At Ability Today’s Academy for Disabled Journalists, nothing makes us prouder than seeing our students turn their ambitions into successful careers. This month, we are celebrating another remarkable success story as former student Matt Dennis has been named Accessible Travel Writer of the Year at the prestigious Travel Media Awards 2026.
Matt joined our Academy with a determination to develop his journalism skills and pursue a new career. Today, he is an award-winning travel journalist whose work appears in some of the UK’s leading national publications, proving just what can be achieved when talent, opportunity and accessible training come together.
Since studying with the Academy, Matt has established himself as a respected voice in travel journalism, writing for publications including The Independent, i Paper and Lonely Planet. His assignments have taken him across the world, from exploring the historic castles of France’s Dordogne region to travelling 1,000 kilometres by train through Finland in search of the secrets behind the country’s happiness.
His writing combines a passion for discovering new destinations with a commitment to making travel more inclusive. Through his own platform, The Empowered Traveller, Matt also highlights the importance of accessible tourism, challenging the travel industry to recognise that everyone deserves the opportunity to explore the world.
His latest accolade, Accessible Travel Writer of the Year, recognises his outstanding contributions to accessible travel journalism, including work commissioned by Lonely Planet and The Independent, featuring destinations such as Costa Rica, Tahiti and Madeira.
Reflecting on his win, Matt described himself as staggered by the recognition, acknowledging the talented journalists alongside whom he was nominated and their shared determination to make travel more accessible.
For us at the Academy, Matt’s achievement represents something even bigger than an individual award.
It demonstrates the power of accessible education to transform lives and create entirely new career opportunities.
When we established the Academy for Disabled Journalists in partnership with the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ), our ambition was simple: to remove the barriers that prevent talented disabled people from entering journalism and give them the skills, confidence and opportunities to succeed.
Matt’s journey is a wonderful example of that ambition becoming reality.
Journalism is about far more than reporting the news. It opens doors to careers across travel, broadcasting, publishing, digital media and countless other industries. Matt has demonstrated how those skills can be developed into a rewarding new profession while helping to change perceptions of disability.
As the founder of Ability Today, I couldn’t be prouder of what Matt has accomplished. Watching our former students establish themselves, build careers and now win prestigious industry awards is exactly why we created the Academy.
Congratulations, Matt. Your success is thoroughly deserved, and we cannot wait to see where your journalism takes you next.
Grant Logan
Founder & CEO, Ability Today CIC
Academy for Disabled Journalists