The Accessible Travel Foundation raises awareness on the importance of accessible travel. Every other year the Awards of Excellence are given to companies, non-profits, travelers and others who stand out from the crowd when it comes to raising awareness or contributing to the world of accessible travel.
I’m Matilda Wilson, I roll through life in my wheelchair, speak with my eyes, and even though I’m a non-speaker, I’ve got plenty to say.
Matilda on a roll: 132 votes Accessible Favorite by Public Vote 2025
Matilda lives in Gold Coast, Australia, just finished school and has a fast growing online following sharing her adventures! With 132 votes she won second place in the Accessible Favorite by Public Vote, an annual award given out by the Accessible Travel Foundation.
Matilda introduces herself: “I’m a presenter, storyteller and full-time adventurer who loves giving a real, lived-experience perspective on the world. My wish is to encourage others that may have similar barries to live life to the fullest.”
Travel – I’m hooked.
Matilda
Study – I’m all in.
Sport – If it rolls, rides, splashes or moves I’m going to give it a go.
I’m passionate about showing how I access life in my own way, breaking down barriers, and proving that inclusion isn’t important it’s essential. I’ve got stories, laughs, and a whole lot of real talk to share.
When did you start your work and why?
Over the past few years, I’ve made a few trips to the United States rolling through airports, cities, and tourist spots in my wheelchair and it really lit a fire in me. I realised I could give people a real, lived-experience perspective on travel (especially the challenges wheelchair users face), while also encouraging others in similar barriers to try new things. Sometimes plans go sideways, but on the other side of that, there’s so much fun, so many laughs to be had. Honestly, it’s all in ya attitude.
Tell us a bit about your city and how you experience it, accessibility-wise
I live on the beautiful Gold Coast, Queensland, one of Australia’s top tourist hot spots. Think sandy beaches, amazing food, all-ages party vibes, festivals, skate parks, theme parks… not to mention absolutely breathtaking scenery.
Here’s how I roll through it all:
- I’ve gone whale watching on an accessible boat. Spirit of Gold Coast – Whale Watching Gold Coast
- I’m dreaming of floating above the coast in a wheelchair-accessible hot air balloon. Go Ballooning – Hot Air Ballooning Brisbane, Gold Coast and Australia Wide
- I’ve taken on the rainforest at O’Reilly’s via an accessible hike, because nature is for everyone. FAQ | O’Reilly‘s Rainforest Retreat
And when it comes to sport and movement:
- I do adaptive skateboarding with Skate Advantage. Instagram
- I surf with the Disabled Surfers Association (DSA) Disabled Surfers Aus
- I’ve spotted wheelchair-accessible Cycling through Cycling Without Age Cycling Without Age+1
- Snorkel with the Sea World Dolphins
These initiatives make me feel like inclusion isn’t just a buzzword, it’s actually happening in my city.
On the other side, there are things we’re still working on:
- Some of our major beaches have beach mats for wheelies and prams, and beach wheelchairs which is so good but this needs to be advertised more.
- At HOTA (Home of the Arts) theatre, accessible seating sometimes feels like an afterthought.
- Theme parks are super fun, but there’s still a gap when it comes to fully wheelchair-accessible rides. I don’t expect all rides to be accessible but at least there could be a few.
That’s why I created an online presence to talk about accessibility and to raise awareness and push for change. I want everyone regardless of how they get around to experience what makes the Gold Coast magical.
What is your favourite accessible destination?
Hands down, I think the U.S. is doing accessibility really well. I just got back from New York City, a place with historic buildings and old infrastructure, but wow, they’ve made a huge effort.
Some highlights:
- More subway stations are becoming wheelchair-accessible (still work to be done, but heading the right way).
- About 60% of NYC taxis are wheelchair-accessible, which blew me away.
- There are automatic push-button doors everywhere, and even shops with steps often have portable ramps and friendly signage encouraging you to ask for help that kind of thoughtful design makes a big difference.
If you could spend $1 million on improving accessibility in Australia, what would you do?
If I had $1 million to throw at accessibility, I would focus on creating truly inclusive experiences at music festivals and theme parks.
Here’s my vision:
- Build infrastructure so wheelchair users can roll in and enjoy rides and stages just like everybody else. Theme parks like Universal Studios in the U.S. already have ride-carts for people using wheelchairs, I’d love to see that here.
- Invest in education programs for young people in classrooms, teaching about accessibility, inclusion, universal design. Because the architects, engineers, designers and leaders of tomorrow are right there learning now.
- Support grassroots events like Ability Fest, 2024 Ability Fest – QLD & VIC
I experienced an incredible example of inclusion at the Ability Fest Music Festival last year. It was an epic Australian music lineup, wheelchair matting throughout the venue, raised platforms for wheelchair users, support for neurodivergent people, Auslan interpreters on stage, and quiet chill-out zones. It showed what’s possible when accessibility is a priority, not an afterthought. But this festival needs to be the norm, not just a once off.
What would you like to share with our followers?
I’d love to share that accessibility opens doors literally and figuratively. I’m involved in accessible modified skateboarding with Skate Advantage, I surf with the Disability Surfers Association, (DSA) and I’ve seen wheelchair-accessible bikes through Cycling Without Age. Snow skiing with Disability Winter Sports.
These programs show that when we prioritise inclusion, incredible things happen. We already have some great initiatives in Australia, but there’s so much more potential. With the right mindset and a bit of creativity, we can build a world where everyone has the chance to participate, belong, and experience the joy of being active in their community.
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