to speaking on a diversity panel for a conference hosted by Visit Richmond on September 26. The conference is focused on diversity in travel and the media, and we’ll be talking to travel writers, journalists, and other people in the tourism industry. We’ll also have someone from the African American community and someone from the LGBT community to talk on the panel, and we’ll discuss the ways travel can be made more inclusive and enjoyable to our communities.

Even though it’s not lobbying season right now, there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes work that goes into lobbying during the off-season. I’ve continued my lobbying work for the Virginia Association of People Supporting Employment First (VA APSE) this summer and have met with 10 legislators about the upcoming legislative agenda. I’ll also meet with a few more legislators in the coming weeks.

Earlier this summer, I served as an expert witness in court. I drafted a report about a case in Michigan that involved a person with a disability. This was a my first time as an expert witness and it was a really cool learning experience that had me thinking about disability from a different perspective. It’s definitely I’d like to do more of if I have the opportunity!

As you may have noticed, we’ve made some changes to our website recently! We’re going to continue to make updates to the website, so keep an eye out for new content coming soon!

There will be new podcast episodes coming out soon, and I’m looking forward to everyone hearing the newest episodes! Bob and I have interviewed some really great guests on the podcast recently and we’ve had some really great conversations. We know you’re going to love hearing what our guests had to say!

Coming your way is an exciting project that I’m working on with 6 Wheels Consulting volunteers Emily Deaton and Carolanne Monteleone: an eBook! Details on the eBook will be in future social media posts and blog posts!

I have some really great projects that I’m currently working on, and I’m excited to share them with you soon! As always, thanks for reading and make sure to follow 6 Wheels Consulting on our social media platforms to keep up with the latest news!

PHOTO: Matthew, in his wheelchair in a black shirt black hat and khaki shorts smiling. Standing next to him is his brother, Jason. He is smiling in a blue shirt and khaki pants They are having their picture taken in front of a blue backdrop that reads No Barriers.

Upcoming Events, Conferences, and More!

It’s been an exciting year for 6 Wheels Consulting so far, and there’s a lot more still to come!

Recently, I had the opportunity to join Gayton Elementary School in their Gators Choose to Include Campaign. This campaign is all about sharing the importance of inclusion and celebrating differences. I was able to kick off the campaign by talking to 500 kids in kindergarten through fifth grade about my experiences. The students were incredibly engaged and excited, and I was delighted to be a part of Gayton’s Gators Choose to Include Campaign.

PHOTO: Matthew Speaking to Gayton Elementary school students at the Gators Choose to Include Campaign kickoff event.

I returned to George Washington University to speak with students who are studying to be physical therapists and occupational therapists. These students learn so much in their time at school and learning how to interact with future patients is an important part of their studies. Sharing my experiences with them and talking about how important self-determination can be to patients is a great way to add another dimension to their education.

PHOTO: Matthew speaking to OT and PT Students at George Washington University about the importance of developing self-determination within their patients.

I have several events that are also coming up soon. On May 7-10, I’ll be attending the 2019 Family Voices Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. The organization focuses on the importance of families in children’s healthcare, and I’ll be representing Kids As Self Advocates (KASA) at the conference. A youth panel at the conference will allow everyone to hear about issues that affect young people with disabilities.

PHOTO : Logo for the Global Pathfinder Summit.

May 20-24, I’ll be participating in The Global Pathfinders Summit in Charlottesville, Virginia. This great event will bring together people around the world and will focus on leadership and networking. I’m looking forward to meeting new people and learning from some great leaders.

A few days later on May 30, I’ll be in Vermont to be a keynote speaker for a Youth Advocacy Council. This group consists of young adults who want to hone their leadership skills and connect with other people with and without disabilities. This empowering event will focus on the importance of positivity and enjoying being present in daily life.

From June 13-16, I’ll be attending the No Barriers Summit once again, which is being held in Lake Tahoe. There, I’ll get the chance to connect with and speak in front of others. I’ll also be participating in some great activities, including improv and falconry.

At the beginning of August, I’ll be a keynote speaker at Gayton Baptist Church where I’ll talk about emergency preparedness. I’ll be focusing on the importance of inclusion of people with disabilities when preparing to react to different types of emergencies.

PHOTO: 6 Wheels Consulting Podcast logo.

Finally, I’ve recently recorded several new episodes for the 6 Wheels Consulting Disability Podcast. In upcoming episodes, you’ll hear interviews with Evelyn Clark, who talks about the process of becoming disabled, Ashton Fallen, who shares her experiences parenting a child with a disability, and Emily Deaton and Carolanne Monteleone, who talk about the intersection of chronic illness and disability. In the works is also an episode with lawyer Helen Hardiman from Hardiman Law where we’ll talk about fair housing, disability and more. Make sure to tune in to catch all these great episodes!

As always, thanks for your support! Please continue to stay connected to our social media pages for updates. I’m so excited for everything I have coming up and can’t wait to see what else spring and summer has in store.

Exciting Additions: New Changes to the 6 Wheels Consulting Website

Recently, we’ve made some awesome new additions to our website! You can now conveniently shop on 6 Wheels Consulting’s site. Grab a copy of the book Infinite Inspirations if you haven’t already! Additionally, we will be adding more merchandise options to the store in the coming months. There’s also a new page dedicated to the 6 Wheels Consulting Disability Podcast where you can listen to all 25 of the current of the episodes show whenever you’d like. Whether you want to hear about disability and travel, disability and relationships, more about the work we do with 6 Wheels, or so much more there is an episode for everyone. New episodes will be premiering in the coming weeks as well. Stay tuned!

Are you interested in 6 Wheels Consulting’s services? Send us an email, and we’ll provide you with the password to our exciting new promotional page, containing downloadable informational one-pagers, business cards, and more. That way you can take a look and see all we have to offer in one spot or even download everything and print it yourself.

The best addition to our website is that we’ve made it more accessible for those of you who use screen readers and other devices that assist you in viewing web pages. Hopefully, you can experience 6 Wheels Consulting’s website to its fullest potential.

There are many more exciting things on their way at 6 Wheels Consulting, and I can’t wait to share them with you. Please stay connected to our social media platforms for new and exciting updates! I hope you enjoy the new additions to our website!

PHOTO: Pink lettering that reads Exciting News with an Exclamation Point.

Staying Busy: Conferences, Keynote Speaking, and More

PHOTO: Program from attending.The 2018 Collaborations Conference. The program depicts two silhouettes of people. One person with a disability in a wheelchair and one able-bodied person holding their arms up in victory.

        At the end of September, I attended the Collaboration Conference in Virginia Beach. There, I was able to network with organizations and individuals about lobbying work. I’ll start lobbying again in January, which is coming up quick! In addition to networking, I also heard updated policy outcomes and listened to a few different programs.

PHOTO: Listening to the Keynote Speaker at the 2018 Collaboration Conference.

PHOTO: Matthew, sitting in his wheelchair, In khaki pants and a button-down shirt, In front of a projector screen getting ready to begin his Leadership on a roll program in his Ed session Atlanta.

            I went from Virginia Beach to Atlanta, Georgia to speak at the NACA (National Association for Campus Activities) South Conference. It was my first time presenting a new program, Leadership on a Roll. I spoke in front of around 60 people and talked about different types of leadership. I’ve always loved to talk to others, and I always enjoy the chance to share my experiences with others.

PHOTO: Matthew smiling with four enthusiastic students from VCU's Student activities board. This was after his presentation at the NACA South conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

            On October 5th and 6th, I attended my fourth No Barriers Summit in New York City. The No Barriers Summit is always a great chance to meet new people and push myself outside of my comfort zone. I took an improv course, learned about adaptive fencing techniques, and did a workout routine with two trainers. A concert on the last day, featuring artists including Mandy Harvey and Judah and the Lion, was a great way to end the summit. If you think you might be interested in attending next year’s summit, you can sign up for more information here.

            I came back home from New York City to give a talk as a keynote speaker at my alma mater, Virginia Commonwealth University. I talked to around 70 students and professors about how I navigated the university as a student. I also spoke on a panel and answered questions about what I looked for in a school as a person with a disability and how I chose to attend VCU. It was a really engaging conversation and it was great to hear about other people’s experiences.

PHOTO: Matthew, in a suit and tie, delivering a keynote speech at VCU in front of 70 students and faculty.

PHOTO: Matthew, in a suit and tie, delivering a keynote speech at VCU in front of 70 students and faculty.

            On October 10th, I also was a keynote speaker to students at my former high school, JR Tucker. I graduated high school almost ten years ago, and I talked to the class of 2019 about enjoying the rest of their time in high school and how using the RAPP (Resilient, Approachable, Persistent, Positive) mentality could really benefit them as they moved forward in high school and into their future. There were about 2,000 people in attendance, and I really appreciated getting a standing ovation at my former school.

PHOTO: Matthew on stage at his high school, JR Tucker, in front of 2000 people. He was the keynote speaker for the class of 2019 Convocation.

PHOTO: Matthew in front of the room presenting His disability etiquette program to 28 students In Buffalo, New York.

            The next day, I went to Buffalo, New York to attend an Ed Session. I presented two different programs to an audience, which included students with disabilities. The first program related to disability sensitivity training while the other program was my Be Your Own Wrecking Ball program, which highlights the importance of getting out of your comfort zone. Hearing from students with disabilities and getting to share my knowledge and experiences made the sessions really memorable.

PHOTO: Matthew, In the front of a small room, presenting his second Ed session In Buffalo, New York. This one was about getting out of your comfort zone.

PHOTO: Matthew presenting his disability etiquette program to STEM Students at Scarsdale High School in Scarsdale, New York.

            I spoke at two schools in October: one in New York and one local to me in Virginia. First, I talked to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) high school students at Scarsdale High School in New York. Since those students could be making products in the future for people with disabilities, it was a great experience to interact with them. While I was at Scarsdale, I also talked with an adaptive PE class. After speaking at Scarsdale, I went to Woolridge Elementary School in Virginia and met with the school’s fourth and fifth graders. I talked about the idea of inclusion with them, and the students were all really excited and curious. I loved getting to hear their questions and I hope the experience will help normalize the idea of disability for those students.

PHOTO: Matthew taking a group photo with several smiling fourth and fifth graders from Woolridge Elementary School after his Positively Inclusive presentation.

PHOTO: Matthew sitting In front of 250 fourth and fifth grade students Woolridge Elementary School during his Positively Inclusive presentation.

Finally, I spoke at the Regional Assistive Technology Symposium on October 23rd. I talked to physical therapists and occupational therapists and explained through my perspective how to help a person with a disability find the right tools. As someone who has used assistive technology throughout my life, it was a great opportunity to share how assistive technology has helped me and how it can help to create inclusive environments.

PHOTO: Matthew, on stage next to a screen, serving as the keynote speaker at the Regional Assistive Technology Symposium in Roanoke, Virginia. The keynote was about how Matthew has utilized assistive technology throughout his life.

            It’s been a wild month, and I’m happy that I’ve been able to keep busy! As we approach the holidays, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to take it easy for a few days. Then, I’m looking forward to continuing my work and seeing what comes next! Make sure to stay connected with all of the 6 Wheels Consulting, LLC social media pages and website for updates on ongoing and future activities and episodes of the podcast. 

Highlighting 6 Wheels Consulting’s 2018 Successes in the First Half of the Year

2018 has been a great year for 6 Wheels Consulting. With everything that has happened lately, I thought it’d be a good idea to highlight some of the most important and exciting work 6 Wheels Consulting has done so far.

At the beginning of the year, I was lucky enough to see the release of a book that my mom and I took part in writing. Infinite Inspirations: Creative and Daring Responses to Life’s Challenges shares stories from different people who have faced challenges in their lives with courage and positivity. If you’re looking for great stories from real people, you should definitely consider picking up the book.

PHOTO: Infinite-Inspirations-Book Cover

Since launching the 6 Wheels Disability Podcast in June, over 507 people have downloaded the podcast! Bob Nolley and I have had a great time recording each episode and we look forward to continuing the pod. We often take questions from listeners, so make sure to connect with 6 Wheels on social media for the chance to hear your questions answered on the podcast!

PHOTO: Here is the logo for the 6 Wheels Consulting Podcast. Is a white version of the six wheels logo on an orange background. The text reads 6 Wheels Podcast with Matthew Shapiro.jpg

6 Wheels Consulting has also recently launched our Certification Program. This program focuses on making locations fully inclusive, not just ADA compliant, for people with disabilities. If you know someone who is interested in having their business 6 Wheels Certified or you want to learn more, please contact me.

Looking forward, 6 Wheels is also looking for volunteers who are interested in making the world more inclusive for people with disabilities. Whether you have a love for marketing or a knack for gaining followers on social media, we would love to have your help! Again, please contact me with any questions or if you’re interested.

Finally, 6 Wheels Consulting is going to start a mailing list to keep in touch with our audience. If you would be interested in joining our mailing list to receive updates on everything 6 Wheels, send me a message with your email address.

Thank you for your support. 6 Wheels Consulting is making a difference every day, and I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year will bring.

Major Announcement: Launching The 6 Wheels Consulting Podcast: Discussing Difference, Inclusion, and All Abilities in Today’s World

I have more EXCITING news to share!  I have launched a new podcast, called the 6 Wheels Consulting Podcast: Discussing Difference, Inclusion, and All Abilities in Today’s World.  My cohost, Bob Nolley, and I recorded the introductory episode a few weeks back and it is now live on iTunes.  I look forward to working on more episodes soon.

Every 45-60-minute episode will focus on different issues people with disability face, and we aim to release a new episode around once a month and occasionally more frequently. We’ll be covering a wide range of topics, talking about everything from representation in the media to maintaining relationships. After our Introductory episode, we hope to feature guests in future episodes to talk about their personal experiences and their areas of expertise in the disability world.

Ultimately, the goal of the podcast is to get people thinking differently about disability. The more discussions we have with and about people with disabilities, the closer we are to a more inclusive world.

You can find the podcast and the inaugural episode on iTunes HERE.  Give it a listen and let us know what you think!  Make sure you like it and put it in your podcast library so you will be aware of future episodes. Also, follow the 6 Wheels social media pages to receive updates, or to provide us with future episode topic ideas or to let us know you would like to be a guest on a future episode!  We want to hear from you!

PHOTO: Here is the logo for the 6 Wheels Consulting Podcast.  Is a white version of the six wheels logo on an orange background.  The text reads 6 Wheels Podcast with Matthew Shapiro.jpg