While holding a loose leaf folder, Enrique Rivera jumps several times on the corner stage at the East Leyden Library.
“We are invariably treated as babies,” he tells the audience.
On cue, three student actresses called out “He’s so cute!”
“Treat us as we are according to our age,” Rivera requests.
Rivera and students Hannah Allen, Jessica Bernal and Katie Ramirez performed “The Reason I Jump” at East Leyden twice on March 19. The play is based on a book of the same name, written by a 13-year-old Japanese boy named Naoki Higashida who is autistic.
Those who are autistic have a group of problems in the areas of social interaction, communication and behaviors. In the 25-minute play, Rivera explains the behavior of some people with autism, such as avoiding eye contact, repetitive behavior and different ways of perceiving.
“We live in a sensory based world,” Rivera said. “For people with autism, the details jump out at us and only gradually do we see the whole.”
The three actresses act as a sort of Greek Chorus, demonstrating Rivera’s words. They’re in almost constant movement showing such things as an aversion to being touched, avoiding people’s eye or repeating words.
The play was the idea of teacher Mark Bernstein.
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“I’ve been teaching people with autism for 25 years,” said Bernstein. “I just wanted to share their world with other people.”
“The subject matter is really difficult to summarize because there is so much to it,” said Hannah Allen. “You have to paint the story with your body. There’s no costumes, no sets.”
The group also performed “The Reason I Jump” on March 21 at Reavis High School, in southwest suburban Burbank, in competition with other theater troupes in the Illinois High School Association.