6 Wheels' Matthew Shapiro In the Media

Because of our hard work and effort, 6 Wheels Consulting has been honored to be featured in a variety of local, state, and national, press outlets highlighting our work and issues that affect the disability population as a whole.
Please explore our press page to read some of these features.

In April 2023 Aspire hosted a webinar and a live virtual panel discussion about setting a foundation for inclusive hiring success. This session features keynote commentary from entrepreneur and activist, Matthew Shapiro, followed by a panel discussion with business leaders across several industries, who shared their insights.

6 Wheels Consulting was interviewed as part of an NBC News story on the expanding disabled job boom. As employers continue their frenzied hiring and inflation stays high, people with disabilities are increasingly at work across the country. Read the full story HERE.

My November 2022 interview with Nancy Brooks-Lane of Griffin-Hammis Associates (GHA). GHA is an award-winning, internationally recognized pioneer in the field of customized employment services for people with disabilities.
Matthew talked about entrepreneurship and starting businesses.

From WTVR’s March 2022 “Heroes Among Us” segment with Greg McQuade

INSTAGRAM FEED

@6wheelsconsulting

Follow me on IG at @6wheelsconsulting

From WTVR’s January 2020 “Heroes Among Us” segment with Greg McQuade

 ARTICLES

DEI & Inclusion

  • disAbilityScoop - Facing Backlash, Census Scraps Overhaul Of Disability Questions - READ

  • The Virginia Pilot: Bill requires Virginia school divisions update evacuation plans for students with mobility impairments - READ

  • The Guardian: ‘An inherent indignity’: the fight to get workers with disability a living wage - READ

  • NBC News article: The Expanding Disabled Job Boom - READ

  • 4 DEI Practices Your Company Should Adopt In 2022 - READ

  • Inclusively Blog: The Value of Self-Disclosing at Work - READ

  • Inclusively Blog: Disability Stereotypes That Won’t Go Away - READ

  • Making Events Accessible to the Deaf - READ

  • Virginians with disabilities want to work — they just need a job - READ

6 Wheels In The Media

  • Ablenow Good Morning Virginia Interview - READ

  • These athletes look beyond their conditions to keep their eyes on the competition - READ

  • How many Virginians with disabilities lack reliable transportation? Right now, we don’t know. - READ

  • 6 Wheels Consulting Featured on WTVR's Heroes Among Us Promo. - READ

  • Baskervill to design new Supreme Court of Virginia building. 6 Wheels hired as an accessibility consultant. - READ

  • Consultant helps accommodate workers with disabilities- Virginia Business Magazine May 31, 2017 - READ

  • NBC 12 Story on Downtown Sidewalks not being Wheelchair Accessible - READ

  • 2016 Style Weekly’s 40 Under 40 Profile Article - READ

  • Richmond Times-Dispatch- Making a Difference: Henrico man helps businesses integrate people with disabilities - READ

  • National Health Care Debate Leaves Disabled Richmonders and their Caretakers on Edge- Style Weekly July 26, 2017 - READ

Videos

  • How to Recruit, Maintain and Grow Individuals with Disabilities in the Workplace 2020 Sentara. - VIEW

  • VCU Alumni Profile - READ

General Articles

  • Ablenow AP Articles on New Savings Accounts benefitting people with disabilities

  • Banking product allows people with disabilities to save money in Virginia Richmond Times-Dispatch Article March 20, 2017 READ

  • People with disabilities finally get a way to save money USA Today February 4, 2017 - READ

  • State savings plan opens for people with disabilities NBC 12 March 29, 2017 READ-or-WATCH VIDEO

  • When inclusion is a part of the picture, everyone thrives - READ

  • ABLE accounts fill the savings gap for the disabled- Kids and Money column June 26, 2017 - READ

Matthew Shapiro being interviewed by a reporter.
 
 

Testimonials

What are Clients Say about 6 Wheels Consulting:

...you did a great job evaluating our ADA accessible parking...We would recommend you as an ADA Consultant anytime! You have proven to be a...committed professional delivering quality services.
We are happy to recommend the services of 6 Wheels Consulting.
— Regina W. Sims, Safety Process Administrator, Dollywood Company
Mathew helped us see our work through a different lens. He was informative and engaging. He met the objective of helping us improve our interactions with clients and colleagues with disabilities.
— Lee Ann Barnhardt, Director of Education, North Dakota Courts
“I like to invite guest speakers into my class so students can learn from their lived experiences. (Of course, it also means I don’t have to hear myself talk.) Matthew Shapiro is open and honest. His enthusiasm is contagious. And I think he is living proof that someone can be both humble and confident about living with a disability. Matthew is reaching his full potential and helping others do the same. I can only hope that my students learn from his example.”
— Abby Fines/Dr. Fines/UVA professor
“Matthew is very down to earth and willing to teach people about himself. He is open to questions and willing to discuss anything. I enjoyed hearing about his time with No Barriers Summit Experience and his take on I’m Determined. He was a great speaker for our class, and I really appreciated his time today.”
— UVA student/UVA Kinesiology undergrad
“Matthew is charismatic and inspiring! His personal connection with the audience is so refreshing. He does not shy away from any topic, is thorough and entertaining. I work in senior living and his ability to tailor his presentation to their needs, experiences and understanding was exceptional. I had many residents watching his presentation from home who decided to come see him live because they were so interested in meeting him. Inclusion is a topic we all need more education on and Matthew is just the person to lead the movement for improvement.”
— Courtney Harver, CTRS CDP, Program Manger, Lakewood, A LifeSpire of Virginia Community
“Given the attention span of elementary-aged students, we asked Matthew to prepare 15 minutes. Much to our delight, the students would have listened to him for an hour. He was engaging, humorous and kid-friendly. Students were still talking about him hours later. He opened the eyes and hearts of our students and staff.”
— Kimberly L. Sower, Gayton, ES, Principal
Your ability to see physical and related customer service barriers that are not otherwise noticed by employees is an impressibe skill. You are not only versed in the Americans with Disabilities Act, but also with common sense approaches to treating customerss
— John A. Vithoulkas, County Manager, County of Henrico, Va.

You are approachable and informative, well done.”
— Vera Thomas, Corporate Philanthropy and Community Partnerships,  Dominion Resources Services, Inc.
Matthew Shapiro shaking hands.
Matthew Shapiro did an excellent job of presenting information on disability etiquette.  He used humor and personal examples to ease people into a discussion.  The audience enjoyed the experience. 

— Shelia Newman, President and Owner  New Editions Consulting, Inc.
I was very impressed with your level of preparation that showed through the confidence you had during the presentation.
— Jesse Rodriguez, Coordinator - James Madison University Education Training and Technical Assistance Center (T/TAC)
6-Wheels Consulting offers a service to the community in the Richmond area that is unique and necessary. The work that this organization is doing, positively impacts lives directly and that has much wider reaching impact in the community as a whole.
— Kyle Burnette, Co-Founder/President of Beyond Boundaries
Your presentation, Working With Youth: Youth Voices, was well received by the participants and the information shared will be very useful as the session participants return to their parent center with new information and resources to share with families.
— Dawn Monaco, REACH for Transition Co-Director
Matthew Shapiro of 6 Wheels Consulting was an integral participant in an invite-only focus group of business travelers and individuals who met to discuss Marriott’s new accessibility ideas and experiences for travelers with disabilities.  His suggestions showed a great grasp of how to provide operational, realistic and scalable solutions throughout our hotels. 
— Apoorva Gandhi,  Vice President - Multicultural Affairs Marriott International
Matthew Shapiro with a business associate.
Matthew successfully leverages his personal and professional experience to deliver value through his consulting practice. His work has helped build a strong foundation for our program.  We look forward to continued collaborations between ABLEnow and 6 Wheels Consulting in the future.
— Mary G. Morris, CEO ABLEnow and Virginia 529
I like the way that you told your own stories (positive and negative) but cautioned us not to assume that your experiences and preferences are the same as everyone with a disability. 
— Cherie Takemoto, Project Manager New Editions Consulting, Inc.