Do you remember hearing about the autistic kid that worked as the team manager for his high school a few years back? During the team's final game they let him suit up and play. When he got in for the last few minutes of the game he was lights out from the behind the arc (after a few early misses).
That young man's name is Jason McElwain, and his high school, Greece Athena, has decided to honor him by retiring his jersey!
The idea was for him to just suit up at first, but with just a few minutes left the coach went ahead and put him in. By time the game was over he scored 20 points and nailed six three-pointers--a school record!
Seven years later Greece Athena has decided to retire the No. 52 that Jason wore that night.
I can remember reading about this story and seeing clips about it ESPN. At the time I was a newlywed and not even thinking about kids. So while I appreciated the story and love the feel-good moment the emotions that it created ended there.
Today I have two beautiful and awesome kiddos of my own and both are autistic. A pretty common question we get whenever we are out in public and they start to act out--rarely anything bad, just different--is what's wrong with them.
I have to admit that every time I hear that I really, really want to punch the fool that said that. There is nothing wrong with them.
Watching this video of Jason McElwain now I see it as a perfect example of how there isn't anything "wrong" with autistic kids. They are different than the rest, but they are just as capable of doing things like playing basketball as everyone else.
Often times they just need a chance.
This time when I watched this clip I cried. I could feel the pride that the community had in young Jason than and it is good to see that they still have it today.
Congratulations Jason. It's an honor well-deserved.
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