Can people with Autism read minds?

Rarely do I blog, but yesterday I had an experience that I must write about. I am currently working for the Autism Society of NC as a skills instructor. I help people with Autism learn and gain independence with daily living skills. One of the darlings I work with every day, a 16 year old girl,  is very musically inclined. My supervisor placed me with her being that I am a musician and music therapist and have worked with people on the spectrum in the past doing music therapy. Her and I hit it off, and almost a year later, I can honestly say there is mutual love and affection. Yesterday, during my shift with her, we were upstairs in her princess pink bedroom. It felt very warm in her room, which is not unusual. I started to feel flush, nauseous, heart fluttering, and as though I may pass out. I calmly got up from where I was sitting and removed my sweater. The darling girl, whom we shall refer to as Miss B from now on, looked at me and said "You want to lay down.? Normally, this means she wants to lay down. But in this moment, me feeling ill, she was staring right into my eyes. I put her favorite Barney video on and had her lay on her bed. I sat in the doorway, on the floor, where cool air was pouring in. Miss B continued to look at me, and in between repeating the lines of the video, she would say "Hey Meryl" or "You want to lay down."  I got up and told her I needed to use the bathroom, and she could stay on her bed. I used the bathroom and now my heart was fluttering, and I felt more so like I would either vomit or pass out. When I left the bathroom, Miss B had walked downstairs to her mom and dad, who had just gotten home. I came down too and told her mom I wasn't feeling well. I told her my symptoms and her husband, who happens to be an OB/GYN, came out and said it was a blood sugar crash. He got me a granola bar, and she a cold towel for my neck. I sat on the couch. Miss B decided then to be my nurse. She sat next to me, stroked my hair and said in a sweet soothing voice "Hey Meryl." She started to gently rub my knee, which she has never done before. She noticed I was crying a bit and pointed at her own dry eyes, saying, "You want MY eyes"? Miss B started to pace around for a moment, then came up to me giggling, asking me to tickle her feet, then running away laughing. I know in my heart she was trying to get me to laugh and feel better. Her mom, who was tending to me, witnessed these exchanges and said "She knows you don't feel well and is nervous about it." I did not perceive it all as anxiety, but rather, her way of trying to help. When I was feeling better, I went back upstairs to collect my things and again, Miss B asked if I wanted to lay down. I did and she laid next to me. She put her forehead on mine and stared right into my eyes with the largest smile. She started stroking my hair again, saying "Hey Meryl."  Once downstairs, she rubbed the back of my neck, in a mindful, massage therapist-esque way, that sent chills down my spine. She again put her forehead on mine and looked right into my eyes...into my soul.

I don't claim to know much about Autism and what the experiences people on the spectrum have. I can only speculate from my experiences working with autistics over the years and reading others' personal stories. I think Miss B could energetically sense that I was sick. And instead of her going into her "negative" and "attention seeking" behaviors that usually accompany anxiety or shared attention, she came to my aide. I think she was trying to heal me. I know for some reading this, that may be a stretch. I am empathic. I could FEEL her communicating with me. This is a child who would otherwise be view from the outside as moderate to "low" functioning. She doesn't use language the same way neurotypical people do. She has self-injurious behaviors. She loves things that a 3-4 year old would love. And yet, in a moment of need, she came to my rescue.

Super Green Power Shake! inspiried by Kristi!

1/2 banana
1/2 green pear
1/2 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
one scoop vanilla soy protein powder
1 teaspoon raw agave syrup (can use honey or pure maple syrup as well).
1/2 cup baby spinach
1/2 cup kale
1/2 cup almond milk (you can use whatever milk you's like).
1 heaping teaspoon of peanut or almond butter
ice

Blend it all, baby! Wonderful powerhouse breakfast!

Aunt Nonnie's Banana Bread (Gluten and dairy free version)

1/4 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg beaten
1 cup oatmeal (gluten free)
4-5 ripe mashed bananas
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c gluten free All Purpose Flour
2 tps baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease bread pan with coconut oil.

Cream together coconut oil and brown sugar until light and fluffy. (The coconut oil can be softened by putting it in the microwave or leaving it out in 70 degree temp.)

Add egg.
Add oatmeal, banana, and vanilla
Add Dry Indredients, including walnuts

Pour mixture into greased bread pan.

Bake in center of oven for 45-60 minutes, or until tester comes out mostly clean (the banana may still be a little wet).  Let cool in pan for 5-10 minutes, then transfer onto cooling rack.

Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread (with or without dark chocolate chips)

1 1/2 cups gluten free all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin (from a 15 ounce can)
1/2 cup vegetable oil ( I use olive)
2 large eggs
1-2 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 c Raw pumpkin Seeds (optional)
1/2 c Dark or Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (optional)

Put oven in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Grease bread pan (I use coconut oil).

Whisk together pumpkin, oil, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl until smooth, then whisk in flour mixture until just combined. If adding pumkin seeds and or chocolate chips, add now.

Pour batter into bread pan.
Bake 45-50 minutes, until wooden pick or skewer inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.

Cool in pan on a rack five minutes, then transfer bread from pan to rack and cool to warm or room temperature.

Gluten and Dairy Free Banana Peanut Butter Coconut Muffins

1 1/2 cups Gluten Free All Purpose Flour
1/2 cup oats
2 tsp Baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

4 ripe mashed bananas
1/2 cup unflavored soymilk
1 large egg (slightly beaten)
2 tbls Veggie oil (I use olive)
1/4 c real maple syrup
1/2 c peanut butter (your choice chunk vs smooth, sweet/unsweet)
1/2 cup coconut flakes
1/4-1/2 tsp almond extract

Preheat over to 400 degrees F
grease muffin tins (I use coconut oil)
Yeilds 12 muffins

Mash bananas in a large bowl. Add soy milk, egg , oil, almond extract, peanut butter, maple syrup, and most of the coconut flakes (leave some aside for the muffin tops). Mix until combined evenly.

In another bowl mix all dry ingredients together.

Add dry to wet until mixed evenly.
Pour into muffin tins.  Sprinkle left over coconut flakes on top (optional).

Bake for 20 minutes or until the centers come out clean on the tester.

Chocolate Cherry Shake - Vegan and Gluten Free

1/2 Bag frozen organic cherries
1 heaping Tbs almond butter
2 Tbs raw Cocoa powder
1 tsp melted coconut oil
2 cups almond milk
1 squirt of agave

Put everything in the blender except the coconut oil.
Blend slowly. If mixture to thin, add more cherries.
If mixture is too thick, add more almond milk.
While mixing, slowly put coconut oil into blender.

Sprinkle cocoa powder or add cherry at the top for garnish!

SAVOR THE LOVE

Tempeh and Sweet Potato Hash with Red Quinoa - Vegan and Gluten Free!

8-10 small shallots, chopped

1 large sweet potato/yam, sliced into thin cubes (like little square potato chips).
 
2-3 tbs grated ginger

3-5 cloves Garic, chopped fine

3/4 C. Frozen of Fresh Edamamae

1/2 block Tempeh, chopped finely


handful of sliced almonds

handful of raisins

soy sauce to taste

coconut and sesame oil for sauteing

curry powder (of your choice) to taste

1 cup red quinoa


QUINOA: 2:1 ratio water to grain, place 2 cups water in a pot and add 1 cup red quinoa. Bring to a boil, then turn the heat or flame to medium/medium-low. Takes about 14-15 minutes.

Tempeh and Sweet Potato Hash:
Over medium heat, saute shallots, ginger, and garlic in sesame and coconut oil until shallots are clear.

Add sweet potato slices.

When sweet potatoes start to brown, add edamame.

Add soy sauce to taste, and cover the pan you are using for 3-5 minutes.

Add chopped tempeh and drizzle coconut oil and soy sauce. Stir!

Add almonds and raisins

Sprinkle Curry powder

MIX!

Let satuee for a bit longer, til potatoes and raisins are soft, ten remove from heat.

Serve tempeh and sweet potatoes over quinoa or mix them together! Either way, it's delicious!

ENJOY!!