The Spiritual Perspective of Autism: Part 1, Speechless
By Dr. Elle E. Wallace, December 2021
“The angels are so enamored of the language that is spoken in heaven that they will not distort their lips with the hissing and unmusical dialects of men, but speak their own, whether there be any who understand or not.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
I oversaw hospital sites for an internship training program that prepared young students with autism, down syndrome, and intellectual disabilities to get their first jobs. Each student reported to a classroom of twelve peers varying cognitive and motor skill levels. The criteria to graduate was successfully completing three rotations in different hospital departments each quarter for a year. The completion of the program included a working resume with tasks from the internships, interview skills, and self-confidence. Upon graduation, they were eligible for my coaching services.
Most students had significant cognitive impairment and were dependent on social security and their parents. The possibility of leading an independent life and working a paying job was a dream come true for them. I believe in the power of the subconscious mind when connected to the Universal Intelligence, the life force that flows through all creation; anything and everything is possible. I created workshops to manifest the job they wanted by making vision boards and visualization exercises. To reach all the students, I related visualization manifestation to daydreaming. If their favorite hobby was basketball, I had them imagine what it felt like to shoot the ball in the basket. Once conceptualized, I had them imagine working at their dream job. Where were they? What did it feel like to be there? What was their favorite task? These answers were reflected in their vision boards that acted as my guide to connect with those companies to start the manifestation process. We were on this unfounded journey together where the roles often reversed, and they became my teachers.
Although I loved all my clients, LeBron stole my heart. He was ASD Level 3 severe deficit in verbal communication skills. The energy of his smile overcompensated for unspoken words. LeBron was the sunshine on an ordinary day. He was able to verbalize keywords, "Hello," "Have a good day," "Ok," and “Mmmmhmmm” followed up with a thumbs up and a smile. Being in his presence was like floating on a cloud enveloped by angel wings. I was delighted to have LeBron assigned as one of my clients. Because he was nonverbal, I needed to find creative ways to present him to employers. His strength was in motor skills, organization, and ability to follow directions. He thrived around people, and they positively responded to him. I believe that his elevated frequency raised the vibration of people who were lucky to flow in his angelic orbit. If there was an EEG scanner on my brain around LeBron, there’s no doubt it would be a replica of brain waves of someone in a meditative state. I was on a mission to discover why he had such a profound effect on me and everyone around him.
Some of my colleagues at the hospital site were lost in their mundane tasks transfused by their phones, oblivious to the presence before them, but I knew LeBron was special. Years later, I can still see his smiling face, and if my life should suddenly end, I know he is the purest soul to ever walk on this Earth. I was blessed to have known him. Now it was time to find LeBron his first job. We were faced with several rejections due to being nonverbal. I discovered he loved jazz music as we often listened to dropping him home from the interviews. I noticed his hands formed drumsticks beating to the rhythm of the music. How can you not smile? Driving home, I prayed and asked the Universe to help find LeBron a job. A few days later, one of my colleagues came up with a brilliant solution, a video resume showing his skills performed at different rotations in the hospital. I felt the pull to go back to the grocery store a few blocks from his home and show the manager his video resume. The assistant manager who liked LeBron let me know that a new manager was recently hired, and she will set up another interview with him. The following week as LeBron and I entered the store for his interview, the kind of jazz music he loved was playing over the speakers. I knew that was a synchronistic sign. This was his job.
As we walked to the back of the store to the manager’s office, LeBron was in rare form, saying hi to everyone as if he had already worked there, impressing the manager. He even went up to the person stocking shelves offering to help. Showing the manager, he could do the job. It was as if he was being guided by an invisible source telling him what to do. The manager smiled at LeBron and got his attention to walk with us to his office. I showed him the video resume and explained LeBron was nonverbal. However, he did pick up on social queues, can take direction, and had good motor skills. The manager asked LeBron, “Would you like to work here?” LeBron flashed his beautiful smile and a thumbs up. There was one obstacle, he would have to work every other Sunday, the one day, his mother would disapprove as it was going to church with the family. I would sooner jump out of a plane, naked, and watch it back in front of thousands of commentators rather than confront LeBron’s mother about Church. But here we were, decline the job offer or try to get mama to compromise.
We drove up the block to his house. His mother opened the door to us, LeBron walked in first, looked back at me nodded his head as if to say, “good luck.” Mama and I sat down. We discussed the good news about the job offer and proposed that he work every other Sunday. At first, she was highly against it, but my spirit told me not to back down. I blurted out, “Is Lebron always in a good mood? Does he ever have a bad day or get depressed?” Caught off guard trying to find the angle, Mama responded, “No, he is always happy. LeBron was born with a permanent smile. He is God’s gift to us. He didn’t cry as a baby, and he doesn’t cry now.” At that moment, it became clear why his energy vibrated on an elevated frequency that had such a profound effect on me and everyone around him. He continually connected to the light of God that expanded his capacity of only love and gratitude. I professed, “What if that was his gift? He was a walking church and brought God to everywhere he went?” Mama glared, “What?”
Speak up.” I told her I didn’t mean to say that out loud. I felt spirit blurt the words out of my mouth again. His mama surprisingly said, “That’s a good point. Ok, LeBron will take the job. No graveyard shifts and only two Sundays a month.” I gave her a big hug, she slightly chuckled, “Ok— ok, enough with that now.” I told her how special LeBron is to me and has made a lifelong impact. She thanked me for the kind words. I went back to the store to get his employment paperwork ready to sign.
Before I drove off, I looked back at the small rundown house that people bypass every day, having no idea that an angel lives there as a catalyst to an abundance of love and light to our planet. Thank you, LeBron, and all the evolved souls that chose to embody the form of autism and other neurodiverse minds that make our world a better place. You are our teachers. I’m grateful to you.
Part 1
https://www.elleewallace.com/post/the-spiritual-perspective-of-autism-part-1-speechless
Part 2
https://www.elleewallace.com/post/the-spiritual-perspective-of-autism-part-1-speechless
Part 3