Today, people are more sensitive than ever when it comes to the topic of inclusion—and that’s a good thing—because no matter how hard we try, lines still exist that put people into categories of difference and that’s a sad aspect of society. What’s even more disheartening is when rigid or outdated mindsets prevent others from having a chance to demonstrate their capabilities and prove themselves. Inclusion is about hearing everyone, seeing everyone, accepting everyone.
It’s important that people raise their voices and take action to eliminate obstacles that hinder others. It’s even more powerful when the voice comes from someone who lives with these hindrances every day.
H
olly Springs resident Matthew Schwab is a champion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He promotes inclusion in the workplace at each of his many part-time jobs, he exemplifies inclusion in his volunteer roles, and the TEDx Talk he did in December was on-topic: How I Know Including People with Down Syndrome Is a Good Thing.
Matthew Schwab is, in fact, a subject matter expert when it comes to inclusion. He has Down syndrome. However, just Google him and you will find page after page of articles, news stories, podcasts, public appearances, and more. It’s safe to say that if you don’t already know Matthew Schwab, you will soon, as he has recently launched his own company: Matthew Schwab Speaks.
A Tireless Advocate
At 22 years old, Matthew has a more substantial resume than many young people his age. Chick-Fil-A dining room host, Fuquay Revolution Volleyball assistant coach, AMC movie theater employee, and internships with Representative John Bradford in the NC State Legislature and with NC Lt. Governor Dan Forest are just a few of the jobs that have kept him busy since graduating from Holly Springs High School in 2017. Last spring, he also completed a Wake Tech internship program called Project Search during which he worked at the NC Department of Health and Human Services in two capacities: with refugee resettlement and the Medicaid organizational development team.
In addition to being a valued employee, he is a devoted ambassador and volunteer with boundless energy for community service. When 321 Coffee opened its doors, Matthew got involved as a founding member of its advisory council. “I helped write their vision,” he says. “Now, 321 Coffee has directors and we’re the ones who advise them and help them with all aspects from grant writing to implementing programs within 321 Coffee, many things that strengthen their mission and the business.” Let’s not forget about the coffee—he’s one of a select group of paid baristas. Another organization that is dear to Matthew’s heart—and that of his mom, Michelle Schwab—is GiGi’s Playhouse. As Matthew explains, “GiGi’s Playhouse is a national brand. We’re a nonprofit achievement center that provides free educational and therapeutic programming for all ages of individuals with Down syndrome, from prenatal diagnosis to adulthood.”
The local GiGi’s Playhouse, located on Jones Franklin Road in Swift Creek Shopping Center, opened in June 2016. Michelle says, “The original [GiGi’s Playhouse] opened in 2003 in the Chicago area and it has grown… they just opened their 48th. It’s a grassroots effort. A group of us contacted them and we had to raise money and show that our community would support it. We were the 31st [Playhouse]. We’ve served over 600 families and we continue to grow.”
Matthew has been an integral part of GiGi’s Playhouse Raleigh from the start. “Of all the Playhouses, only four of them have a secondary smaller-scale board called Generation G. I’ve been a long-term, founding member and co-president of the Generation G youth advisory board. We focus on fundraising and awareness events for the Playhouse and we help the Playhouse with anything they ask of us.”
It’s no wonder Matthew was invited to speak at the GiGi’s Playhouse annual conference in Chicago this past November. He had the honor of introducing the keynote speaker, his former boss, NC Representative John Bradford.
Becoming a TEDx Speaker
If you’re unfamiliar with the TED world, TEDx Talks are locally organized events that must follow the guidelines, format, and spirit of TED Talks. Needless to say, there are lots of rules which make being a TEDx speaker a big deal!
In December, Matthew presented at the TEDxCaryWomen event held at SAS Institute. I asked him and his mom to describe his experience.
“The process starts with an application and it goes to the local TEDx curator and organizer and her team. They’re the ones who look through all the applications for speakers. They got over 100 [applications] and whittled it down to 16 speakers. Then we had a phone interview so she could know me better and the content of what I wanted to convey. The talks were about everything—language of domestic violence, public libraries: relevant or not, meditation, the modern farm, widowed fathers…”
Michelle adds, “My understanding is that [the organizers] had 250 tickets and sold out in about 48 hours, before they announced any speakers. They asked SAS for more and got a 400-seat venue and sold that out. It was all-day, structured so there were four sessions with four speakers each. Each speaker was assigned a coach that volunteered their time. We were assigned the best coach and he is staying with Matthew to help him with his business.”
As for his Talk, Matthew explains, “We met with the speaker coach for a little over a month to develop the actual talk and then another month of memorization. I’m used to referencing note cards or a PowerPoint, but this was different. The rules for TED are that you can’t have anything with you unless you have props to associate with your talk. It has to be completely memorized. That threw me completely off guard. My coach said that not just verbal cues are the way to help memorize a talk. Have physical cues. I did [gestures] that were choreographed by the coach and the cues helped me remember.”
With immense pride, Michelle emphasizes that, “He was the first one off-book. He worked really hard and practiced with the coach and in front of other people. He had it down. He got thrown a couple of times during the actual TEDx because people applauded, and we had not practiced for that. It was remarkable and we were very impressed with him!”
After a TEDx event, all of the recorded Talks are submitted to TED and reviewed against the guidelines. A Talk is disqualified for anything from failing to cite sources or selling during the Talk, to running longer than 18 minutes or stepping outside of the circular red rug marking center-stage. Talks that make the cut are uploaded to TED.com and YouTube.
Matthew’s is among them and has over 5,200 views.
Matthew Schwab Speaks
As a public speaker, Matthew has been making a name for himself for several years, but in 2019 he officially launched his own company with a website, merchandise, and aspirations to advance his promotion of awareness and acceptance for people with Down syndrome and all types of intellectual and developmental disabilities. His timing is perfect as his TEDx Talk is generating inquiries for speaking engagements across the country.
So far, he has plans to present to Coca-Cola diversity department employees in Atlanta, Georgia; the Down Syndrome Network of Greensboro; and he’ll have a booth at the National Down Syndrome Society’s adult summit in Arizona. He’s also on the books to be the featured speaker and presenter at the North Carolina 5th Annual Inclusion Summit being held at UNC-Greensboro in June. (The keynote for the Inclusion Summit is Adrian Wood, Ph.D., acclaimed blogger of Tales of an Educated Debutante.) Judging by the PowerPoint to be finalized and the emails and phone calls to be answered after our interview, I got the idea that this is just the beginning of a lineup of presentations Matthew will be hired for this year.
Unbelievably, this sensational young man does occasionally have free time on his hands. He shared with me that he enjoys TV and movies (especially Planet of the Apes, Harry Potter, The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings) as well as spending time with his girlfriend, Lucia, and younger brothers, Ben and Will. Disney is his favorite travel destination and it’s a toss-up as to which is his greater obsession—Phantom of the Opera or prehistory.
To Learn More
I’m not the first journalist to write about Matthew Schwab, and I certainly won’t be the last. But to fully appreciate his talent to articulate his message and delightful sense of humor, you must see him in action. It’s no surprise that he captures an audience’s attention when he speaks. The savviest business owners and most astute leaders will hire him to share his words of empathy, kindness, and inclusion with their employees: “I had Down syndrome before I was born. I will have it my whole life. But, it is just one part of me. Feel free to notice my differences but be sure to focus on the many ways I am just like you!”
Matthew Schwab is ready to speak to your company, school, conference, or gathering.
Check out his website at www.matthewschwabspeaks.com, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram. To watch his TEDx Talk, go to youtube.com and search “matthew schwab.”
You can also learn more about GiGi’s Playhouse Raleigh by visiting www.gigisplayhouse.org/raleigh and 321 Coffee at https://321coffee.com.
