AUTISM ADVOCACY
Asperger's Expert Wants
a World Where People with
Autism Fulfill Their Dreams
pire toward their dreams. Under
the program, a team of psychol-
ogists, therapists, education-
al consultants, and parenting
coaches who specialize on the
lifespan of the spectrum provide
a continuum of services and ex-
periences across the lifespan of
their patients and clients.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Dr. Gaskill
is extremely proud of cofounding
Southeast Psych and helping the
practice expand its operations
across the United States and
around the world. The practice
currently has offices in Nashville,
Tennessee, Charlotte, North Car-
olina, and New Zealand. Dr. Gas-
kill said his practice has success-
fully established an atmosphere
of fun and special experiences
in their offices in an effort to en-
courage and uplift their patients
and clients.
Dr. Gaskill also helped create the
program called Aspire in order
to provide a space for families
on the autism spectrum disorder
(ASD) to thrive, find joy, and as-
Among the various activities
they conducted under the Aspire
initiative are group programs
for social skills developments,
marriage therapy for couples on
the spectrum, parenting confer-
ences, in-home parenting sup-
port, Cosplay summer camps,
and the Lego and video game
programs. In 2017, the program
successfully held its inaugural
AspieCon event that featured
panelists, therapeutic animals,
Dungeons & Dragons, and Cos-
players. According to Dr. Gaskill,
AspieCon was a “huge event cel-
ebrating the spectrum.”
In his own practice in Charlotte,
NC, Dr. Gaskill has also intro-
duced programs and activities
he is very proud of. Among these
is the establishment of a special
space for people on the spectrum
called “The Zone.” In the space,
which is surrounded by a myriad
of spectrum interests like Legos,
Dungeons & Dragons, and Mine-
craft, both clients and non-cli-
ents can socialize with each oth-
38 | Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 68
AUTISM WARRIOR:
Dr. Frank Gaskill
Dr. Gaskill is cofounder of
Southeast Psych, one of the
biggest psychology prac-
tices in the United States.
The practice employs more
than 50 clinicians who are
always ready to provide the
services needed by their pa-
tients. Dr. Gaskill specializes
in the treatment of autism
and Asperger’s syndrome.
er and be celebrated. “The Zone”
also features a hostess who is an
Aspergirl and professional Cos-
player. Dr. Gaskill said their host-
ess has more than 53 costumes
that she uses in entertaining her
audience, and their clients love
her very much. Those who want
to know more about Dr. Gaskill’s
practice and The Zone can visit
Southeastpsych.com.
As a writer, Dr. Gaskill is very
proud of the graphic novel he
co-authored titled Max Gamer: I
Am a Superhero. This comic cele-
brates the life of a little boy who
feels very alone as he is not well-
liked and does not understand
he is on the spectrum. In the end,
however, he discovers he has su-
perpowers and is loved by the
whole community.
Dr. Gaskill is also proud of the
fact that the majority of people
in Charlotte have changed their
understanding and approach
to children with autism in the
past 15 years. From being ostra-