Ashley Lyn Olson

Ashley Lyn Olson was an all-star student athlete when, at age fourteen, a paralyzing car accident took away her beloved father and her ability to walk. Eight years later she graduated with honors from the University of Southern California, where she received a full academic scholarship. The events recorded in this book took place approximately ten years after the initial accident that paralyzed her, and now, ten years later, she shares her story of being confined to aligning her wellbeing.

In 2006, Olson created wheelchairtraveling.com, and today, it’s a leading resource that empowers people and their loved ones to access the world of leisure and adventure travel. Growing up camping and hiking, the Access 2 Parks Project (#access2parks) is also a passion project, and available on her website for all national, state and regional parks that are wondering how to create accessibility in parks.

In addition to National Geographic, AAA Magazine and the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Ashley Lyn Olson, has been featured in New Mobility Magazine (United Spinal Association), Hindustan Times Newspaper (India), PN News Magazine, Able Outdoors, National Seating & Mobility Magazine, Revista Reação (Brazil), and Life in Action Magazine. Olson has given many speeches at various conferences, universities, expeditions, and medical institutions, like John Hopkins Hospital, Saint Mary’s College and the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She has also been interviewed on the “Right to Write” for World Paris Radio, and a number of podcasts including “Positive Exposure Connects” in New York, “Conversations with Creative Women”, “Pod Save the Rest of Us”, “The Write Reflection”, “Power to Change”, “Tokyo Podcast”, and “Define Yourself Podcast.”