Meet Your Go-To Certified Autism Travel Professional  and Travel Coach, Cari Kelley

My lifelong love-affair with travel began in my 20s. During a two-year stay in Europe that had me criss-crossing Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy, I made friends out of strangers, discovered fascinating new cultures, and tasted delicious foods I could never have imagined! I am a former tap and jazz dancer, guitarist and singer and I love live music and theater. And with an Italian grandmother who was an exceptional cook… food was always at the heart of an experience.

Years later, my toddler would be diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, which is a form of muscular dystrophy. At the age of six, her twin brother was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. I quickly realized the complexities of planning travel for my family. The things I needed to anticipate, the phone calls and emails I needed to make ahead of time, on top of wanting to also make these trips memorable (in a good way!) for my children, all brought me to travel planning. It’s not easy to plan a trip when you need to think about mobility at every location, room setup, overall accessibility, or neurodivergent needs (quiet places, activities, and amenities) to ensure that everyone has what they need. And that’s not even taking into account your own needs – which is also a large part of taking a vacation!

If you’re a caretaker, taking respite isn’t a luxury but a necessity. Finding an experience to help you recharge and rejuvenate is critical to being able to give your family, friends, colleagues, and community members the care they need in turn. You just can’t give your all if your all is exhausted.