With Autism Spectrum Disorders affecting boys four times as often as girls, sometimes I worry that most of our featured blog and guest blog posts focus primarily on males with ASD. But, we at AutismSpot realize that raising a girl with autism can bring certain unique challenges for families; that’s why I’m so excited to introduce our next Guest Blogger – Julie Hornok! Julie is a bright, engaging and active mom of three, whose only daughter happens to live with autism. Please help me welcome Julie as she shares her first Guest Blog post below.

Happy Independence Day to our readers in the United States of America! I am very thankful to be an American and grateful for the freedoms I have enjoyed throughout my life thanks to the sacrifices of all those who fought for our independence (so long ago) and those who have fought to maintain it since that time. I don’t take freedom or independence for granted.
Like so many families raising a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), I frequently wonder what the future will hold for Ethan in terms of independence…and when I stop to ponder, I wonder about the future – not just for Ethan, but other children of Ethan’s generation, especially those affected by ASD.
On this journey, I’ve come to meet so many families working day-and-night just to help their child with ASD gain independence in areas families with typical children may never even give a second thought to…
For all families raising children with ASD, today I’m sending prayers and wishes for the children’s independence this Independence Day specifically concerning:

Yesterday, one of AutismSpot’s own Featured Bloggers, Psychologist Dr. Robert Naseef, flew through DFW after spending the weekend leading a conference for parents in El Paso. AutismSpot’s visionary Kent Potter took this opportunity to turn Dr. Naseef’s layover into some on-camera time with Dr. Naseef. I was fortunate enough to participate.
Dr. Naseef not only works with families raising children with ASD in the Philidelphia area, he also has an adult son with Autism. I heard Dr. Naseef speak last summer when he hosted a Father’s Panel at the annual conference hosted by the Autism Society. Dr. Naseef is very knowledgeable and forthcoming about what life is like for our families and ways to handle stress and make life better.

Having choices in life is a luxury. Choosing what you will eat for breakfast, what career you will pursue, which friends you will keep up with over time are luxuries that some with Autism will never know. Choices.
Let's consider some of the different parenting profiles that exist and the choices parents make that give them one of these labels. Although this isn't an exhaustive list (because I made it up), it captures a fair amount of the different profiles that represent parenting styles we see every day.
There is the parent that is...
1) over scheduled and likes to tell the world

Hi! I am the mother of a beautiful 15 year old girl on the spectrum. Frankie's strengths are reading, vocabulary, spelling and Music.
We live in Augusta, WV. Frankie attends public school with a One-on-One Autism Mentor Aide that is certified through the WV State Board of Education. Frankie receives PT, OT and Speech weekly during the school year as part of her IEP. Frankie also is a Title 19 Waiver receipt along with SSI.

No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.

Helen Keller

We kicked off a new Dads Coffee this weekend. This new group came to us via the
Dallas Morning News Article that ran a few weeks back.
The funny part of the article is:
1) only one Dad in our initial gaggle is from Frisco (4 Allen, 1 Frisco, 1 Dallas)
2) we have never met in a Frisco, TX Starbucks. (It is typically Allen, TX)
3) we don't sit in booths...not enough room for guys our size

It is frustrating to be at a loss for words in an important situation. This happens to everyone at some point in life. You are trying to make a good impression during a job interview, maybe you just met someone of great importance, you have the chance to finally talk to that girl you have been wanting to meet, or you are just trying to say thank you when someone grabbed you a bottle of water from the cooler after a game. Wait a minute.

This video covers what it was like for me and Nancy in the beginning. From diagnosis to today, Autism has been a journey that has changed our life.