I was born on the Autism Spectrum.  From the age of seven, I began to exhibit symptoms of generalized anxiety. At the age of nine, I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.  I switched elementary schools and was enrolled in a Central Improvement Plan {CIP) classroom setting with PARA professional support in a few mainstream classes.  My parents sought out a trusted network of counselors, psychiatrists, educators, and family and friends to help me identify my strengths and weakness.  By the time I reached high school, I absolutely knew I wanted to pursue a career in the theatre, but I didn't exactly know the path to take.  

 

Living with a learning disability is a struggle, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.  It drives me to build character off stage that I can insert into the characters I portray on stage.  I still have significant insecurities that push me to be a more coherent and patient communicator open to constructive criticism. One strength that I attribute to my autism is my memory for faces, dates, places, trivia and objects. I love to use my memory to start a conversation and make a connection.

 

The message may be stated differently from time to time, but the main concept is always essentially the same: thanks to greater understanding in behavioral observations among the scientific community and awarness raised and recognized by the general public, we now know that many of the world's greatest thinkers, may have had (and still have) undiagnosed learning disabilities which caused great challenges in their lives, but ultimately didn't stop them from utilizing the ingenuity to change the world.  I endeavor to join the large number of these individuals who overcame their obstacles and revolutionized their fields.  

 

Stereotypes of Aspergers Syndrome, other Autism Spectrum disorders, and disability are not as well-documented, depicted, or assumed as are those of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, and political status, but they do exist in all walks of life- often when you least expect.  Through my work with the Autism Society of Minnesota and Stepping Stone Theatre, I have begun to integrate collegiate level performance practices, team-building games, and other techniques geared toward breaking these stereotypes and allowing for different, individualized learning approaches.

 

Theatre is a team experience and no part is too small to complete the entire puzzle of the production.  However, theatre can be quite an intimidating puzzle to some people, perhaps so much that they may simply start to believe that they are "unqualified" to act, sing, or dance.  Everyone has a talent and deserves to be on a stage at least once in life.