Alex Orsak knows the loneliness felt by people with forms of autism.
Newswise — The communication major at Mississippi State University has one of them: Asperger's syndrome. For much of his life, the Memphis, Tenn., sophomore has struggled with social awkwardness and anxiety.
April is Autism Awareness Month. Many people with autism spectrum disorders describe their experience as something akin to living in their own world, struggling to find ways to let in others.
For Orsak, the most prominent characteristic of Asperger's syndrome relates to the constant struggle to make and keep friends. Growing up in the river city, the struggle became a pattern that made him lonely. He'd make a joke that wasn't considered funny or say something inappropriate.
"I don't read people very well," he said. "I can't understand what people are thinking."
Researchers continue to search for clues to the causes of autism and related disorders. Currently, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show that one in 88 children has been identified with an autism spectrum disorder, a 78 percent increase since the federal agency released its first autism report in 2007.
Most scientists studying autism seem to agree that there is no single cause. Rather, their investigations suggest both genetic and non-genetic factors. From birth to five years old, any developmental milestone delay in how a child plays, learns, speaks, and acts could signal an autism-related disability.
For Orsak, life gets easier when he's acting, whether on a stage or in real life. He began speaking in unusual voices as a child and later in high school found theater to be a helpful outlet. Since enrolling at MSU in 2010, he has taken part in theater productions each semester.
"I play a character to help socialize," he explained. "Ever since I gained confidence on stage, I'm in my zone."
Finding his place on stage helped him build confidence to face other social situations. As he continued to cope better, Orsak also started to consider others with similar experiences.
Earlier this semester, he and some other students, along with veteran faculty member Sandy Devlin, founded Jigsaw, a campus organization aimed at raising autism awareness and understanding. Devlin also is a professor in the College of Education's curriculum, instruction and special education department.
Membership in the new group includes both college- and high school-age students. Many of the approximately 70 members are education majors. In addition to members with autism, the organization includes others who simply are interested in helping.
Molly Jobe, a special education sophomore from Huntsville, Ala., said she joined the group because of the increased prevalence of students with forms of autism. Bringing awareness about autism to future teachers can prepare them better for their classroom experience, she said.
"Anytime we can reach out to people who may otherwise struggle is important," said Jobe, an officer in Jigsaw.
Recently, the organization held "Autism Out Loud," a public event in which people with autism or personal knowledge of it shared their stories. In addition to Devlin, speakers included an MSU faculty member who has a child with autism and parents of a child with Asperger's, among others.
As Orsak can testify, students with autism always will struggle in certain situations. Undaunted, however, he has chosen to embrace what makes him different by mastering more than 80 of those cartoon voices created in his childhood.
"I'm constantly trying to perfect the voices," the aspiring voice actor said. "I want to be the next Rich Little."
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