If Daniel Mooney were to count the many ways Camp Jigsaw has positively impacted his life, he said he couldn’t do it on just his fingers and toes.
Mooney, a 29-year-old Brookhaven native, began attending Camp Jigsaw five years ago. This week, he is serving for the first time as a peer counselor, which he said is his way of shining as a positive light to the campers, just like his peer counselors and mentors once did for him.
“The most important thing to me is all the social skills I’ve learned: meeting new friends, and getting to know other people has really been an inspiration to me,” Mooney said. “Jigsaw taught me to think positively instead of staying negative all of the time, and that has been an impact on my personality ever since. That’s why everyone here says I’m the most kind-hearted ‘fella.'”
With a voice, both kind and instructive, that can project to the dozens of campers staying the week in Hurst Hall at Mississippi State University, Mooney said he keeps them “on the straight and narrow,” while guiding them throughout the week with his radiating positivity.
Named after the puzzle-piece symbol associated with autism awareness, Camp Jigsaw was founded and developed by Sandy Devlin, a 30-year educator and MSU professor of curriculum, instruction and special education.
The camp hosts boys, mostly ages 12-21, who have been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Sometimes campers are older or younger than the primary age range, depending on their circumstances.
The camp
With Jigsaw in its eighth and largest year, its 60 campers can enhance basic communication, transitioning and recreational leisure skills, all while meeting new friends who share similar, everyday challenges.
One of the most common issues seen in those with autism, according to Devlin, is a lack of social skills, and that is where those attending Camp Jigsaw often see much improvement.
“The campers here get to make new friends,” Devlin said. “And because so many of them come back year after year, they are able to keep up with the friends they meet.”
Camp Jigsaw is the only autism-related camp in the country that is entirely free to attend, Devlin said. It is also operated by professionals and researchers in the special education field.
“We’re offering evidence-based and research-based interventions, but in a fun setting,” said Bethany McKissick, MSU associate professor of special education. “Most of the counselors here are special education graduate students, so they are professionals, and I think that really sets this camp apart.”
Each morning, campers participate in exercises centered on social skills and self-determination. Field trips to area skating rinks, bowling alleys and Lake Tiak-O’Khata also provide a traditional summer camp experience. In-house activities, such as movie nights and talent shows, which showcase each camper’s unique talents, also fill out the week.
Mutual benefit
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC) one in 42 boys and one in 189 girls will be diagnosed with some form of autism.
After realizing there were not many camps available for the autistic community, Devlin started Camp Jigsaw in 2009. She said the camp gives her graduate-level the practicum and real-world experience they need, making it mutually beneficial to staff and campers.
Each year, more effort is put forth into making Camp Jigsaw possible, and because it is free, the week is funded entirely by donations and fundraisers held throughout the community.
For Devlin, developing and growing Camp Jigsaw is something dear to her heart.
“Autism has increased dramatically in the last few years and we need to be prepared to not only educate individuals with autism, but to also increase awareness in communities,” Devlin said. “People with autism are a part of our community, and they should be valued and treated as such.”
The most important thing, however, are the transformations seen in each camper, McKissick said.
“The skills they learn here, they take with them everywhere they go,” she said. “They learn skills to help them get a job, they make new friends and they keep the friends they already have. And since many continue to come back, they build these skills, and totally transform from the person they were when they first arrived.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.