Family Values Guide Advocacy

Dennis “Blair” Harrold (BS’70, OD’71) and his wife, Alice, are the proud parents of Adrian Wood, PhD, educator and co-author of the New York Times best-selling book, Autism Out Loud: Life with a Child on the Spectrum, from Diagnosis to Young Adulthood.

Dr. Harrold received both his BS and OD degrees from The Ohio State University. After graduating, he and Alice moved to North Carolina and joined an established practice. As he describes, “The distinct southern culture and dialect in North Carolina were definite learning curves for this Ohio optometrist. My first patients would say, ‘I can’t ZON it,’ requiring an assistant born and raised in the south to interpret that as meaning, ‘I can’t SEE it!’ when looking at the eye chart!”

With resilience and a sense of humor, Rocky Mount, NC, became a welcoming place that he and his wife call home. He adapted to life in the South and grew his practice into a multi-location, integrated lab, managed care, and buying group organization. At the same time, he and Alice raised their two children, Adam and Adrian. The family experienced profound loss when their son Adam died of cancer at the age of 19. Dr. Harrold says Adrian’s strength in the years that followed helped hold the family together. “She has the unique ability to find joy when sorrow seems to reign,” he says. “That has made her the remarkable woman she is today.”

Raised in Rocky Mount, Adrian describes her childhood as joyful and deeply rooted in family. She credits her parents’ willingness to move south and build a life in a new community as an early lesson in courage and ambition. “I think it made me aware that success often requires big leaps,” she says. “Sometimes sacrifices are necessary for the betterment of the next generation.” Many of her afternoons were spent in her father’s optometry office, where her mother also worked in the early years. “It was an integral part of my childhood,” she says.

Adrian attended Meredith College, where she studied child development. She later earned a master’s degree in education and early intervention from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed her PhD in educational research at North Carolina State University. Her résumé reflects the many roles she has embraced along the way. “You’ll find preschool teacher, nanny, children’s ski instructor, early interventionist, college professor, early childhood researcher, wife, and full-time mama,” she says with a smile.

She and her husband are raising four children, and it is her youngest son, Amos, who ultimately inspired her work as a writer and advocate.

In 2016, Adrian launched her blog, Tales of an Educated Debutante, initially as a way to document her family’s journey after Amos was diagnosed with autism. As she describes it, the blog offers “personal glimpses where satire meets truth, faith meets irony, despair meets joy—and this educated debutante escapes the laundry and finds true meaning in graceful transparency.”

When Amos was first diagnosed, Adrian found that resources and guidance were limited, even for someone with professional training in early childhood development.

Adrian also realized that sharing her story openly helped build understanding within her community. “I couldn’t stand the thought of people whispering about our fourth child,” she says. “So I decided to put out the facts so there would be no room for speculation.” That openness has helped create a supportive environment for Amos and the entire family.

In 2025, Adrian joined fellow writers Carrie Cariello and Kate Swenson to co-author the book, Autism Out Loud: Life with a Child on the Spectrum, from Diagnosis to Young Adulthood. The book debuted on CBS’s Morning Show and soon appeared on The New York Times Best Sellers list.

Adrian says the project grew out of conversations the three women had online as they shared their experiences raising children with autism. “My goal for the book was to share information that I wished had been available to me in those early days,” she says.

Adrian emphasizes that autism affects the entire family—not just the child. “It’s not just a focus on the child with autism,” she says. “We have an autism family.” Her three neurotypical children are growing up with an understanding of autism and a deep respect for the unique strengths and challenges it brings.

For families beginning their own journeys, Adrian offers a message of encouragement, “It will be hard, but you can do hard things.”

Adrian credits her parents with instilling in her a deep respect for education and hard work, values that continue to guide her career and advocacy.

Dr. Harrold extends credit to his alma mater as well.

“Education was always esteemed by The Ohio State University and our optometry profession. As Buckeyes, we carry that with us, striving to be the best version of ourselves, whether in our profession or other pursuits,” he says. “Helping our children understand the importance of always striving, no matter their goals or the challenges they encounter, is essential to becoming the best they can be in this God-given journey called life.”

Through her writing, research, and advocacy, Adrian Wood continues to support families navigating the complex and often emotional journey of raising a child with autism. Inspired by the values her parents modeled—education, perseverance, and compassion—she has transformed personal experience into a powerful voice for understanding and hope.