My Story | Carrie-Ann Lightley

Carrie-Ann Lightley sits in a manual wheelchair on a smooth outdoor path, smiling at the camera. She is wearing glasses, a layered jacket in purple and rust tones, a long skirt, and trainers. Behind her, a wooden boardwalk stretches across open grassland towards the water under a clear sky.

My
Story

Hello! I'm Carrie-Ann Lightley, a disabled travel writer, speaker and accessibility consultant based in the UK.

My work sits at the intersection of travel, storytelling and accessibility. These days I split my time between writing for national publications, speaking at industry events, creating content with destinations and brands, and helping organisations communicate about accessibility more thoughtfully.

When people see the travel photos, they sometimes assume my life is permanently glamorous. The reality is quite different and offers a funny contrast.

I live in the Lake District, where my ideal Sunday involves the garden, a book and a bit of quiet after a busy trip. I love reading, learning and noticing the small details that later turn into stories.

I travel as a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy and complex PTSD, and like many disabled travellers, I've experienced both the magic and the messiness of accessible travel.

The moments where everything works and the world opens up. And the moments where it really doesn't. That mix of joy, frustration and curiosity is what first pushed me to start writing.

Carrie-Ann Lightley sits indoors wearing a soft pink hooded top with heart patterns, smiling gently at the camera. A small brown and white dog rests beside her, leaning on her arm, with warm lighting and a cosy home setting in the background.

Carrie-Ann Lightley takes a selfie with her husband Darren beside her, both smiling. She is wearing sunglasses and a black t-shirt, while he wears glasses and a white t-shirt. Behind them is a grand historic building and an open square under a cloudy sky.

What began as a personal blog grew into something much bigger than I expected. Over the years I've written for national publications, collaborated with tourism boards and travel brands, and spoken at conferences across the industry. I've also been recognised through awards and nominations along the way.

Now, I get to work with a growing range of clients who want to better understand disabled audiences and create more inclusive experiences.

Awards and recognitions include:

Winner | Inclusivity Angel 2025 - TravYule-TheBaubles
Finalist | Travel Media Awards 2025 - Accessible Travel Writer of the Year
Finalist | TravMedia Awards 2025 - Diversity Champion of the Year
Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 - listed 2019-2023

Carrie-Ann Lightley sits in a wheelchair on stage, speaking and smiling while holding notes and a presentation remote. She is wearing a patterned dress and a headset microphone, with colourful lighting and decorative interior details behind her, suggesting a live event or talk.

Public speaking is one of the biggest surprises in my story. For a long time, I hated it. The idea of sitting on stage terrified me. But I realised that sharing lived experience in those spaces could genuinely shift how people think about accessibility - and now it's one of the parts of my work I enjoy most.

I also deliver inclusive storytelling training and consultancy, drawing on both lived experience and a professional background in marketing and communications.

Before going freelance, I spent 7 years working as a marketing and communications lead in the disability sector. That experience still shapes the way I work today - helping organisations move beyond good intentions towards clearer, more authentic communication.

Behind the scenes, this work is rarely solo. Friends and my husband often travel with me, helping capture content, navigate new places and make the logistics a little smoother. That support network is a huge part of why I'm able to do what I do.

At the heart of it all is a simple belief: disabled people belong in travel as our whole selves.

Accessible travel isn't always easy, and it certainly isn't perfect yet - but it is possible, and it is always worth it. If my work helps someone feel seen, gives a disabled traveller the confidence to book a trip, or helps an organisation think about accessibility differently, then it's doing exactly what it was meant to do.

Thanks for being here. I'm really glad you found your way to this corner of the internet.

Carrie-Ann Lightley sits in a power wheelchair outdoors in a grassy field, smiling at the camera. She is joined by a group of women and a young girl standing beside her, all wearing casual summer clothes and sunglasses. The scene is set against open countryside with trees and a partly cloudy sky.

Travelling Lightley

Get occasional updates, new writing and reflections on accessible travel, straight to your inbox.

Carrie-Ann Lightley sits in a wheelchair against a neutral beige background, smiling at the camera. She is wearing glasses, a grey and black leopard print jumper, and jeans, with her hands resting comfortably on her lap and wheelchair controls.