GLEN ALLEN, VA, October 28, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Matthew Aaron Shapiro has been recognized for achievement in multidisciplinary consulting.

Mr. Shapiro has distinguished himself as a leader in this sector, most notably as the founder of 6 Wheels Consulting LLC, a certified small, women- and minority-owned business. Since establishing his multidisciplinary consulting firm in 2014, he has dedicated over a decade to advancing accessibility and inclusion for individuals with disabilities. Through his business, Mr. Shapiro provides consulting services, delivers public speaking engagements, lobbies in the Virginia General Assembly, conducts research and development, and advises architecture firms on accessible design. Additionally, he develops accessible trail projects for state parks and assesses existing buildings for accessibility improvements.

Under Mr. Shapiro's guidance, 6 Wheels Consulting LLC has partnered with organizations such as Dollywood Theme Park, Fountain Park Business Complex, Baskervill Architects, Henrico County Libraries and the City of Richmond City Hall in Richmond, Virginia, to identify and address barriers to inclusion. Mr. Shapiro also played a key role in developing a fully accessible trail at a Virginia state park.

Mr. Shapiro's influence extends into significant leadership positions within state government and advocacy organizations. He has served on the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities since 2017, holding previous roles that included education and employment committee member from 2013 to 2015, executive committee member in 2015 and secretary in 2016. Mr. Shapiro also held the titles of vice chair in 2019 and chairperson from 2020 to 2021 before being reappointed for a four-year term by Governor Glenn Youngkin in 2024. Among his legislative accomplishments, he contributed to ending Virginia's use of the 14C minimum wage provision for people with disabilities in 2023 and lobbied for a pilot program to introduce all-terrain wheelchairs to Virginia state parks in 2024.

Mr. Shapiro graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies and a Bachelor of Sociology with a minor in psychology, cum laude, in 2013. He further enhanced his leadership skills through the Emerging Leaders Program at the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia in 2015. Mr. Shapiro's professional credentials also include Micro SWaM certification, recognition as a certified Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator, and status as a registered lobbyist.

During and shortly after his college years, Mr. Shapiro completed several formative internships that shaped his advocacy work. In 2011, he interned with the U.S. Department of Transportation's disability resource center in Washington, D.C. He also interned with the Partnership for People With Disabilities in Richmond in 2012. That same year, Mr. Shapiro was selected as one of just over a dozen interns in the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs under President Barack Obama, an experience he regards as one of his proudest achievements. Then, in 2014, he interned with the offices of Delegate Jimmie Massie and Senator Walter Stosch in the Virginia General Assembly.

Deeply committed to civic engagement, Mr. Shapiro serves on several boards dedicated to advancing disability rights and inclusion. He has served as a board member of the Virginia Association of People Supporting Employment First (VAAPSE) since 2017, The Arc of Virginia since 2020, and the ACLU of Virginia's diversity and inclusion committee since 2021. He also holds leadership roles with Youth As Self Advocates, Friendship Circle of Virginia and Sportable's adaptive sports programs. Previously, Mr. Shapiro contributed nationally as the co-chair of the public policy committee and as a member of the equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging committee for the National APSE from 2021 to 2022.

As an accomplished public speaker and resource on disability issues, Mr. Shapiro has delivered keynote addresses at events such as the VA1 Governor's Summit and the Virginia Inclusion Summit in 2023. He has also presented at entrepreneurship forums hosted by the National Disability Institute, participated as a panelist at the Virginia Diversity Symposium in Chesterfield County and acted as spokesperson at Rev Up Virginia press conferences. Moreover, Mr. Shapiro's expertise has been sought for workplace training sessions on disability equity by the Society for Human Resource Management and sensitivity training for the North Dakota Court System.

Mr. Shapiro balances his professional commitments with personal passions that include growing his business and enjoying sports activities. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his expertise in lobbying, public policy, disability advocacy work, relationship building, public speaking and consulting. Mr. Shapiro's entrepreneurial drive led to his inclusion on Style Weekly's "40 Under 40" list, an honor that highlights his impact within the Richmond community.

Attributing much of his success to self-motivation, an unwavering commitment to effecting positive change for individuals with disabilities and guidance from family members who encouraged him to stay involved within his community, Mr. Shapiro leverages both lived experience and professional expertise while continually championing greater inclusion across all facets of society. Looking ahead, he aims to expand 6 Wheels Consulting LLC by hiring additional individuals with disabilities who share its mission to improve accessibility worldwide. Mr. Shapiro's vision includes becoming a national voice for disability inclusion while broadening the company's reach both nationally and internationally.

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