Apr 26 2009
Special Needs Biography Review: The Game of My Life by Jason McElwain
The Game of My Life: A True Story of Challenge, Triumph, and Growing up Autistic
by Jason “J-Mac” McElwain with Daniel Paisner
Published by New American Library
Copyright 2008 ISBN 0451223012
In trying to find out more about B’s special needs, I have started to read some books about some amazing people who just happen to have special needs. The first one I picked up caught my attention from the cover shot of a young guy being hoisted up by his teammates, celebrating a basketball win. You wouldn’t know it from the picture, but this young man was diagnosed as being severely autistic when he was a toddler.
In The Game of My Life, Jason “J-Mac” McElwain talks about what it is like to grow up autistic and how he views himself as a regular kid. I especially liked the information about how his parents dealt with his autism, especially since there was so little known about it at the time. Through trying different therapies and allowing Jason to be Jason, they helped Jason to grow into quite a young man. It was also so helpful to see the world as Jason does, to get some sort of insight into what it’s like for my little girl who can’t yet explain it to me. Jason went from being a non-verbal toddler to playing in the senior night basketball game of the high school team which he served as team manager. On that night, he scored 20 points in under 4 minutes. He tells other autistic kids to “Stay focused” and to not give up on their dreams.
It’s an inspirational book and one that shows that you shouldn’t underestimate someone’s abilities because they just might surprise you. Just because a child may be autistic does not mean that he’s never going to make friends or change the world. Jason has done just that. He’s changed the world by becoming a role model to autistic kids, showing them that they can reach for their dreams and he’s given hope to so many parents who have worried about their children’s future. He’s certainly given me hope that no matter what B’s diagnosis is, the sky’s the limit–a diagnosis doesn’t have to limit her future.
I would encourage everyone to read this book, especially if they have someone in their life who is autistic or has special needs. It reminds you to never give up, to have a dream and to keep dreaming it, even when people say itis impossible. Jason McElwain is my new hero.
If you haven’t heard J-Mac’s story, watch these two video clips. Be sure to have tissues handy!
I think I remember seeing “J-Mac” on the news after his big game and it truly was an inspiring story.
I was surprised that I hadn’t heard of J-Mac before reading this book–I suspect it could be because we had not yet begun our journey with B at the time that he was in the news so much. I was very inspired by the book, especially since most of it is told by Jason himself.