Matthew Shapiro

Matthew is currently booking in-person sessions in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. Virtual bookings are available nationwide.

Matthew’s programs are perfect for:

New Student Orientation
Welcome Week
Student Leaders
Athletes
Greek Life
Residence Life Staff
Professional Development
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Campus Safety Professionals
Human Resources

Customized presentations for academic departments:

Engineering
Pre-Med (including OT, PT, Dentistry)
Human Resources
Transportation
Urban Planning
Architecture
Social Work
Technical Schools
Social Justice

Matthew Shapiro is an approachable, easy-going individual who has lived his life breaking down the barriers of disability. Born with Cerebral Palsy and using a wheelchair for his mobility, Matthew knows that people are naturally curious about his condition and how he manages his multifaceted life. As an educator he welcomes questions relating to his life, disability, and his mindset. He knows that honest dialogue results in increased understanding and promotes positive changes.

Using his positive outlook to enlighten audiences on a variety of topics including disability, leadership, relationships, employment, safety and more. Matthew’s interactive presentations make participants smile and leave them with a fresh perspective.

Read Matthew’s Full Bio

As America’s Disability Advisor Matthew offers:

Public Speaking:
Matthew’s interactive presentations cover a variety of disability related topics as well as other business, advocacy, and leadership-focused themes.
Consulting:
Inclusive, common-sense, cost-effective solutions to help you better support individuals with disabilities and make your organization inclusive, not just ADA compliant.
Lobbying Service:
Matthew provides comprehensive lobbying services on the local, state, and national levels with the goal of helping to pass your legislation.

Disability Sensitivity Training 101 is a comprehensive exploration that allows the audience to develop a better understand of the disability community. Topics included in this highly engaging and energetic program, are visible and invisible disabilities, appropriate and inappropriate language, proper etiquette, and authentic and genuine inclusion.

Matthew Shapiro entertains and guides the audience on how to become their own "wrecking ball," and break free of their comfort zones to exceed their personal goals and expectations. Matthew shares his personal story of overcoming fear and apprehension to finally live his life to the fullest. He shares his secret with the audience so that they may incorporate these principles into their own lives. He encourages participants to break free from whatever “chair” is holding them back!

Advancing disability inclusion in the workplace is essential. The pandemic modified the way our workplaces operated and created opportunities for dialogue around digital accessibility and hybrid workplaces. These new models of remote work provide an ideal scenario to support employees and new hires with disabilities. Participants will discuss the importance of developing a positive disability culture and share strategies to transform both their physical space, and their overall disability inclusion efforts. Matthew will address barriers facing the 56 million Americans living with disabilities and highlight the positive impact they have on our workplaces.

Throughout his life journey, Matthew has come to recognize five distinct reactions people exhibit when they first meet and encounter him. These first impressions have become so crystalized that he can identify them within seconds, and they will often dictate and foreshadow the arc of the interaction and connection to follow. Along with sharing the five reactions he receives, Matthew will help you become more pro-active than reactive, value individual differences, show true compassion, and come to understand that disability is the only minority group that any of us can join in the blink of an eye. This program will help you look at people, situations, and life in a different manner, alter your interactions in a positive way and remind you to pause before you judge a person or book by its cover.