Recently, 6 Wheels Consulting has gotten approval for three trademarks!
Our Name, the 6 Wheels logo and Inclusion Above Compliance tagline received trademarks. These marks will help 6 Wheels market our business effectively and will make us easily recognizable as a company.
Getting our trademarks approved was a great way to start 2019, and I’m excited to see what the new year has in store!
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
PHOTO: 6 Wheels Consulting, LLC Logo
Over the past few months, I’ve been working on a new program to help organizations and businesses create a more inclusive environment for people with disabilities. Simply complying with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) often doesn’t mean an environment is inclusive—a barrier-free environment that allows everyone, regardless of ability, to have access to everything. After thinking about how to go beyond consulting, I decided to create a new tool, to go along with the services we already provide, to help solve some of these challenges. I am thrilled and excited to announce the 6 Wheels Certification Program!
The 6 Wheels Certification Program will ultimately acknowledge that an organization or facility has worked to place inclusion above compliance for people with disabilities. The areas that will be assessed include physical space, staff training and policies, and inclusivity within marketing and online presence (including social media pages, marketing, etc). After an assessment, we’ll work with the organization’s leaders to make changes in the above areas. Once the changes have been implemented, a location will have the opportunity to be certified.
People with disabilities are often forgotten in the marketplace, despite the fact that the disability community and their families have an estimated 220 billion dollars in discretionary spending. 6 Wheels Certification will ensure that people with disabilities aren’t overlooked. When people with disabilities see that a location has been 6 Wheels Certified, they can feel confident in knowing that the business or organization has a long-term, lasting commitment of inclusion to people within the disability community.
I’m proud of the 6 Wheels Certification program and I know it will make a difference for people with disabilities. I look forward to working with people in our community to create spaces that aren’t just compliant but inclusive.
If you would like your business to become 6 Wheels Certified please contact Matthew Shapiro today at matthew.shapiro@6wheelsconsulting.com or 804-317-0818 and ask him about this amazing new program being offered by 6 Wheels Consulting, LLC.
PHOTO: Red words read Get Certified!
It’s been a busy month! I spent a lot of time in April talking to people and promoting a dialogue about how to best work with people with disabilities.
At the beginning of the month, I went to D.C. and did disability sensitivity training for an organization called New Editions Consulting Inc. The company makes it a priority to hire people with disabilities. With the whole staff in attendance, we talked about ways everyone within the organization can better serve people with disabilities.
PHOTO: Matthew sitting In front of a screen presenting his disability etiquette training at New Editions Consulting Inc.
A former physical therapist and I spoke with occupational and physical therapy students at George Washington University on April 24th. These students will be affecting so many people in the future, so it’s important for them to give people with disabilities the ability to empower themselves. One important tool that physical therapists can use for themselves and their patients is something called the Good Day Plan. It’s a goal-setting plan that highlights a person’s strengths and weaknesses, hobbies, etc., and it outlines what someone needs to do in order to have a good day (one of those things for me would be waking up early to eat a good breakfast). Once everything is outlined, it’s easier to figure out how to achieve a goal.
PHOTO: The George Washington University Logo
I also attended the 2018 Virginia Venture Summit. The Summit is for entrepreneurs and lets new businesses connect with the community. There were panel discussions about how to grow your business and Dennis Bickmeir, the President of Richmond Raceway, was the keynote speaker. I was excited to meet a lot of new people and to make new connections!
PHOTO: Matthew sitting at at his resource table at 2018 Virginia Venture Summit.
I finished the month at a golf tournament talking about Sportable, which is an adaptive sports program, that I’ve been a part of for a long time. Sportable was the beneficiary of the tournament, and it was great to work with an organization that I’ve loved for years.
It was a great month and I look forward to continuing my work in May. I’ll have some exciting announcements coming up soon, so make sure to stay tuned!
I started this year with a new adventure: lobbying. Though I had experience working in the Virginia General Assembly before, this was my first time going solo. I began lobbying work for Virginia ASPE (the Association of People Supporting Employment First) at the Virginia General Assembly.
PHOTO: Matthew's Lobbying badge during his first year lobbying for The Virginia Association of People Supporting Employment Lobbying (VAAPSE)
The ASPE’s mission focuses on career advancement for people with disabilities. I worked with ASPE to fight for people with disabilities’ rights, focusing particularly on the right to have equal opportunities in the workforce. It’s incredibly important for people with disabilities to be paid fairly (disabled workers are often paid below the minimum wage) and have equal access to opportunities. People with disabilities have so much to contribute to the world, and we deserve the chance to succeed and excel in our careers.
There were a lot of changes this year: we were working with a new governor, working in a new building, and there were over a dozen new legislators. A large part of our conversations focused around Medicaid, which left less time to focus on the three budget amendments. This means we’re going to continue focusing on our budget amendments next year.
Overall, it was a great experience. I made a lot of new contacts and established relationships with legislators, legislative assistants, and administrators. In the coming months, I’m going to continue to learn some more tactics and tools to help serve ASPE, and we’ll continue the fight for equality for people with disabilities.
PHOTO: Matthew smiling In a black suit with a green blue and white striped tie.
PHOTO: Metropolitan Business League Logo
On March 2nd, Governor Ralph Northam awarded me with the Metropolitan Business League’s Social Vision Award at the Metropolitan Business League’s annual awards reception.
The Metropolitan Business League (MBL) is a Richmond nonprofit which creates connections for women-and minority-owned businesses, and helps these businesses thrive. I’ve had great experiences working with MBL in the past, and the work they do is incredibly important. The organization has introduced me to other small business owners and has also helped me grow 6 Wheels Consulting LLC.
The award reception at John Marshall Ballrooms honored other businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals. It was a night to celebrate all the hard work business owners had done to make Richmond a better place. 12 awards were presented to recipients, and it was amazing to see what other businesses and business owners have been working on in the past year.
Social Vision Award is given every year to a business that is working to promote change in society. It has always been my goal to create environments that are inclusive for people with disabilities, not just compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. As a person with a disability, I’ve seen what a difference a truly inclusive environment makes for me and for others. I love the work I do, and I was honored to be this year’s recipient of the Social Vision Award. This recognition tells me that I’m making a difference, and I’m excited to keep making the world a more inclusive place.
PHOTO: Matthew with his parents Eve and Barry at the Metropolitan Business League’s annual awards reception.
PHOTO: Matthew holding the Metropolitan Business League’s Social Vision Award that he won.
Hello again everybody. It has been quite a long time since I updated on the work that I am doing via this blog. I want to make a promise to you that I will work harder to make sure that I am regularly updating the blog and sharing about all of my tremendous activities.
As the beginning of the first quarter of 2018 draws near a close I thought I would take some time to reflect on 2017. 2017 was A most productive and eventful year for 6 Wheels Consulting, LLC. I had lots of adventures and connected with a lot of amazing people. In this post, I will highlight some of my more favorite activities from 2017 beginning with the last time I posted and around particular topics by sharing links and different photos from throughout the year.
First, I will start with media coverage. Please enjoy these pictures and links from all of the amazing coverage I received throughout 2017.
http://www.nbc12.com/story/35024000/savings-plan-opens-for-people-with-disabilities
http://www.nbc12.com/clip/13210181/state-savings-plan-opens-for-people-with-disabilities
Matthew Shapiro Capable Campaign Story
http://www.thenextmoveprogram.com/capable/
Consultant helps accommodate workers with disabilities- Virginia Business Magazine May 31, 2017
Additionally, throughout 2017 I was very fortunate to be able to share my story through several public speaking presentations to a variety of audiences. The highlight of these presentations was when I gave my first large talk on a college campus at the University of Findley in Ohio. Please take a look at these pictures from that presentation as well as pictures from other presentations from throughout the year. Be sure to read the caption to get a better feel for where the presentation was and what it was about.
PHOTO: University of Findley Presentation Photo
The last area where I had fantastic success in 2017 was with some of my consulting projects. I was able to assist many great organizations to think of ways to be more inclusive to the disability population.
The biggest projects that I undertook this year is one that will be wrapped up in 2018. I was contracted to work with an architect firm in Richmond to conduct a disability accessibility assessment of City Hall in Richmond Virginia. I have completed the preliminary review of most of the floors of City Hall and am readying to begin the next phase of the project. I am very grateful to the City of Richmond for giving me the opportunity to help make City Hall a welcoming environment for our city residents who live with disabilities.
A second outstanding project that I had the opportunity to work on in 2017 was through a partnership with the Metropolitan Business League. Together we developed the ABILities Entrepreneurship Series. This series is designed to support the training needs of individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities. This 8-week program is for individuals and their support system who have the desire to be business owners and start their own businesses. The MBL recognizes challenges of all entrepreneurs and has adapted our entrepreneurship training program to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities.
At the end of the series, a culminating event takes place and each person will introduce their business and receive a certificate of completion.
If you are a person with a disability and would like to register for the next ABILities series please follow the link here to learn more about this great class.
http://thembl.memberzone.com/events/details/abilities-entrepreneurship-series-81
As you have seen, 2017 was an absolutely incredible year for me and 6 Wheels Consulting, LLC. I cannot thank you enough for your continued support and enthusiasm as I continue to grow this consulting firm. I’m grateful for the relationships that I made throughout 2017 and know that I will continue to cultivate those relationships for many years to come. We have a ton of amazing things planned for 2018 and I can’t wait to see what the new year holds for me. I plan on writing another post announcing some of these new initiatives here in the coming few days. Please be on the lookout for that second post. My New Year’s resolution to my readers and my followers is to be more active on all forms of social media and do a better job keeping you in the loop about our activities. As always please keep an eye on our social media and our website for new updates. I can’t wait to see what the rest of 2018 has in store for me.
PHOTO: Thank You 2017
Happy 2017 everyone. I’ve been so busy that I have been unable to update everyone on all the amazing things that happened at the end of 2016 and in the beginning of 2017. This blog post will have some highlights with little snippets from all the activities that I’ve been doing lately. I have been busy.
ABLE Ambassador:
I have entered into a partnership with Virginia 529 and ABLEnow to serve as the ABLE Ambassador. My role is to help ABLEnow promote the new ABLE savings accounts for individuals with disabilities. Check out this interview that aired on Channel 6 Good Morning Virginia to learn more about this great new program. I am thrilled to be working with this amazing team. WATCH THE INTERVIEW HERE
Also as part of this project I was quoted in a recent Associated Press article. READ THE ARTICLE HERE
Community Conversation on Acceptance at The Valentine:
I was thrilled on January 3 to be able to participate as a panelist for a Community Conversation on Acceptance. I spoke about how we need to look at people with disabilities differently. The event was very well attended and a great conversation took place with everyone. The other panelists discussed the homeless population and the LGBTQ population. It is always important to learn about and accept differences. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of a fantastic evening.
PHOTO: Matthew Speaking at the Community Conversation on Acceptance at The Valentine on a diversity panel.
Media Coverage for 6 Wheels Consulting, LLC:
Over the first few days in January I was fortunate to have two stories from different media outlets run talking about the work that I do. The first was in Richmond magazine to promote the event at The Valentine. READ THE ARTICLE HERE
The second story that came out in January was when I was lucky enough to be featured in a Making a Difference cover story in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. This series of stories highlighted people in the Richmond community who are making a difference. I was honored to be recognized as one of those people. READ THE ARTICLE HERE
Attended a Public Speaking Mastermind Weekend with David Coleman:
Also in the beginning of January I traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio to take part in a public speaking mastermind weekend with David Coleman and other aspiring public speakers. For those of you that don’t know I have been working with David to have him help me develop public speaking programs that I will be able to perform in the college market. I was thrilled to be able to meet other amazing people and get remarkable feedback about my program. I also stayed a little bit longer and got some one-on-one attention from David which helped make my program that much stronger. I am excited to continue to work on this program and to bring my messages to colleges and universities across the United States.
PHOTO: Matthew at Mastermind Weekend with David Coleman and Lenny Dave
Speaking at Collegiate:
On February 6th, I was asked to speak at Collegiate, a private school in Richmond, Virginia. The ninth graders were having an event where they were learning about different minority groups. They were going to take this information and volunteer in the community with one of these groups. I was asked to speak about the disability population. I believe the students got something out of my presentation and I hope their volunteer placement was a successful and joyful experience for them.
Vendor at Friendship Circle of Virginia’s Community Inclusion Event:
I was delighted to be asked to serve as a vendor at Friendship Circle of Virginia’s Community Inclusion Event. Each year this organization works to hold an event to bring the community together and talk about disability and inclusion. This year’s event was a great success. There was tons of great discussion and I met many great people when they stopped by my table. I hope to be involved in this event again in the future.
PHOTO: Matthew at his vendor table at Friendship Circle of Virginia's Community Inclusion Event
Vendor at at REAP Walk and Roll for Kindness Event:
We were thrilled to serve as a vendor at the Richmond Entrepreneurs Assistance Program Walk and Roll for Kindness Event. This event was done to help raise money to help REAP’s mission of getting people with disabilities jobs. I was fortunate enough to be able to address the audience about how we needed to stop bullying individuals with disabilities and instead be more accepting of them. I also had many great conversations with people who came up to my table.
VCU Alumni Article:
Before the new year began I was a featured alumnus in a VCU alumni spotlight article. The article highlighted my journey through VCU as well as the work I am now doing with 6 Wheels Consulting, LLC. This was an exciting recognition for me and I am ecstatic to be honored by such a great university. READ THE ARTICLE HERE
Appointed to the VaAPSE Board:
I have been appointed to the Virginia chapter of the Association of People Supporting Employment First as the newest board member. I am ready to get to work to help make sure that people with disabilities are getting valuable employment opportunities that are meaningful and that pay good money. I might also be helping with some lobbying work for this organization in the future. I am ready to get to work.
As you can see I have been very busy since the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017. I am grateful for all the opportunities that I had and will continue to have. I can’t wait to share with you all the other additional fantastic activities and work that I am currently in the process of finalizing. Stay tuned, some very exciting things are coming. As always, please stay connected to our social media pages to get the latest breaking news on our activities. I always appreciate your support and I am looking forward to a bright future and 2017 as a whole.
6 Wheels Consulting, LLC is excited to announce a brand-new partnership with The Richmond Entrepreneurs Assistance Program (REAP). Read the press release about the new alliance below to learn what both organizations hope to accomplish with this new agreement. Also, to learn more about REAP, visit their website at www.reapva.org.
REAP PARTNERS WITH 6 WHEELS CONSULTING TO BOLSTER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
The Richmond Entrepreneurs Assistance Program (REAP), a non-profit organization dedicated to provide comprehensive job training and skills development for people with disabilities (PwD), reinforces its awareness campaign by partnering with 6 Wheels Consulting, a company that strives to educate and strengthen the public’s understanding of the culture of disability.
Founded by Matthew Shapiro, 6 Wheels Consulting’s mission is to educate people about disability culture as well as raise awareness about the issues that affect the PwD population. Shapiro has been actively involved in numerous disability and youth related boards, organizations, and programs – tirelessly sharing his knowledge and experience through a variety of public speaking engagements across the country. He has also worked with the Virginia Advocates United Leading Together (VAULT), the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, the Virginia Department of Education, to name a few.
“6 Wheels Consulting, LLC Is delighted to announce this exciting new collaboration with REAP. REAP's work to help people with disabilities become entrepreneurs and develop job skills is something that is greatly appreciated by everyone in the disability community. This new partnership will allow 6 Wheels Consulting, LLC and REAP to provide training and other services to businesses to expand their disability awareness. We are excited to see what the future holds for both organizations, thanks to this partnership," Shapiro said.
Be sure to be up to date in this latest partnership with 6 Wheels Consulting! For more information, visit www.reapva.org.
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PHOTO: REAP Logo on top of the 6 Wheels Consulting, LLC Logo in a photo.
I have continued to remain busy with activities since the last time I posted a blog. I want to get you caught up on those activities.
First, I will take you back to July where I was asked by Goodwill of Central Virginia to conduct an assessment on a building that they are renovating in Hampton. I evaluated blueprints and offered suggestions of how they could make their new facility more common sense inclusive to individuals with disabilities who may either use their services or work there. All of the staff was receptive to my ideas, and it was a great project to take part in.
For me, the most unique part of this project was to evaluate the facility based on just blueprints and not an actual structure. This required me to understand blueprints and what the drawings meant. When the structure is done being renovated, I hope to go in and do a physical assessment of the space to see if they are implementing some of my suggestions. I believe this is the beginning of a great relationship with Goodwill of Central Virginia.
PHOTO: Goodwill Blue Smile Logo
Second, I was honored to appear on Debra Ruh's podcast "Human Potential at Work." in early September. Debra's website describes the podcast by saying. "How do we bring out the potential in all people, including those with disabilities? Get ready to be inspired, hear success stories and learn tips and principles for bringing out the best in the people in your organization." On my episode, we discussed my journey to trying to find employment, failing, and ultimately starting my own consulting business. I encourage you to listen to the episode at the link below. It was a great joy to appear on Debra's show, and I hope you enjoy our conversation. You can listen to it here.
PHOTO: Human Potential at Work promo poster featuring Matthew Shapiro.
As always please stay connected to us via our social media pages and stay tuned for more great updates from 6 Wheels Consulting, LLC.
I am honored and humbled to announce that I have been recognized as the youngest recipient in this year's class of Style Weekly's 40 Under 40. Style Weekly is a weekly newspaper that is described by its website as "Richmond's alternative for news, arts, culture and opinion." Each year Style Weekly selects 40 people under the age of 40 who "rally for change, serve others and bring the Richmond community together."
To celebrate my selection to this amazing group, I would love to share my profile that is appearing in the issue. Please read the profile below and enjoy:
Don’t call Matthew Shapiro an inspiration.
“While what people with disabilities do is incredible,” he says, “we’re not here to make people feel good about themselves.”
Shapiro, who lives with cerebral palsy, doesn’t want your pedestal — he wants your business. And his talents for getting people to see things differently are evident.
“People with disabilities are the biggest minority group that no one talks about, and they have $220 billion in discretionary spending [nationwide],” he says. “My goal is to work with people who have no connection to disability whatsoever, help them understand that this is a huge population of people that society rarely taps into.”
For years, he volunteered and advocated for people with disabilities at J.R. Tucker High School and Virginia Commonwealth University. After graduation, he channeled his expertise about all manner of disabilities into his own business: 6 Wheels Consulting. The name references his wheelchair, including its two hidden wheels.
Shapiro consults with businesses, nonprofits and local government on accessibility and sensitivity toward those in wheelchairs, with hearing and vision impairments and such developmental disabilities as autism.
“In most cases all they’re thinking about is [Americans with Disabilities Act] compliance,” he says. “That’s great, but I come in and say here’s how we can do more to be more inclusive.”
Such clients as the Henrico County library system and Central Virginia Goodwill have come to him for assessments. “Moving furniture around to open up space, angling the tables in study rooms, training with staff members, thinking about safety and emergency preparedness situations,” Shapiro says of his recommendations.
Those changes end up helping groups like the elderly and families with strollers, as well. “So it ends up ultimately becoming a universal design approach,” he says.
He’s also a self-described political nerd and serves on numerous state-level boards for disability awareness and education. And he’s fielding requests for public speaking engagements across the country, which means a lot of travel.
“Hotel rooms are routinely bad culprits of just doing the bare minimum of what’s required with ADA,” he says. He describes common problems he’s had with beds and bathrooms in supposedly accessible rooms.
“But people don’t think this way unless they’re affected by it,” Shapiro says. “The biggest challenge I have is getting people to understand they need my services.”
PHOTO: Picture of Matthew in his wheelchair on his ramp and in his 6 Wheels Consulting, LLC shirt.
I want to thank Style Weekly for giving me this honor along with everyone who helped make this accomplishment possible. Thank you for always supporting me in whatever I set out to do. If you would like to read more about the other 40 Under 40 recipients, check out this link HERE.
I also encourage you to check out Style Weekly for their other great stories. You can find them HERE at this link.
PHOTO: Style Weekly Logo
As always be on the lookout for more updates from 6 Wheels Consulting, by staying connected to our social media pages. Thank you for reading and your incredible support.
I hope everyone had a remarkable Fourth of July holiday. It’s been a few months since I updated you all on the happenings with 6 Wheels. With this thought in mind I figured I would post several new blogs over the coming days that will fill you in on what we’ve been up to since my last post. Keep an eye out for these new updates because so many amazing things are happening.
In this first post I want to take you back to May 21st when I had the privilege to present on college transitioning at the second annual transition summit put on by Jack Trammell. I was able to speak to several families and students about the main differences that college brings compared to high school for students with disabilities. We were able to have some great discussions to help prepare the students on what to expect in college. Some of the areas I covered included: How classes are different, how you spend your free time differently, the amount of study and prep time required per class for you to be successful in college, and about accommodations in college along with other topics.
I love being able to give back and share my knowledge with other families. It is the whole reason I started 6 Wheels Consulting in the first place. It is my hope that the families took something away from our presentations during this event. I was super excited to be a part of it.
Stay connected to our social media pages and our website as we will be sharing more posts shortly. I can’t wait to share all of the incredible news with you. Stay tuned.
PHOTO: Matthew Presenting at a Richmond Transition Conference
Everyone at 6 Wheels Consulting is excited to share a major announcement with you. We are thrilled to announce that I have signed a talent contract with one of the best national talent agencies in the country. We are elated to be joining the Metropolis Management and Coleman Speaks Talent Agencies. This agreement will allow me to travel the country as a public speaker in the college market. I will get the chance to share my messages with college students during orientations and other related events. I may also be able to provide the school with a common sense disability assessment of their campus. This opportunity is tremendous for us as an organization and for me personally. One of my goals when I started this organization was to develop and become a nationally known public speaker. The agreement with Metropolis Management and Coleman Speaks will allow that vision to become a reality.
Another part of my agreement is that I now have an agency that will help with bookings and other activities. This is a huge relief for me as this has been one of the greatest challenges that I’ve been dealing with so far in the short life of the company. I will be a member of the Coleman Speaks roster. For the last several months I have been working closely with their speaking coach, David Coleman. David is a multi award-winning talent who is helping me take my speaking game to the next level. I am currently working on developing my show to bring to colleges across the country. I am beyond excited about this opportunity to get to travel the country to educate students about people with disabilities and their capabilities. If you would like to learn more about Metropolis Management, CLICK HERE. If you would like to learn more about Coleman Speaks, CLICK HERE.
I am humbled by the opportunity to join the talent rosters that include such remarkable talents being represented by both of these organizations. I truly have come a remarkably long way. As soon as I finalize my show and start regularly booking events I will be sure to update you all on my travels. I want to thank everyone at Metropolis Management and Coleman Speaks for their belief in me as an artist. I am so thankful for this opportunity. If you or your college is interested in booking me, or learning about pricing please reach out to Metropolis Management. Thanks again to everyone for their support.
Please keep tabs on our social media pages for more amazing updates. More announcements will be coming soon. Stay tuned.
PHOTO: Metropolis Management Logo
PHOTO: Coleman Speaks Logo
The good news just keeps rolling in for us. Do you see what I did there? J I have been selected for two more major opportunities. First, I will be a member of the 2016-2017 Leadership Metro Richmond class. Additionally, I have been appointed to the GOT Transition Advisory Board.
According to their website the Quest program is “LMR's flagship program in its 36th year, connects diverse leaders, increases their knowledge and perspectives on regional issues, and inspires servant leadership, inclusion and collaboration. Quest will take your leadership to the next level. The program runs September through June.” Being a member of the Quest program will open my eyes to all of the possibilities that Richmond has to offer. We will be going on a variety of trips throughout the 10-month program that will show us all of the corners of the region. I am also looking forward to the opportunity to network and connect, with not only my classmates, but also all of the speakers and community leaders we will meet along the way. I am extremely excited for the opportunities and doors that the Quest program will open for 6 Wheels Consulting. I can’t wait for the program to begin in September.
Being a member of the GOT Transition Advisory Board will allow me to break into the healthcare space with 6 Wheels Consulting. On this board I will be serving in two capacities the first being as a member of Kids as Self Advocates or KASA and the second as 6 Wheels Consulting. This appointment will be a paid position and will allow me to interact with young people with and without disabilities regarding their transition from youth healthcare to adult healthcare. To give you some more information I thought I would include the press release below announcing the formation of the group. Enjoy.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact
Dan Beck (202.223.1500, dbeck@thenationalalliance.org)
GOT TRANSITION FORMS NATIONAL YOUNG ADULT TRANSITION ADVISORY GROUP
Washington, D.C. (June 22, 2016) – Got Transition/Center for Health Care Transition Improvement is pleased to announce the formation of a new National Young Adult Transition Advisory Group. Twelve young adults with and without disabilities between the ages of 18-25 have been chosen to advise Got Transition on young adult perspectives on the important transition from pediatric to adult health care services. Members of the Advisory Group are diverse in their ages, geographic locations, and ethnic backgrounds. They represent a unique group of national and state organizations, including Able South Carolina’s Center for Independent Living, Bacchus/Furman University, California Department of Social Services, Foster Club, Kids as Self Advocates, Special Olympics International, The Arc, United Cerebral Palsy, Young Invincibles, and Youth Move National.
As part of the National Young Adult Transition Advisory Group, these twelve members will ensure that young adult perspectives are included in Got Transition’s plans moving forward. They will provide a critical voice in reviewing tools designed to educate and inform young adults on the importance of health care transition. The Advisory Group members will guide Got Transition’s social media and other communication platforms to relay important health care transition-related messages and resources to youth and young adults nationwide, and will help strengthen Got Transition’s partnerships with their organizational affiliates.
Got Transition is dedicated to expanding the availability of high quality health care transition services in pediatric and adult health care practices and health plans. It is committed to involving young adults in designing transition strategies and producing materials and messages. Through quarterly conference calls, virtual trainings, and leadership development, Got Transition’s new National Young Adult Transition Advisory Group will play a critical role in ensuring that the voices of young adult consumers are heard in the development of health care transition resources and processes. Through the Advisory Group’s contributions, Got Transition will be able to better support the positive health outcomes of young adults as they transition to adulthood.
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Got Transition/Center for Health Care Transition Improvement is a cooperative agreement between the Maternal and Child Health Bureau and The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health. Our aim is to improve transition from pediatric to adult health care through the use of new and innovative strategies for health professionals and youth and families. For more information, go to www.GotTransition.org and follow Got Transition on Facebook and Twitter.
These two amazing opportunities will allow me to continue to get the word out about 6 Wheels Consulting. I look forward to getting started and making the biggest impact with both new opportunities. If you would like to learn more about both of my new activities, please visit their websites at HERE and HERE respectively.
Thank you and we look forward to sharing with you more about these opportunities as they get underway. all over our social media pages. Stay tuned.
PHOTO: Leadership Metro Richmond Logo
PHOTO: GOT Transition Logo
We recently got to experience a few seconds of fame. In another fantastic opportunity to gain exposure for 6 Wheels Consulting, we were contacted by a local NBC 12 news reporter Allison Norlian to appear in one of her reports. Allison wanted to do a story on the state of the sidewalks in downtown Richmond, Virginia and how they affect wheelchair users.
So I put on my best TV ready outfit and met her at VCU. For those of you that are unaware, the sidewalks in downtown Richmond, Virginia are quite hazardous to anyone, but even more so to people with disabilities. Some sidewalks may have cobblestones or concrete missing or cobblestones or concrete that is being pushed up from tree branches. I have, on many occasions, almost fallen out of my chair due to unexpected dips in the sidewalks.
Allison did a remarkable job capturing some of the problem areas in downtown Richmond. Often times it becomes a situation of whose responsibility it is to fix the sidewalks, either the city of Richmond or VCU. I say let’s stop pointing the finger and get something done to make downtown safer for everyone.
To be fair there have been several improvements made in regards to curb cuts and main sidewalks being renovated. However, most secondary sidewalks are still being greatly ignored. Anyone should have the right to freely move about the city in which they live without the fear of possible injury. We must do better.
I want to thank Allison for her willingness to shed light on this important issue and I hope we get to work together again in the future. For those of you who may not have seen the story I am including it in this post below. Hopefully my words in this piece can help bring some change to the city. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed being a part of it. Remember, to stay connected for more updates that will be coming shortly.
Recently, I was asked by some professors at Brigham Young University to write an essay about my life and transitioning into adulthood with a disability. The essay is set to be included in a book titled Flourishing in Emerging Adulthood: Positive Development During the Third Decade of Life. The essay will begin the chapter on transitioning. This book is set to be released sometime later this year or early next year. With their permission I have decided to share my essay with you. Please note that this is a lengthy essay, but I think it is well worth the read and talks about how I’ve become who I am today. Please enjoy this piece and please share your comments and thoughts. Thank you for your support!!!
Throughout life, transitions can create some of the most daunting experiences anyone will encounter. Leaving school, finding a job, moving out on your own, finding someone to share your life with all constitute life transitions and events that force everyone to look outside of their comfort zone to formulate a solution. Everyone dreads the change but we all must face it head on and accept the challenge of something different. For people with disabilities these changes may be overwhelming and, at times, debilitating. The key to success while transitioning is having attained the proper skill set to help overcome whatever transitional barrier(s) your particular disability mandates.
I am a 25-year-old male who was born and raised in Virginia. I am someone who, I hope and believe, has successfully transitioned to adulthood, though not without my ups and downs. Because I was born with Cerebral Palsy (CP) I use a power wheelchair to help me get around and accomplish daily tasks. I graduated from college in the fall of 2013. There I created my own disability advocacy degree under the Interdisciplinary Studies major titled “Advocacy for Social Justice.” I also majored in Sociology and have a minor in Psychology. Some of my hobbies include: hanging out with friends and family, watching sports of all kinds, and working with individuals with disabilities. Until recently, when I opened my consulting business, I never held a fulltime job, having only interned at all of my employment experiences. These internships include two federal and one state governmental entity and a disability resource center. Additionally, I have worked on a congressional campaign. I hope my experiences help to motivate you, whether you’re a student or a teacher reading this essay, to take control of your transition process or to help someone effectively transition to adulthood.
My transition to adulthood has been one of learning by trial and error. My transition process started during the summer of my junior year of high school when I participated in my first youth transition program, the Virginia Youth Leadership Forum (YLF). YLF works with high school juniors and seniors with disabilities to educate them about disability history, self-determination, and advocacy skills. This was my first experience being around other young people with disabilities. It helped me realize there is a community of supports and people for me to lean on. I have taken the lessons that I learned at YLF and incorporated them into other programs and internships that I have participated in. Having a strong foundation of self-determination skills has helped me flourish, with some struggles along the way, into adulthood.
An additional factor in my success has been the guidance of my family. My parents have always done whatever they could to allow me to go on my many adventures and accomplish my goals. My mom spends countless hours traveling with me around the U.S. to conferences and other events. My dad is always there to provide me with sage advice whenever I come across a barrier that I think I can't overcome. My older brother provides me motivation when I may be finding myself in a rut. I have taken highlights from all of their advice, as well as the personal morals I have developed, and related them to my experiences to try to become the best adult I can be. The skills I acquired through my family’s guidance have helped me navigate these transitional changes into adulthood a little more smoothly.
When I was getting ready to enroll in high school my brother gave me an important piece of advice that has become the mantra for my life. He said, “Get involved and stay involved.” You could say I took this advice and ran with it. In high school I was very active in the school community. I was freshman class president and remained involved in some form of student government throughout my four years. I also served on the student newspaper for four years, including two as editor in chief. I integrated myself into the sports teams by managing both the boys’ varsity basketball team for four years and the varsity football team for one season.
When I transitioned into college I continued to get involved in activities. I was a founding father of my fraternity chapter on campus. When I wasn’t participating in fraternity activities I was helping students learn about people with disabilities through our student disability club. I also created and brought Disability History and Awareness Week to campus my freshman year. This was a college wide event that focused on the many aspects of disability with emphasis on educating other college students about issues surrounding disability.
Internships also played an important part of my college career. In 2011, through the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) summer internship program, I interned at the US Department of Transportation (DOT). While at DOT I worked in the Disability Resource Center which is an internal office within DOT that provides accommodations and the resources to employees of DOT who have disabilities. Because of this experience I fell in love with the Washington, DC area so much so that in 2012 I left school and returned for a semester to intern at the White House. Thanks to my brother’s advice I did not sit on the sidelines; I made it a point to be actively involved throughout my educational career.
In the fall of 2012 I took a semester off from college and interned for the Obama administration in the White House Office of Public Engagement (OPE). During my internship I worked closely with the disability policy liaison and one of the deputy directors of OPE. While there I worked hard to master one of my greatest strengths which is my ability to communicate easily with anyone. With this skill, the exposure this internship gave me, my passion for helping others, and my desire to be a voice for the voiceless, I have set a goal to have a career in public service. I have learned throughout my experiences that my voice can carry a tremendous amount of influence to help create change for those who live with disabilities in this world. I blend this lesson into all aspects of my life, making it paramount to me in my encounters with others. Everyone should have a voice and I’m hoping to serve as that voice whether that is in government, my community, within my consulting business, or just in society as a whole.
Through my Washington, DC experiences I developed a passion for politics. This interest continued to grow as I increased my involvement in disability advocacy work. I have always said that there are not enough people with disabilities in positions of power in the government and other high-profile sectors. In the future I want to get involved in politics so as to spotlight people born with a disability as opposed to someone who acquired their disability from an accident. So often people who acquired a disability did so after they attained the self- determined skills they needed to accomplish their goals in life which also helped them have a better understanding about how to cope with their acquired situation. I am motivated to be a role model to show everyone that people with disabilities can hold positions of influence and guide global change.
As my experiences have helped shape my outcomes, I feel it’s important to give back in my own way. Through my youth work I have met countless young people with whom I have stayed in contact and whom I consider close friends or family. It is my hope that I have allowed these young people to lean on me when they encounter something they are unfamiliar with, whether it be transitioning to college or dealing with a frustrating situation. People have always asked me what I did to get through a similar situation which has resulted in volunteer mentoring becoming a huge part of my transition to adulthood. To be trusted enough by others and to be able to pass experiences on gives me a very rewarding feeling and is the trait that I am most happy to possess.
My understanding of transition aided my personal development through both good and bad circumstances. Adulthood makes you realize what it is that you like doing, what you are good at and what you should not attempt. Through the transition process I have come to understand that I want to help others and to use my voice to do so, which is good in that I have found my passion and know the direction I want to move towards in the future. It has also helped me better understand and pinpoint my personal flaws. I have begun to start identifying the challenges that my disability creates as an adult. I completely understand my physical need to always be assisted by, thus dependent on, others to help with some, but not all aspects of my life. I have always understood that this was going to be the case, but recently I began to put more emphasis on how I will manage this moving forward. I am developing strategies to confront life’s obstacles, such as not being able to drive a car, as they arise. Through skills such as advocating for myself, understanding how my disability affects me, and goal planning I hope to get through these situations with ease.
Using my brother’s advice, my education from disability programs, and my goal to help others, I have tried to position my future to achieve the goal of service and education for all. After I finished college I spent a few months trying to find a job in a disability related position. I thought this was the best way to accomplish my goal. When I determined I was not having any success with my job search I took matters into my own hands and in 2014 started my disability consulting company. Through professional consulting and public speaking services, I strive to educate and guide organizations to strengthen their understanding of disability culture and the issues that affect this population. I use common sense cost-effective solutions to solve disability related concerns. I hope later on in life to use my consulting company to propel me to a career in politics where I feel I can make the most significant contribution.
The transition process is never easy, but given the proper tools it can be manageable. One of the tools that is most important is the understanding and consideration of others. Within both the educational and the disability community adults often have stigmatic negative perceptions of people with disabilities. They tend to stifle younger individuals leading many other adults to assume that young people with disabilities are incapable of achieving major goals in life. I feel that this mindset is twofold. Initially, adults don’t allow young people to experiment for fear that whatever is too dangerous or too complicated. Adults also tend to over protect younger people so much that they don’t allow them the opportunity to fail. Failure is one of the best ways for somebody to make it through the transition to adulthood affectively. It shows someone what they did wrong and how to potentially change it to not make the same mistake twice. My experience tells me 1) let young people figure out what is attainable on their own, don’t immediately discount an idea because you think it is unrealistic, 2) figure out what the young person is passionate about and incorporate that into their lessons or community, 3) adults who assist in the transition process need to be facilitators and not dream crushers. They need to help the young person explore so they can potentially achieve their goal. Transition is an integral part of everyone’s life. No one will be successful without having had the necessary experiences that give them the ability to transition through life’s challenges.
PHOTO: Green traffic sign that reads, "Welcome to Adulthood Population 4.4 Billion"
I just realized that my last blog post was on January 23 and I feel like it’s time that I update everyone on what we’ve been up to. Let me take you back to the end of January where I participated with one of my volunteer organizations at an event put on for animal organizations in the area. I was there on behalf of Pawsibble. We are an organization that provides resources such as trainers and education to individuals about service dogs. At this event we had a table for people to learn about our organization and we were able to present in front of everyone a brief synopsis of what we are trying to do with the group. We made many great connections and they have helped us with future events and accomplishing some of our goals.
PHOTO: Matthew sitting behind the Pawsibble table at a recent fair.
On February 9 I had the privilege of giving a presentation on disability sensitivity at an event titled: An Evening of Acceptance. This was an event sponsored by Friendship Circle of Virginia. The goal of the event was to bring many people together within the community to discuss how inclusion of everyone, including those with disabilities, can bring about positive outcomes for your community. The event was attended by about 70 people including vendors. Participants heard a variety of stories and about activities that are in our community that encourage inclusion. I was honored to be able to participate in this event.
In addition to the work I am doing with Friendship Circle of Virginia I have also begun to work with the Ruderman Chabad Inclusion Initiative to develop webinars around disability inclusion. Our first webinar is currently being edited and is about physical access to all aspects of the Jewish faith for people with all types of different disabilities. When it is completed I will be sure to share it on my social media. We plan on covering more topics in the future.
PHOTO: Matthew with disability advocate Judy Heumann and her assistant Tailor D'Ortona in Washington, DC At the 25 Anniversary celebration of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation.
On February 25 we traveled up to Washington DC to take part in the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation’s 25th Anniversary celebration. The goal of the foundation is to provide opportunities to young people with disabilities. In the past I have been chosen to participate in two of the foundations granted programs. I was an APPD intern in the summer of 2011 and I participated in the USBLN’s Career Link Mentoring Program last year. Being able to get back up to DC and network with so many great people was a tremendous opportunity. I had the chance to reconnect with Judy Heumann who is a pioneer and well-respected disability advocate who works for the State Department and fights for disability rights worldwide. On the second day of this two-day event, a summit was held to discuss the future plans for the foundation in the hopes of creating a plan for the next five years.
Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay for the duration of the second day because I had to travel to South Carolina. On February 26 and 27th I was asked to present on behalf of the I’m Determined Project at a transition conference in South Carolina. The first day was for rehabilitation counselors and teachers. On this day I sat on a panel with young people from South Carolina to talk about what it means to be self-determined as a young person. The second day of the conference was for families and students, and I served as the keynote speaker to help kick off the day with a bang. I presented together with an I’m Determined adult leader and our presentation addressed how opportunities, both in and out of school, can help lead to a person becoming self-determined. I also got to interact with parents and students closely. I gain a great deal of gratitude in helping families anyway I can.
PHOTO: Matthew in his wheelchair presenting his keynote in South Carolina.
PHOTO: Matthew in South Carolina presenting his keynote in front of a screen.
PHOTO: Matthew presenting with youth from ABLE South Carolina about what it means to be self-determined.
In addition to all of my travels I also began shadowing down at the Virginia General Assembly with the hope of getting a more permanent opportunity there in the next couple of years. To be involved in the political process is something that excites me and I look forward to potentially being more involved during more legislative sessions.
Another future opportunity that I’m working on right now, but don’t want to talk about in great detail because we’re still in the working stages, will hopefully be getting me public speaking engagements nationwide. More on this as details become more crystallized.
As always feel free to stay in the loop with us on our social media pages. We have more great opportunities coming up and we will be sure to share those with you once they happen. Thanks and stay tuned.
Recently, 6 Wheels Consulting was excited to participate in the orientation program for The Friendship Circle of Virginia. The Friendship Circle program matches youth with disabilities with youth without disabilities to hang out together. This happens in many ways. The pairs and the community can participate in program-sponsored events and they can also hang out at the youth’s house as part of the Friendship Circle’s Friends at Home program. This program sees that the matches come together for 1 hour a week to hang out at the youth’s home. The programs that are a part of The Friendship Circle are so vital because for young people with disabilities making friends can be challenging for a variety of reasons.
As part of the orientation 6 Wheels gave its disability sensitivity training to the young people who were in attendance. This training covered a variety of topics including person first language, tips for interacting with individuals with a variety of disabilities, tips for you to feel personally more comfortable around individuals with disabilities, learning about inclusion and how to be inclusive.
We were very grateful for the opportunity to present this important information and hope that it helped the youth understand disabilities on a deeper level.
If you would like to learn more about The Friendship Circle of Virginia and its programs we encourage you to visit their website HERE
Again, we thank The Virginia Friendship Circle for the opportunity to be involved in this great event.
As always, stay connected to what is happening with 6 Wheels Consulting by following us on our social media pages. We have more great programs and talks coming up in the near future so please stay tuned.
PHOTO: Matthew presents to the group at The Friendship Circle Orientation.
PHOTO: The Friendship Circle of Virginia Logo
Today is a special day for us at 6 Wheels Consulting. Today marks our one-year anniversary of going into business. As I reflect I can’t help but feel grateful for all the support throughout this first year. This has been a whirlwind adventure that has allowed us to meet so many exciting people and go so many exciting places. We have been able to spread our message of common sense solutions to disability related problems and we are grateful for that opportunity. We have developed as an organization and I have individually as a business owner. I’m so thankful because this opportunity is allowing me to do what I enjoy, which is to help others understand disability and understand that this population can be a vital group within your community. We are currently working on some additional great opportunities that we hope to be sharing with you in the near future. Stay Tuned. We are excited to see what the next year holds in the cards for 6 Wheels. This short post is to really just say thank you to everyone that liked our social media posts and followed along on the first year of this journey. Please continue to come along for the ride with us. I want to wish everyone a happy holiday season. Enjoy the time with your families as you celebrate whatever holiday you observe. As always please stay connected to our social media platforms as new projects are in the pipeline. Once again from 6 Wheels Consulting Thank You for your support.
PHOTO: 6 Wheels Consulting, LLC Logo
PHOTO: Sign that reads Happy Birthday to Us!
This week we were asked to present our Disability Sensitivity Training to Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia, Inc. (HOME). This organization strives to provide equal access to housing for all people. They reached out to us to see if we could help them better understand disability and how to work with their clients that live within this community. Our goal was to educate them on the basics of disability, types of disabilities, and how to consider common sense solutions to disability problems. The training was well attended by their entire staff and everyone participated fully with a great question and answer session following our presentation. The goal of 6 Wheels Consulting is to work with businesses like HOME who want to better incorporate individuals with disabilities into our communities. The conversation has even sparked in us a new desire to develop some resources around housing and common sense accessibility. We want to thank everyone associated with HOME for the opportunity to come and present on this important way of thinking about disability and hope that this is the beginning of a very fruitful partnership for both organizations. If you would like to learn more about HOME please visit them at their website HERE and connect with them via social media. Please stay tuned for more exciting announcements from 6 Wheels Consulting and stay connected on our social media.
PHOTO: Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia, Inc. (HOME) Logo
PHOTO: Matthew smiling while sitting in front of a screen with his sensitivity training projected on to it prior to a making this presentation.