An Upstate-based autism advocate and former “Love on the Spectrum” cast member recently released her first book, a practical guide to understanding autism that pulls from her experience as an autistic adult and an autism therapist.
Kaelynn Partlow is best known for her time on season one of Netflix’s Emmy Award-winning show “Love on the Spectrum,” as well as her prominence on social media as an autism educator. Her book, “Life on the Bridge: Linking My World to Yours as an Autistic Therapist,” aims to provide real skills to autistic individuals and their support systems.
“This book is intended to go beyond an explanation of what autism looks like, or feels like, and focus more on what actually helps,” Partlow says. “From my social media work, I have an idea of the thousands of people who are looking for actionable information, so it is extremely gratifying to have the opportunity to provide that information in more nuanced detail than I could ever do in 30-second chunks.”
While Partlow has over 800 thousand followers across her social media platforms, many of her fans may not know that she has worked as a registered behavioral technician in the Upstate for several years. She moved to the area when she was seven and first gained interest in autism advocacy as a teenaged client at Project Hope Foundation, a local autism service provider.
“I attended programs offered by [Project Hope] and saw firsthand the impact of advocacy and services,” Partlow said. “They recognized my interest and created an apprenticeship pathway to get me into the field.”
Now the lead therapist at Project Hope, Partlow says her career has allowed her to work with many clients over the years providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. Her clients have ranged in age from toddlers to young adults and all have various accommodation needs. Some work on basic communication skills, while others prepare for independent employment.
“I’ve enjoyed each of [my] clients, but I am now really excited about my focus on Project Hope’s social media platforms and advocacy, which allows me to help a broader group than when I was working one-on-one with a client,” Partlow added.
Part of her efforts to reach a broader audience is the publication of her book, which was officially released by HarperCollins on Tuesday. In partnership with Hub City Bookshop, Spartanburg County Public Libraries brought Partlow to the Headquarters Library on Wednesday for a book signing — a unique chance for Partlow to get to speak to a crowd of fellow locals.
The signing accompanied a conversation with Lisa Lane, one of the Co-Founders of Project Hope Foundation. The pair answered questions that were submitted prior to the event, touching on Partlow’s career and advice for other autistic individuals.
Partlow answered each question while also noting that she herself is still learning and growing with time. She compares herself to a caterpillar undergoing metamorphosis, continuing to work on skills while also helping others.
“I’m not the butterfly yet,” she told the large crowd in the library. “I’m very much the caterpillar.”
While still “the caterpillar,” Partlow continues to make a mark on the lives of others, both online and off. For additional information on Project Hope and its services, visit its website.
“Life on the Bridge” can be purchased online on Amazon. Copies of the book are also available at the Hub City Bookshop in Spartanburg.
