Matthew Shapiro speaks during Disability Awareness Month events

Larvail Jones, coordinator of Access Services at Randolph College, poses with inclusion activist Matthew Shapiro during his Disability Awareness Month keynote.

Randolph College celebrated Disability Awareness Month in March with several events, including a keynote given by inclusion activist Matthew Shapiro. 

Shapiro, who was born with cerebral palsy, spoke about inclusion and access and later met with Randolph’s education faculty and human resources staff members. 

“He shared his story as a person with a disability, who also has three degrees, is a lobbyist, and has successfully pushed bills through Virginia’s state legislation, showing resilience and tenacity,” said Larvail Jones, coordinator of Access Services. 

Shapiro is the founder of 6 Wheels Consulting, which works with businesses to help advance their knowledge of disability culture. He has served as an ABLE Ambassador with Virginia529 and has represented the disability community on several state boards, including the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities and the Virginia Business Leadership Network. 

He also travels the country presenting about disability awareness and education. 

His Randolph event, presented by Access Services, Human Resources, and the College’s Department of Education, was followed by break-out sessions with special education professionals. 

The College also held a March 24 event featuring disability compassion activities and door prizes and handed out buttons on March 26. 

“It is important for our community to move beyond inclusion to belonging,” Jones said. “We are compassionate, and we are advocates. We also understand that a disability or illness does not affect one’s intellectual abilities or achievements.”