White iced chocolate cake, root beer, and butterscotch sundaes are delightful treats for everyone, but to someone who spent five nights lost, alone, cold and hungry in the Adirondack Mountains, they taste better than ever imagined. 

Before we continue with our story, we need a little background information. Autism, or autism spectrum disorder, referred to as ASD, is a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. There are many subtypes of autism, presenting a unique set of strengths and challenges for each affected individual. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that autism affects an estimated 1 in 54 children in the United States, and its impact is likely lifelong. 

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