Interseting article.
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| Fri, 03-30-2007 - 1:09pm |
Remember the chit chatabout True Life and trying to place one of the boys featured in the show. Here is an article about him
Rina
(Note – Elijah is the son of our Spring conference keynote speaker, Valerie Paradiz, and the subject of her wonderful book Elijah’s Cup – for more information go to www.ahaNY.org )
For young comedian with Asperger's syndrome, laughter is the best medicine
By Kathryn Heidecker, Freeman staff
http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18140680&BRD=1769&PAG=461&dept_id=74958&rfi=6
03/29/2007
Elijah Wapner
WOODSTOCK - Slouching in jeans and a hooded sweatshirt, Elijah Wapner looks like a typical 16-year-old, but his determination to become a successful stand-up comedian with Asperger's syndrome has made him the focus of a documentary now airing on MTV.
The documentary, "True Life: I Have Autism," follows three young adults dealing with autism and shows its effects on their lives. The first two teenagers profiled in the documentary are Jeremy, 17, and Jonathan, 19, who have cases of autism severe enough that that it impinges on most parts of their daily routines. Wapner, however, has Asperger's, a high-functioning type of autism that can be nearly invisible to people who don't know about autism spectrum disorders. Asperger's is a neurological condition identified by a difference in language and communication skills.
During the filming in mid-January, Wapner had a chance to showcase his comedy skills during a Las Vegas comedy festival and was encouraged to incorporate jokes about his condition into a five-minute routine for the first time. Before the documentary was made, Wapner's routine was devoid of any mention of Asperger's or autism.
Wapner's mother, Valerie Paradiz, is director of education at the Asperger Institute at New York University's Child Study Center and penned a memoir, "Elijah's Cup," about life with Wapner. Wapner's father, Kenny Wapner, works in publishing. Still, the teen says his parents were protective about him incorporating autism into his stand-up show.
"I think they were nervous about me doing it, but when I decided to do it ... they went for the ride," Wapner said.
Wapner, too, had misgivings translating the neurological disorder into a joke. "I was afraid the audience would judge me," he said. After running through some possible jokes (like My parents tell me I have autism; I say they have an attitude problem"), Wapner decides he feels comfortable enough to bring his amended show to the stage.
"I wanted to make it my own," he said.
In the documentary, Wapner's first performance with his new routine elicits some hearty laughs from the crowd.
The new twist on his comedy set has also changed the way Wapner views his time on stage. He now considers it entertainment but also educational. "I think it helps people understand what autism is," he said. "Sure, there are some people who aren't going to get it ... but it's a good way to teach a lot of people."
Performing comedy can be somewhat addicting - "It's a rush," Wapner said - but he is at a loss for words when asked to describe the feeling he gets making people laugh. His first live performance was at the Colony Café in Woodstock at age 13, when he recited lines from joke books. He started writing and performing his own material at 15.
Wapner currently performs Monday and Tuesday nights at the New York Comedy Club in Manhattan, where the new routine continues to succeed in getting laughs. "The best night was last night ... (the audience) was just in hysterics," he said on Wednesday. "I had a hard time getting through the routine because of the laughs."
For future show dates and times, visit www.mrinevitable.com.
Pat
Patricia R. Schissel
President
AHA/ Asperger Syndrome and High Functioning Autism Association
516.470.0360 ph
516.470.0362 fax
P.O. Box 916
Bethpage, NY 11714-0916
