An entrepreneur with altitude
A Kiwi says he was ‘‘blown away’’ by the lack of opportunities for people with disabilities when he lost the use of his own limbs in an accident nine years ago.
Cantabrian Jezza Williams, pictured right, is now a finalist for a national disability entrepreneur award for his work developing an industry that ‘‘should have been opened a very, very long time ago’’.
The 44-year-old – who is ‘‘going on 18’’ – slipped over a waterfall while leading a canyoning tour in the Swiss Alps.
He has since developed a business promoting tourism for all abilities. He was not in it for the glory: ‘‘I just do it ... if people think I am inspiring, then bueno.’’
Williams broke his C5 vertebra in the canyoning accident. He can’t walk and has only limited function in his hands. To make a living he started his own business, Making Trax, in 2012. He describes it as promoting ‘‘inclusive tourism’’, helping tourism companies better equip themselves for having customers of all abilities.
‘‘People don’t come to New Zealand for the accessible toilets, they come here for the adventure industry.
‘‘We empower – we don’t talk about disability, we talk about ability, we never say somebody is bound to a wheelchair . . . this [wheelchair] is an empowerment, I can go anywhere I want in this thing, it is like your shoes,’’ Williams said.
Last year, he did his first solo coastal paraglide. He also was the first person with tetraplegia to complete the 26,000-kilometre Mongol Rally. He is now a finalist in the entrepreneur category at this year’s Attitude Awards to be held in Auckland on Friday. Attitude founder and chief executive Robyn Scott-Vincent said the awards highlighted the success of disabled New Zealanders. ‘‘What we hope most is it will turn corporate New Zealand’s attention to the fact that people with disabilities have endless possibilities and they are achievers.’’