TravelAbility Insider

The Intersection of Travel and Disability

disability inclusion

One for the Books: Life on the Bridge: Linking My World to Yours as an Autistic Therapist

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Cover of "Life on the Bridge" by Kaelynn Partlow, with the author smiling against a pink background.

Understanding autism can feel a little like trying to communicate across two different languages. The words may be the same, but the meaning does not always land the way either person intended.

Kaelynn Partlow is trying to change that.

An autistic therapist, advocate, and cast member on Love on the Spectrum, Partlow brings both professional expertise and lived experience to Life on the Bridge: Linking My World to Yours as an Autistic Therapist. The result is a practical, personal guide designed to help autistic people, families, therapists, educators, and other professionals better understand one another.

The book starts with a premise that feels especially important in disability advocacy, and that TravelAbility continuously amplifies: listen to autistic people themselves.

Partlow tackles the questions that often create confusion between autistic individuals and the people around them, from communication and sensory differences to meltdowns, stimming, masking, perseveration, loneliness, and accommodations. Rather than treating these experiences as behaviors to simply correct, she pulls from her expertise and lived experiences to explain what may be happening underneath them and offer concrete ways to communicate more effectively.

“Listen to autistic people themselves.”

Kaelynn Partlow

Partlow’s perspective is particularly valuable for parents and professionals who may know a great deal about autism but are still learning what it feels like to experience the world as an autistic person. Partlow’s position on both sides of that divide gives her a unique way to explain where misunderstandings happen, why certain approaches can miss the mark, and how a little more understanding can change the interaction entirely.

Life on the Bridge is available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook, with the audiobook narrated by Partlow herself.

For anyone looking for a better way to understand autism, this is one for the books.

Earn Your Accessibility Leader Certification at TravelAbility Summit Tampa

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Last year, we introduced the Cultivating Accessibility Leaders Masterclass at the TravelAbility Summit for the first time. Led by VisitAble and Canucks Autism Network, the two-hour session focused on four of the most common disabilities, with attendees leaving with an Accessible Leader Masterclass certificate.

“In just 2½ days, you’ll walk away with everything we’ve learned about accessible travel over the past eight years.”

– Jake Steinman, TravelAbility Founder and CEO

This year, we’re expanding the Accessible Leader certificate to officially recognize what we see every year: people who come to the Summit go back to their communities and begin leading accessibility initiatives within their own organizations. Now, every Summit attendee will receive a certificate at the end of the Summit recognizing their readiness to build accessibility into the work their organization is already doing. 

USAE News recently featured the expansion of the Accessible Leader certificate and what it means for this year’s Summit.

↪Read the full release here

“In just 2½ days, you’ll walk away with everything we’ve learned about accessible travel over the past eight years.” – Jake Steinman, TravelAbility Founder and CEO

TravelAbility Tampa 2026 Summit graphic featuring friends, one a wheelchair user, gathered around a waterfront table, with event dates November 9 to 11 in Tampa, Florida.

Join us November 9–11 in Tampa for the 2026 TravelAbility Summit and leave with the tools, knowledge, and connections to lead accessibility within your organization. 

 ↪Register for the summit 

Accessibility Champion: Travel Oregon Wins ESTO/s All Ways Welcome Award

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Travel Oregon team celebrating on stage at the U.S. Travel ESTO Awards, with Kevin Wright holding the award.

“Travel Oregon” has slowly become synonymous with “inclusive travel.” This past spring, no one was surprised when Travel Oregon won Travel + Leisure’s Global Vision Award for their efforts in becoming the first Accessibility Verified State. 

So it won’t be a shock that Travel Oregon also took first place in ESTO’s All Ways Welcome Award. The category recognizes a marketing campaign or destination-led initiative that advances inclusivity and accessibility in destination marketing and makes travel more welcoming for underrepresented or historically excluded audiences. 

Kevin Wright, the Vice President of Global Marketing for Travel Oregon has been featured as a TravelAbility Accessibility Champion for the way he’s brought attention to accessibility and transformed the atmosphere across Oregon. His personal journey began with a family soccer game that almost went terribly wrong, before discovering the sensory kit and well trained staff at guest services who saved the day.

Start. You don’t need to have all the answers or a perfect accessibility strategy before you begin.

Kevin Wright, VP of Global Marketing for Travel Oregon

The impact has grown well beyond one leader. DMOs across the state are embracing accessibility with an enthusiasm that is increasingly hard to ignore. 

When asked what advice he’d give destinations who may be inspired and want to follow his lead, Kevin’s answer was simple: “Start. You don’t need to have all the answers or a perfect accessibility strategy before you begin. Start by listening to travelers with disabilities, invite them into the process, find partners who can help you understand where the barriers are, and then take meaningful action. At Travel Oregon, we’ve learned that accessibility isn’t a project with a finish line—it’s an ongoing commitment to making travel more welcoming for everyone. The most important thing is to begin, learn along the way, and keep moving forward.”

Becoming Accessibility Verified is only the visible evidence of a team that’s willing to do whatever it takes to welcome all. 

Now that is surprising. 

Hats off to Travel Oregon on a job well done, an attitude that is contagious, and initiatives that are leading the industry forward.

The TravelAbility Accessibility Playbook Just Got a Serious Upgrade

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Six branded Accessibility Playbook covers from TravelAbility, covering destinations, restaurants, meetings, accommodations, airports, and attractions.

The newest and most comprehensive edition of the Accessibility Playbook is here.

Accessibility is one of tourism’s greatest opportunities. And destinations that invest in it today will be better positioned to meet the needs of tomorrow’s travelers.

More than 1.3 billion people worldwide live with a disability. At the same time, populations are aging rapidly, making accessible experiences an increasingly important part of how travelers choose where to go, what to do, and where to spend their money.

By 2030, all 73 million Baby Boomers in the United States will be 65 or older.

The future of travel is changing. The destinations ready for it will have the advantage.

No single business can make an entire destination accessible, but a destination organization can help lead the way.

Introducing the Fully Reimagined 2026 Accessibility Playbook

Created for destination leaders and the partners who make visitor experiences possible, the 2026 Accessibility Playbook is designed to move accessibility beyond good intentions and into meaningful, measurable action.

Far more than a guide for accessibility, it’s a roadmap for creating better visitor experiences, stronger partnerships, and destinations where more people can participate.

At the center of the Playbook is A11yship: the idea that destination organizations can lead through collaboration, bringing businesses, community leaders, government partners, and other stakeholders together around a shared vision for accessibility.

No single business can make an entire destination accessible, but a destination organization can help lead the way.

What’s New in the 2026 Playbook?

This is our most comprehensive Playbook yet, with entirely new resources designed to help destinations and industry partners put accessibility into practice.

Six New Industry-Specific Sector Guides

Get tailored guidance for the people and places that shape the visitor experience, including:

  • Airports
  • Accommodations
  • Restaurants
  • Attractions and outdoor experiences
  • Meetings and conventions
  • City managers

Vision 2030 Framework

Explore the economic influence, travel potential, and evolving needs of older adults as destinations prepare for a future where accessibility is central to the visitor experience.

The Largest Accessible Traveler Study Yet

New market research from Longwoods International provides the most comprehensive look yet at the American accessible traveler, including market size, spending power, behaviors, and preferences.

The 2026 Accessibility Playbook is here to help destinations seize that opportunity, giving destination leaders everything they need to turn accessibility into action and advantage.

Visitor Experience Strategy

Accessibility doesn’t begin at the entrance and end at checkout.

The Playbook provides tools for thinking through the entire visitor journey, from researching a destination to planning, traveling, experiencing, and returning home.

Content & Marketing Strategies

Know how to communicate accessibility clearly, authentically, and effectively so travelers can make informed decisions about whether an experience will work for them.

Plug & Play Accessibility Catalog

A curated directory connecting destinations with trusted accessibility partners.

Accessibility Is an Opportunity

Designing for people with disabilities doesn’t just benefit people with disabilities.

It creates more intuitive, seamless experiences for families, older adults, multigenerational groups, and travelers with temporary or situational needs. It can increase visitation, encourage longer stays, strengthen destination loyalty, and create greater economic impact.

The 2026 Accessibility Playbook is here to help destinations seize that opportunity, giving destination leaders everything they need to turn accessibility into action and advantage.

Whether you’re just beginning your accessibility journey or ready to take your destination strategy to the next level, this is your roadmap.

The future of accessible travel is here, and now there’s a playbook for it.

From TravelAbility Summit 7.0: Preparing for the Silver Tsunami of Aging Travelers

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The 2025 TravelAbility Summit dove right into the heart of the issue of Vision 2030: future proofing destinations by preparing for the aging traveler. A team of AARP experts, including Patty David, Lona Choi-Allum, Cassandra Burton, Elaine Friesen-Strang, Helena Kesch, and Laura Skufca presented research and insights for moving forward.

“We are aging quickly. This isn’t a trend that will change—it’s our future.”

Elaine Friesen-Strang
TravelAbility Tampa 2026 Summit graphic featuring friends, one a wheelchair user, gathered around a waterfront table, with event dates November 9 to 11 in Tampa, Florida.

The conversation will dive deeper this fall

Join us November 9–11, 2026, in Tampa, Florida, for the 2026 TravelAbility Summit. It’s where destinations, venues, and travel brands come together to advance accessibility in a practical, business-smart way. Over two days of case studies, workshops, and peer learning, industry leaders share proven strategies that improve the travel experience for people with disabilities—and, by extension, for families, multigenerational groups, and travelers with temporary or situational limitations. Meet the advisors, suppliers, and destination teams leading the way, and leave with a roadmap you can put to work immediately.

Register Today

Three women smile at an AARP-branded conference table displaying travel giveaways, a globe, and welcome signage for the "Wanderlust Adventure" activity at the TravelAbility Summit.

Session Overview

This AARP-led session explored how destinations and organizations can better serve aging travelers and adults with disabilities. Using data from AARP’s 2025 Travel Trends Study, the discussion blended research insights with lived experiences, highlighting that as travelers age, they remain active, adventurous, and eager to explore—yet continue to face barriers in access, information, and design.

Key Insights

  • Older adults are traveling more: 70% of adults 50+ expect to travel in 2025; international travel interest is up to 45%.
  • Top barriers: Cost, health concerns, and accessibility limitations remain primary challenges.
  • Health benefits: 95% say travel improves mental health; 85% cite physical health benefits.
  • Accessibility needs: 1 in 6 travelers 50+ require accommodations; mobility is the most common.
  • Design evolution: Oregon State Parks integrates universal design—including single-user restrooms, adult changing tables, and accessible cabins—to welcome all visitors.
  • Hidden disabilities: Many older travelers experience access needs but do not identify as having a disability.
    Information gaps: Accurate, human-centered communication remains key—technology can assist but should not replace personal service.

Actionable Takeaways

  • Invest in universal design: Build restrooms, trails, and facilities for users of all ages and abilities.
  • Prioritize clear communication: Offer accessible, human-assisted check-in and print options alongside digital tools.
  • Train frontline staff: Focus on empathy, patience, and awareness of visible and invisible disabilities.
  • Promote partnerships: DMOs, parks, and community organizations should collaborate to expand access and outreach.
  • Plan for aging demographics: By 2030, older travelers will outnumber younger ones in many states—plan experiences with them in mind.

Notable Quotes

  • “We are aging quickly. This isn’t a trend that will change—it’s our future.” — Elaine Friesen-Strang
  • “Accessibility isn’t one-size-fits-all. Universal design means meeting people where they are.” — Helena Kesch
  • “Even though cost and health are barriers, older adults will keep traveling—to airports, destinations, and beyond.” — Lorna Choi-Allum
  • “Don’t rush to over-tech things. The human connection is what we need.” — Elaine Friesen-Stran

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Your name and email will never be sold to 3rd parties.