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

by Kaelynn Partlow

From Autistic Advocate, Love on the Spectrum cast member, and therapist Kaelynn Partlow, a warm, personal, and practical guide to understanding autism—from behaviors to communication and beyond.

You've heard from autistic authors.

You've heard from therapists.

Now hear from one extraordinary young woman who's both.

Experience autism from the inside out through a rare fusion of professional skill and personal understanding. Reshape what you know about the autism spectrum and increase your ability to give support. Varied perspectives among autistic individuals, their families, and professionals have often been difficult to reconcile. Now, you can bridge that divide with guidance from someone who’s lived in multiple worlds. Find immediate, actionable options to build connections, foster communication, navigate challenges, and enhance interactions.

SPECIFIC

Autism. What it is, what it isn’t, and what are the resulting misunderstandings across the spectrum?

Communication. Exactly how do you avoid misunderstandings, encourage conversation, and build options for better interaction?

Behavior. Learn about the origin and mechanics of meltdowns, stimming, perseveration, sensory distortion, and other common autistic challenges.

Interaction. The struggles are autism-enhanced loneliness, social-skill deficits, goal-setting, and the thorny issues of disability accommodation.

Common Questions. What are DSM-V diagnostic levels and why do they matter? What about therapy and ABA or routes to useful advocacy?

"Loved Kaelynn Partlow's information on ambiguity and communication. She gives lots of practical pointers on how to be more direct and specific when talking to autistic individuals. Vague, open ended questions are not effective communication." — Temple Grandin, New York Times bestselling author of Visual The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions

"As a rising star in the field, Partlow is poised to become this generation’s Temple Grandin." — Erin R. Hahn, Ph.D., Department Chair and Professor of Psychology, Furman University

Genres: Nonfiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Psychology, Mental Health, Disability, Memoir, Parenting

197 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2025

Reviews

[winnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is great for both autistic people and people who engage with them. it contains information and many practical tips on how to help autistic people. the author is a low-masking individual, so some of her experiences may be less relatable to those high-masking. regardless, I think this is a valuable book because high-masking autistic people are still autistic.

why I prefer this book over other books about autism by autistic authors:
- the author acknowledges her privileges.
- the tone is nonaggressive.
- differences in ability, eg in language, are considered.
- autism is neither glamorized as a superpower nor pathologized. it is acknowledged that it is a pervasive disorder AND that there are many ways to facilitate the lives of autistic people.
- commonly asked questions are answered, including diagnostic levels, finding a good therapist, ABA therapy, and how to get into autism advocacy.

[Beth Roger aka Katiebella_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the book my stepmother (Karen)was reading when she passed away, April 4th, 2025. My father gave it to me the Sunday after her funeral.

my middle child is on the spectrum. how I was raising her was a constant battle between Karen and I, to the point we weren't speaking when we lost her.

This book became a real comfort. Knowing that she was reading it and trying to understand her granddaughter better. knowing that she was reading a book written by a woman my daughter follows. Seeing the marked pages where Karen finally was understanding.

Though I may not have gotten anything new out of the read (we follow the author) being able to know that the arguments were going to be resolved brought me closure to a difficult time in my life.

ps it's beautifully written, and I highly recommend reading if you have a loved one on the spectrum.

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of Kaelynn's Netflix or social media content, are autistic, support an autistic person, or just want to be better informed on autism, I highly recommend this book! It is incredibly digestible- the content is split up into short, informative sections with plenty of analogies and illustrations. Plus, Kaelynn makes an effort to be inclusive of all folks on the spectrum, including those who are nonverbal or have higher support needs.

Personally, my favorite parts of the book were the suggestions for navigating a neurotypical society, such as the social skills hacks and adulting tips. I also learned from Kaelynn's view on ABA, and am excited to hear that she is writing a second book for providers.

Overall, reading from the perspective of someone who both IS autistic and supports autistic folks in her professional life definitely provided some valuable insights on "bridging" gaps!

---
9/16/24:

Suuuuuuper excited to read this one!!

[Matt Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven’t watched season one of Love on the Spectrum or Kaelynn Partlow’s videos on social media, that’s fine. This book still ranks among one of the best and most helpful resources I’ve seen so far about autism. It’s probably no coincidence that it happens to be written by someone on the spectrum who works with autistic children and adults. She uses direct language and humor to help bridge the understanding between non autistic people and autistic people as well as autistic level ones who can communicate and twos and threes who have more difficulty advocating for themselves. I will definitely return to this one.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Life On A Bridge is a nonfiction book that covers a number of topics related to Autism Spectrum Disorder, with personal experience included from the author about her own struggles, achievements and tools. I really liked how this story was written. It was easy to follow, broken down into smaller easier to grasp categories, and had a number of great examples and scenarios. I was familiar with several topics covered as well, some I was not and as a parent of a special needs child and always looking for more information especially in regards to communication and understanding behaviors and I think that this book did a great job of really breaking it down and adding tips to use that anyone can use. I would recommend this book to readers who are looking for in-depth information.
I received an ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

[Christine Bobby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve followed Kaelynn Partlow on social media since seeing her on the first season of Love On The Spectrum and have admired her videos and advocacy. As someone who believes they might be on the spectrum themselves, this book was very informative and validating. As a visual learner, I also really enjoyed the featured artwork that went along with some of Kaelynn’s examples that she uses in her therapy practices.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow publishing for early access for this upcoming edition of the book!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book for teachers, parents, and therapists, and I wish it were required reading for humanity. Kaelynn does an amazing job articulating skills, strategies, and the why of challenges facing people with autism and their loved ones. I especially appreciated how she bridges the place between a therapist who supports patients with autism and being a person with autism who has experienced these challenges herself.

[Ashley Boudle · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can’t build tomorrows bridges if you don’t understand today’s barriers.

[Kaitlyn Cotton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an exceptionally clear and insightful guide to understanding autism. The author’s writing is both accessible and compassionate, weaving together vivid examples and thoughtful metaphors.

What truly sets it apart, though, are the practical, thoughtfully explained strategies woven throughout—each one easy to understand and genuinely useful for everyday situations. It’s a rare blend of clarity, empathy, and actionable guidance, making it an invaluable read for anyone seeking real support and deeper understanding.

Thank you to William Morrow for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very interesting to read and I hope I can apply some of what I learned here to be more inclusive to others.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Kaelynn Partlow for the ARC to review*

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely write a review of a book. This book is really well written. I am in education and really want to better understand how to work with autistic students to really give them the tools they need.

A lot of times you read a book like this and it's very clinical. Her book explains things from her perspective. She explains different situations, how an autistic person deals with a situation, gives her own experience, then she tells you how to handle the situation. Most books would not do that. Most trainings I do at work don't do that so I am always grasping for what to do in certain situations.

They usually just say, this is how an autistic person is. This is how they think and what they do but never give you scenarios to relate to the situation.

I found her explanation of the 3 levels that autistic people are put into extremely helpful. First, she gives the clinical description. She then focuses on the language of those definitions followed by "here's what it looks like for me." This is incredibly helpful for a neuraltypical person in helping to understand the behaviors I see from some students I work with.

It is a great read. She is funny and a great writer.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

A good resource for neurodivergent people and neurotypical people alike. The information in the book was accessible and easy to digest. I liked the chapter length and the way things were explained. I did find some chapters needing more detail for me to fully understand certain concepts and some had some unnecessary details but overall I really enjoyed the book. And I did learn a lot, both about the concepts in the book and myself and how I communicate.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful. Practical. Personal. This is one of the best books on autism I've read.

[Caitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took vacation for me to set my work brain down and actually finish an insightful book that will even assist me with my work. Kaelynn continues to use her voice to offer simple and straightforward insight to those around her. As someone who works in the disability space-books like this make sure we don’t loose sight of why others of us are here. If you are looking for methods to try or snippets that are easy to explain to others-this book will be now and in the future a repeatable reference.

[Julie Muckerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely practical and accessible. Would recommend to anyone who wants to learn more about autism and supporting autistic people.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was solid until the ABA defense 😅 like girlypop I know that's your bag and it helped u or something but bruh, bruh. and in that section she specifically said she wouldn't listen to online criticism so I won't even bother but Bruh 🕴️

okay wait other people might read this review so I'll criticize:

-okay first of all, the whole ABA defense section is just way less logically cohesive than the rest of the book like she's just grasping for any justification, (idk she's just really emotionally attached to ABA in particular so wasn't able to be logical about it?)
--for example, she likens ABA specifically to all of medicine or science? like, she argues that just because some scientific/medical theories were wrong/harmful doesn't mean we give up on the whole field, therefore don't give up on ABA? but girlypop that's not analogous? ABA is a specific "therapy", the more sensical comparison would be like giving up on all therapy in general, which no one has argued for
--she makes this whole ado about using "and" instead of "but" because "but" is invalidating ~but~ the meaning of the sentence/message remains the same? just because you don't use "but" doesn't mean you're not trying to downplay the harms of ABA? basically, "ABA was harmful in the past but current practices are improving" vs "ABA was harmful in the past and current practices are improving", corporate wants you to spot the difference
--she argues ABA is good because practitioners are able to work with you outside normal working hours? how is that relevant to anything? that's not an exclusive and intrinsic feature of ABA?

-basically the main argument was, sure ABA *can* be harmful, but that was the past/other distant countries, I/people I know are doing it well
--and ~✿☆In My Opinion☆✿~ while the goals of awareness of body and social norms, greater autonomy, alternative coping strategies etc. are good, the current practice of ABA is abusive, and besides, children or people otherwise should not be forced to participate in any sort of "therapy" (caveat: I believe children deserve more rights than most)

uh so yeah 3 stars just watch her shorts for autism education and ignore the ABA advocacy 😵‍💫

[Rye · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you want to gain more perspective on autism, this is a great book. a condensed shorter read, yet full of invaluable information. kaelynn is so good at analogies, too!!

as a behavior technician, AND an autistic person, it's in my best interest to gain perspective from other autistic people, and I feel although our experiences are different, and I have not had the privilege of an early diagnosis, it is still rare for me to find someone who is autistic and also a therapist, and it was amazing to gain a bit of that perspective. the chapter on communication in particular was so beneficial for me. it is something I am constantly working on in my field right now.

also, the existence of this book is inspiring and a reminder I am capable of things I was never thought possible. I was told I was a failure early on in my life. i didn't have an autism diagnosis when i was going through childhood, and it is as Kaelynn says: without the diagnosis label, and even though I had clear academic struggles, I was labeled much worse things.

After rebuilding confidence and self-love a lot later (than i would have liked tbh) even as my realization of autism came late, i now know my calling to advocate for autistic folks as someone with autism is an advantage.

funny enough, i havent even watched love on the spectrum, but i have been actively seeking out autistic content creatives for the sole purpose of perspective prior to becoming involved in autism services, and I found her videos. she is absolutely a trail blazer for the autism community! she puts so much work into her content, and as someone with extremely limited energy myself, I applaud her. I am looking forward to her next book.

[apollo · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are trying to understand autism and autistic culture better, this is a fantastic book to read. The author’s experiences both as a specialist working with autistic clients and as an autistic woman herself makes her voice on the various issues affecting the community indispensable. The chapter on ABA therapy is especially important because of how contentious the debate around it is and how rarely we get to hear from the professionals who actually provide it. I will admit I had a much more negative opinion of ABA going into this based on some misconceptions that were tackled in that section and now I’m glad that I had that opportunity to expand my understanding. You also have to appreciate the last chapter, which contains a pretty substantial list of actions you can take offline, in-person, to improve the lives of the autistic people in your community. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in learning about autism- and I’m very much looking forward to the next book which is supposed to go more in-depth about ABA therapy! Will definitely be keeping an eye out for that.

[Dylan Derryberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 13th book of the year was Life On The Bridge by Kaelynn Partlow! Like many readers I knew Kaelynn from the first season of Love On The Spectrum, and as a parent to an autistic child I’m always searching for relatable stories for some guidance as to what we can expect for Etta as she grows up. As Kaelynn will tell you every individual’s experience is their own, but as a therapist who is also autistic she offers a great perspective on how we can better support our loved ones on the spectrum.

Sometimes our experiences with Etta feel so isolating to navigate, so it was really refreshing to hear Kaelynn’s struggles and successes, alongside anecdotes from her clients as well. Although Kaelynn can be a bit blunt at times, her experiences are ultimately hopeful and exemplary of the support system she’s had and now offers others. It’s a great, breezy read (my copy is covered in highlighted sections) perfect for parents, providers, and more.

“Remember that we can’t build tomorrow’s bridges until we understand today’s barriers.” @kaelynnvp #LoveOnTheSpectrum

[Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a speech language pathologist who frequently works with children on the spectrum. I have ADHD but am not on the autism spectrum myself. As such, I frequently try to read and educate myself more and more about autism. I intimately understand some aspects of neurodivergence from my own experience, but, I don't intimately understand other aspects.

I always found the author's tips and point of view very helpful on her social media, so I immediately decided to give the book a try, and it does not disappoint. I find that there are so many books out there that describe autism but don't offer a lot of actionable advice on what steps to actually DO. This book is rich with both perspective and clear, actionable, direct tips. In fact, I was struggling to make speech therapy sessions effective for one child recently, I enacted some tips from this book, and have made so much more progress. This book should be required reading for speech therapists.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning more about autism from this perspective. If you follow Kaelynn on social media, you'll be delighted by the tone of the book--it has her signature humor and snark and is also very practical. It has so much good stuff, is not very long, and also challenged my perspective and biases. An easy 5 stars for me.

A next-day update: I have already used some suggestions from the book with my autistic child and it worked so well! Kaelynn recommends using statements rather than questions with those who are reluctant to answer--I have seen her recommend that on social media, but it really clicked with how it was explained in the book. I had some big things to discuss with my kiddo, and with using statements instead of questions (anyone who knows me knows just ask questions incessantly 😅) our conversation went really smoothly! Grateful for this game changer.

[Stephanie Dargusch Borders · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Kailynn on Love on the Spectrum so when I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. I’ve been reading books about autism for the past ten years and I appreciated the info Kailynn chose to include and how accessible she made it. She uses a lot of analogies, which works well for me. I was especially interested by the chapter on ABA therapy as I’ve been staunchly opposed to ABA therapy in my own family. This is based off of information from the autistic population in general, however I’ve been more open to the nuance involved and as an ABA therapist that is also autistic, I do value Kailynn’s insight. She’s also a staunch advocate to those with profound autism, which is a group on individuals that is often lost in the conversation.

[Samantha White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as a well-explained introduction into an autistic person’s understanding of the world and how they interact with it. As a late-diagnosed high-masking autistic individual, not every passage applied to me, but I didn’t expect it to. With that being said, there was a lot of wonderful knowledge and advice for things that are relevant in my world. I also think Kaelynn does a really great job of explaining ABA and providing insight for those who are unfamiliar with it. She advocates and applies it in a way that is uniquely her own but in a way that is also very respectful of each autistic person’s experience and I applaud her for that. This is a great educational tool for any autistic person or any support person for an autistic individual.

[Windy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learn the most about autism from autistic people. Kaelynn does a great job weaving her personal examples into explanations. She covers many ways autism can affect a person’s life and makes it make sense. It’s pretty simple once she explains it. As a homeschool mom, the section on accommodation was extremely helpful and affirming. She says, “We all have the same basic human needs. It’s not the needs that are different. The method of meeting the needs might look different, but the needs are the same.” I’ll be keeping the book on hand to reference in the future. I’ve already recommended to another autism mom.

[jenna chackan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a pediatric speech-language pathologist at an ABA center/outpatient therapy facility. As soon as I finished this book, I reccomended it to all of my co-workers. I truly believe that anyone who works with neurodiverse kiddos can learn at least one thing from this book. I loved learning from Kaelynn especially since she has gone through ABA and other therapies as well as currently being a neurodivergent affirming therapist. I also followed the HOPE Foundation on social media and love what they stand for as well!

[Carter Olendzenski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so well written. Partlow navigates hot button issues in a very graceful manner that few can manage. Her wit throughout the book and the ability to laugh at her own mistakes makes this an endearing read packed full with useful information for those who are or for those who work with autistic people. As someone who is autistic, she gave some advice that would definitely help me, but I was not eloquent enough to communicate it. I hope to see more books from her in the future!

[Moon Captain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great advice. hope this helps people, particularly non-autistic adults and caregivers, to understand autistic people and how to communicate with them effectively. every autistic person is TRYING to communicate, I swear to you, not a single one is difficult on purpose. All of them are disabled, yes even the high-functioning ones, meaning trapped in a sort of puzzle, a Hell they are trying to endure and to communicate through. Please be PATIENT and LEARN how to communicate. This book can help! :)

[Lesley Squire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I follow Kaelynn Partlow on social media also, and I love her direct, compassionate, and encouraging approach. My daughter is waiting to be tested for autism, and I work with multiple kids with autism at an elementary school, so I was excited to learn more about how I can best support my young autistic friends. This book confirmed I’m doing some things right and gave me more tools and ideas to use going forward. Very quick and easy to read as well!

[Jordan Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

a well written book for autistic people by an autistic author. As a writer who's autistic, Kaelynn describes the struggles of life on the spectrum eloquently while also giving specific feedback on how to treat clients/children who have autism. Highly re this read to anyone who's autistic or has a family member on the spectrum.

[Anya Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kaelynn, who first captured hearts on Love on the Spectrum, brings that same warmth and authenticity to her book. It is an insightful and valuable read for those on the autism spectrum and for anyone who wants to better understand autism. Her voice is honest and unfiltered, breaking down misconceptions while offering a heartfelt glimpse into her lived experience.