a very nice story about an autistic kid

[empy]

i saw this story about a HS kid in upstate New York who suffers from autism that had the night of his life. very inspiring.

At Greece Athena High School, they are still talking about J-Mac's big night.

The soon-to-be graduating senior made his varsity basketball debut, and did in four minutes what will be remembered for a lifetime.

As a student assistant, Jason McElwain helps out the team. But, all that changed on Wednesday night, when coach Jim Johnson decided to give Jason his shot to suit up and play.

"He said this was my senior present, my chance to get out on the floor as an actual basketball player for the night," Jason said.

Jason, or "J-Mac" as he's known, is medically diagnosed as highly functioning autistic. He's also loved by his teammates and fellow students, and they came to the game with his face on signs. When he entered the game, they went crazy.

"My emotions started running wild.I actually sat down and I started to tear up and thought, 'Oh my God, this is happening,'" Coach Johnson said.

Jason got a pass and took a shot. He missed badly.

"His first possesion, he gets the ball and takes a shot and misses by six feet. I put my hands in my head and thought, 'Please, Lord, just get him a basket,'" Johnson said.

One minute later, he got his hoop--a three-pointer that set the gym on fire.

"I was very excited. The team was excited. Everyone was excited," Jason said.

But J-Mac wasn't done. He kept shooting and kept hitting--another three, then another, and yet another.

"I was on fire. I was hotter than a pistol," Jason said.

When he was done, he had hit a team record, tying for six three-pointers.

The crowd stormed the court and put Jason on their shoulders.

Athletic Director Randy Hutto said, "It was one of those special moments that as an athletic director, I thought, 'If I retired today, this would be the one thing that I talked about forever.'"

Jason's playing career is done, but his celebrity continues.

"I was late to every class. Everyone kept coming up to me and saying 'Congratulations,'" Jason said.

Levar Goff, the team's senior captain, said,"He's like a celebrity. He's loving every bit of it too. You see him smiling all the time."

Jason's job now is to help get his team ready for sectionals, but if they need a now not-so-secret weapon, they know they have J-Mac ready to go.

[GasJunkie]

Good for him.



Ot why j-mac? is he a wannabe black?

[ogpro]

Good for him.



Ot why j-mac? is he a wannabe black?

Er, why does it make him a wannabe black? It's just a nickname....

[Galant_VR_94]

I saw the vid, it was very inspiring to see someone in his position and state do something meaningful in his life. It gives hope to others and gives them the idea that nothing is impossible when you put your mind into it.

[CVT]

Thanks for sharing. This is very inspiring.... Something that we should pass around and hit that 3-pointer in our lives.....

3909:trampoline:

[pajerokid]

bearable naman autism basta high-functioning.... sobrang hirap pag hindi. kelangan talaga patience and understanding on the parent's side as often meron speech impediment ang autistic kids.

[LadyRider]

Autistic kids are very extreme but very talented. They are very blessed with talents but they can be very violent too!

I dunno if you came across this article in the Inquirer a few months back on the front page regarding an autistic kid. That autistic kid is my niece.

I remember that kid when she was a year old, she had a very high fever and experienced convulsions. She was rushed to the hospital for treatments. But when we were celebrating our yearly Christmas family affair, my mom noticed that she was not responding to calls and baby talk. My mom told my cousin that there is something wrong with the baby but they did not mind it.

It was too late when the parents of my niece found out that she was an autistic child. Now my niece is 20 years old and still she can't talk but she can recognize naman her parents, siblings and her yaya. She knows how to eat by herself but she has a fondness for Coke! I dunno why but she will not eat if you dont give her Coke. We only serve her diet Coke when she's here sa house namin kase baka daw maging diabetic.

Am just scared when she is in outrage kase she pokes her head and her chest, then she bites her hands kaya puro kalyo na ang ma kamay nya. When she rides the car, she doenst easily goes out when they arrive to their destination. Her dad has to go around in circles just to satisfy her and make her go out of the car. Kawawa sya kase sinasaktan nya sarili nya at hindi mo alam kung bakit.

We love her and she is a blessing naman to my cousin and his family. Nung una nahirapan sila tanggapin na ganun ang anak nila pero eventually, they learned to love her more and together with her other siblings, their family's bond became stronger than ever! Yun na siguro ang pinakamagandang nangyari sa kanila.

[juntzo]

The problem with my friend's son is the tantrums. As he gets older it is harder for his parents to control him! He gets violent and he punches, kicks and bites. He is just 7 now but my friend and his wife sometimes get bruises and bite wounds. What happens then when he gets older?... as in man old?

That's the time my friend dreads most... he just hopes the theraphy will help soon enough!

[red07]

Autistic kids are very extreme but very talented. They are very blessed with talents but they can be very violent too!

I dunno if you came across this article in the Inquirer a few months back on the front page regarding an autistic kid. That autistic kid is my niece.

I remember that kid when she was a year old, she had a very high fever and experienced convulsions. She was rushed to the hospital for treatments. But when we were celebrating our yearly Christmas family affair, my mom noticed that she was not responding to calls and baby talk. My mom told my cousin that there is something wrong with the baby but they did not mind it.

It was too late when the parents of my niece found out that she was an autistic child. Now my niece is 20 years old and still she can't talk but she can recognize naman her parents, siblings and her yaya. She knows how to eat by herself but she has a fondness for Coke! I dunno why but she will not eat if you dont give her Coke. We only serve her diet Coke when she's here sa house namin kase baka daw maging diabetic.

Am just scared when she is in outrage kase she pokes her head and her chest, then she bites her hands kaya puro kalyo na ang ma kamay nya. When she rides the car, she doenst easily goes out when they arrive to their destination. Her dad has to go around in circles just to satisfy her and make her go out of the car. Kawawa sya kase sinasaktan nya sarili nya at hindi mo alam kung bakit.

We love her and she is a blessing naman to my cousin and his family. Nung una nahirapan sila tanggapin na ganun ang anak nila pero eventually, they learned to love her more and together with her other siblings, their family's bond became stronger than ever! Yun na siguro ang pinakamagandang nangyari sa kanila.

OT: My brother-in-law also has autism.

Kaya before kami nagpakasal ni wifey, talagang pina attend ako ng seminars about autistic children para masanay ako.

BTW, he is already 22. 5'10 and weights 200lbs. Just like Lady Rider's niece, sinasaktan din niya sarili nya pag nagta-tantrums sya. Hindi naman sha nananakit ng iba. Imagine his size, kaya pag nagkataon na nagtantrum sha at nandun ako, hirap ako pigilan, ang laki kase.

Pero mahal na mahal namin sya, blessing talaga sya para sa amin. Tanggal naman ang pagod mo kapag kinantahan ka na nya ng "Bananas in Pajamas" and "New Kid in Town".

[empy]

i saw the vid...he's white. dunno why the nickname, accdg to the reporter his teammates gave it to him...

[falken]

Nice story. His name's Jason McElwain, hence, J-Mac.

[delprado]

.. nice story .

It seems to me na Asperger's Syndrome disorder meron itong si J-mac.
Somehow, it's normal for someone suffering from this disorder to achieve such
thing as per the description below:

"Asperger's syndrome carries with it superior intelligence and a tendency to become very interested in and preoccupied with a particular subject. Often this preoccupation leads to a specific career at which the adult is very successful. At younger ages, one might see the child being a bit more rigid and apprehensive about changes or about adhering to routines. "

Some experts even thought that Einstein and Newton were suffering from AS.

http://rarediseases.about.com/cs/asp...e/a/041003.htm

[endlessgwing]

saw this one too sa news, very inspiring

[empy]

that Asperger's syndrome seems like the opposite of ADD, which i think i have

[GlennSter]

that Asperger's syndrome seems like the opposite of ADD, which i think i have

bwahrahrahr!!!very inspiring indeed...

[Chip]

i saw this on CNN

very uplifting talaga. it just shows that everyone is capable of greatness if given the chance.

[tebs]

saw it also sa cnn the other day. galing nga, naka-ilang 3point shots sya

hopefully he gets more exposure sa court after that

[falken]

Saw his video clip at metacafe, here's the link:

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/79325/...d_20_in_4_min/

[nugundam93]

wow. amazing.

[stinkaboy]

Pres. Bush watched his game.