Ariel Matz Consulting

06/24/2025

I just sent out an email about a local nonprofit I really believe in: Open Up. Over the past 10 years, they've built accessible wellness programming—movement, mindfulness, and true inclusion for people with and without disabilities, together.

They’re facing a funding gap, and I’d love your help spreading the word.

🧡 Read more and get the link to support here:

I want to tell you about a local nonprofit I truly believe in: Open Up—a movement program that weaves together yoga, dance, breathwork, and improv to make mindfulness and connection accessible for people with and without disabilities, together.

05/20/2025

I’m excited to share a project close to my heart: I’m partnering with to launch an employment initiative for adults with disabilities!

This effort focuses on creating inclusive, person-centered opportunities—helping adults build job skills, discover their strengths, and contribute in ways that truly matter.

What makes it even more special? The JCC isn’t just where my kids go to preschool or where we swim and dance—it’s also where I had some of my earliest inclusive experiences as a preschooler, camper, and counselor at Truly a full circle moment.

Grateful for this opportunity and our community. ❤️

05/15/2025

I’m so excited to celebrate with The Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh this Sunday at Friends All Around 2025!

What inspires me most about the Friendship Circle is how they've grown alongside the people they serve. As their young participants became teens and then adults, the organization kept evolving—opening the Beacon (truly the most peaceful spot in Pittsburgh!) and launching Bunny Bakes , a beloved bakery that both trains and employs adults with disabilities.

If you’re able, please consider donating to help keep this meaningful work going, or come find me this Sunday at the gala!

👉 https://one.bidpal.net/faa2025/welcome

So proud to support and partner with FC 💙

01/02/2025

From cozy moments at home to catching up with family, friends, and colleagues who fill our lives with so much love and meaning, I am stepping into the new year full of gratitude and hope.

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year! (Yes, I’m a day late— 😜). Looking forward to a 2025 filled with joy, growth, and meaningful connections and opportunities for us all. 💙

#2025

12/23/2024

Last update for 2024! Happy everything!

This year has been incredible! I partnered with Bunny Bakes to develop their supported employment program, launched Inclusive Spaces to support organizations in creating empowering environments, and delivered workshops that made a difference for families, educators, and communities. Most importantly...

12/23/2024

Knowing my work is helping organizations grow and create inclusive opportunities means the world to me! This thoughtful testimonial from is such a meaningful reminder of why I do what I do. 💕

As we head into the holiday break, I want to thank all of you for your support and belief in the power of inclusion. Wishing you a joyful season filled with love, laughter, and maybe even a little rest!

12/18/2024

Sharing updated partnerships, services and resources in today’s newsletter! 💙

This past year has been a journey full of growth and connection at Ariel Matz Consulting. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside families, educators, and organizations to create inclusive opportunities and empower differently abled individuals.

12/12/2024

True to my word—this post is not Pinterest-worthy. But it’s practical and highlights one of my favorite tools: visual expectations! Research shows that explicitly taught and regularly reviewed expectations help us stay focused and build prosocial behaviors.

Turning expectations into something you can see makes a huge impact. But here’s the thing: just slapping some visuals on the wall and calling it a day won’t cut it (guilty as charged 🙋‍♀️🙈). They really start working when you use them intentionally and consistently.

And visuals don’t have to be printed or fancy! Environmental cues—like arrows pointing the way, color-coded bins, or even blocking off a space with chairs (see pic 3!)—can be just as effective for communicating expectations.

If printed visuals are your jam, I’ve got you covered! I’m so excited to share new resources on my website to help you bring visual expectations to life. 😊

Thanks for checking it out! 👉 https://www.arielmatzconsulting.com/resources

12/09/2024

I recently had the pleasure of leading a Boundaries workshop , where we explored how to categorize relationships and our actions based on trust and boundaries. The participants and outcomes were awesome 👏

I’m excited to share that this activity—and more resources for families and educators—are now up on my website! Take a look at arielmatzconsulting.com/resources (link in bio!), and while you’re there, sign up for my newsletter to get free resources straight to your inbox. I’d love to hear what you think! 💖✨

11/25/2024

Hi friends! I want to take a moment to share how thankful I am to be in community with you. This year has been filled with meaningful work, and I couldn’t have done it without your support.

I’ve shared more gratitude and what’s ahead in my latest newsletter. Click below to read the full message, and subscribe via my website if you haven’t yet—I’d love to keep in touch!

I want to take a moment to share how thankful I am to be in community with you. This year has been full of meaningful work—developing career support programs, collaborating on meaningful programing, ensuring kids receive the services they need to thrive in school, and working with families to crea...

11/19/2024

Hi, friends! 👋 Sharing a glimpse of my home and one of my workplaces, ,where we’ve been adding visual labels—each featuring a name and a picture. This simple tool is such a game changer!

Why? Visuals provide clear, consistent cues, showing exactly where things belong. No guesswork, no constant reminders—just a little more independence and a lot less clutter.

The beauty of visual labels goes beyond staying organized. They help create spaces that truly work for everyone. By reducing the need for verbal instructions or corrections, visuals build confidence and encourage independence—because when expectations are clear, everyone can succeed with less frustration. Whether it’s a preschooler learning responsibility, a student managing shared supplies, or an adult keeping tools in order, visuals also reduce stress by bringing order and predictability to shared spaces.

And my favorite thing? Visual labels make spaces feel welcoming. 💛 Seeing your name alongside a familiar picture sends a powerful message: This space is yours. It’s such a simple way to build connection and belonging, whether at home, in the classroom, or on the job.

How could you use visuals to make life a little smoother? I’d love to hear your ideas! Thanks for following along!

11/15/2024

As a mom of a 6- and 4-year-old, I sometimes reminisce about my days as a special educator—when the kids in my life actually listened to me! 🙃 These days, as a consultant, I get to help families and programs create spaces where everyone can truly thrive. I want my own home to feel the same way.

So here’s my plan: I’m going to bring some of those tried-and-true special educator hacks into our own home and share our progress here!

First up: color-coding books to give them an easy “home” to return to. 📚 Once we have color-coding down, we’ll add new sorting layers, like organizing by book size. Not only does this keep things tidy, it helps us build sorting skills—a powerful tool for creating structure and order. Sorting teaches us to categorize, sequence, and recognize patterns, making it easier to manage our surroundings. These skills build independence and attention to detail—qualities that can set us up for success in all kinds of future roles, from organizing files in an office to managing supplies in healthcare.

And heads up: my posts won’t be daily or Pinterest-perfect, but they’ll be real, practical, and (hopefully!) helpful for us all. I’ll be sharing tips and freebies along the way to make life a bit smoother and more joyful. Thanks for following along! ☀️🌈

Welcome to Ariel Matz Consulting!
I specialize in crafting inclusive, personalized solutions that empower individuals with disabilities to thrive in our communities.☀️🌈