National accolade for Bedale-based autistic author who champions neurodivergent inclusion in the travel industry

A former Ripon Grammar School student has received national recognition at the Houses of Parliament for championing neurodivergent inclusion in the travel industry.

Autistic author and accessible travel advocate Allie Mason, from Bedale, was presented with the award at the Institute of Travel & Tourism’s Summer Party at the Houses of Parliament in London last month.

“Hidden disabilities like mine are still too easily misunderstood, overlooked or treated as an afterthought,” she said.

"Receiving the ITT Trailblazer of the Year award means a great deal to me because it recognises that neurodivergent accessibility belongs at the centre of the travel industry’s inclusion agenda.

"I’m working to change that by turning my personal experience into public understanding, and public understanding into practical action.”

Allie, who attended Ripon Grammar School and was the guest speaker at its 2023 prize-giving ceremony, now works to bridge the gap between neurodivergent travellers and an industry that’s still learning to meet their need.

She has helped bring neurodivergent travel into wider public and industry conversations through national journalism, trade-facing guidance and her forthcoming book for Jessica Kingsley Publishers, a neurodivergent guide to travel.

The book builds on her first title, The Autistic Guide to Adventure, and responds to a significant gap in the market for practical, lived-experience-led guidance.

The Trailblazer of the Year award is part of the ITT Future You Awards and recognises an individual who has championed diversity, equality and inclusion within their organisation, the wider industry or education.

Allie Mason said: "Growing up in the Yorkshire Dales gave me a real love of exploring and the outdoors, and it has brought things full circle to be recognised nationally for work that started with wanting to make that same sense of adventure accessible to everyone."

The new award at Westminster follows Allie’s selection for the TTG 30 Under 30 2025/26 programme, which recognised her as one of the travel industry’s emerging leaders.

Together, the two accolades reflect the growing reach of her work and the increasing recognition that access needs are not always physical, visible or easy to disclose.