Autistic basketball player creates mayhem at game

[BrklynLiberal]

You MUST watch this video!!!!

CBS ran an incredibly powerful story tonight that brings you to your feet and just keeps on giving each and every minute into it. Jason McElwain, an autistic high school basketball team member in Rochester NY, served as the coach's assistant and spirit leader for several years. On the final game of the season the coach let him finally put on a jersey with the rest of the team. Watch what happens then...
CBS Evening News, Feb 23, 2006, 2:44, 320x240, 7megs.

This is one of those rare stories that makes you drop everything and share it with everybody.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBYPaNc57Ik&search=autistic%20basketball%25

[Faygo Kid]

1. This was WAY cool. 20 points in 6 minutes.

[babylonsister]

2. Saw this on CBS, twice! So heartwarming to realize how

loved Jason is!

[snacker]

12. The entire story was wonderful,

but the way the students reacted was so heartwarming. I watched the story twice on CBS Evening News and cried my eyes out both times. Maybe I'm just desperate for some good news for a change, but this was a beautiful story.

[cssmall]

3. That's one of the most beautiful things I believe I've ever seen.

[Boomer]

4. Thanks for posting this!

I'd heard of the story, but hadn't managed to catch anything other than references to it. Well worth the wait!

[A Simple Game]

5. Do you think the coach was kicking himself for not playing

him earlier in the season?

[aquart]

6. So I guess they're going to let him play more often?

I saw it, but I hadn't realized he wasn't a team regular. I can imagine they're sorry about that.

Just as I can imagine athletic scouts going to schools they never dreamed of before.

[wryter2000]

7. Thank you!

I watched it twice on CBS this week. What's so amazing to me is the reaction of the crowd. They were on their feet when he went into the game. I swear, kids are nicer than when I was a kid. In my high school, the students would have made that kid's life miserable.

[oneighty]

11. I was not on my feet

but I did not need eye drops for a while.

Sigh

[catabryna]

8. Everytime I see the coverage of this...

I just get all teary-eyed. This is just one of the most heartwarming sights I've ever seen in my life! Gooooooooooo Jason!

:bounce:

[WinkyDink]

9. Heh. I'll bet Coach wished he had played him in previous games!

(As noted by others!) Awesome performance.

[newsguyatl]

10. wow, what a great story

my brother's austistic -- so i can only imagine how special jason felt.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

13. wow.

My doctor sees a lot of autistic kids and uses cutting edge research to help them. One of our friends has a son with autism, and she took him to the doc, who did blood work and figured out what he needed in the form of supplements and diet. The kid got As and Bs on his report card for the first time in his life. He volunteered to be a greeter at his church. He will look you in the eye. He experiences feelings now. It is touching to know that there are docs out there working to help kids with autism. I hope this kid gets help like this as well. Very inspiring video.

[Clara T]

14. Wow- Greatest Page Rec'd

That truly is a great moment.

As one who has worked with autistic children in athletics that is beyond inspiring.

Just WOW!!

Thanks.