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!