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Here's an article on ESPN about how Jason Mcelwain AKA jmac is inspiring the autisitc community...


http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=2352763

Why do people find inspiration from sporting events? I'm sorry, thats something I've just never understood...

Odd... I find that article more worrying than encouraging.

"...what this all could mean for the treatment of this disease."
Had we settled that it was a disease?
There are too many odd little phrases and assumptions present in the article.

But then I don't "get" sport at all, and the idea that acceptance grows out of success at something I'm not good at is troubling. In any case, Aspie or not, most folk are not going to be stars.
Pushing such exceptional folk as "role models" seems of dubious merit: the whole culture of adulation is suspect.

Krishnamurti: "It is no good thing to be well-adjusted to a sick society."

Emettman you seem to have missed the point of the article..

Its not just the fact that the kid did something exceptional at a game, it's the fact that everyone in that high school and the community not only accepts for who he is, but was cheered on by the entire school.

The only reason the coach doesn't let him play, is because of his height, not his autism. Most people on a basketball are usually 6 feet or taller, he would be dominated by all the other players. But the coach admired his dedication to the team, and decided to give him a chance, and when he was given that chance he excelled.

This kind of acceptance and admiration is not seen much with the autisitc community. Their is something about this kid's personality that makes everyone in that school like him despite his differences.

Nobody really has to excell at basketball to be reccognized as a great person, you can do this by gaining the kind of confidence and passion that Jason has.

They said in an interview Jason shows no fear, and is not afraid to try anything. His exceptional performance plus his attitude makes him a remarkable person. Thats why he's an inspiration.

Have a careful read of the article:

That he was accepted is great. But if the *requirement* for being accepted is being a real regular Joe, "One of us", this isn't such good news.

I'd be even happier if he was accepted, cheered, without having to be a hero. Now that would be progress, but progress of the whole society.

Adlai Stevenson saw "a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular."
I'll follow him, and look forward to a society where difference is celebrated and acceptable where it is, not just when it succeeds in the majority's terms:

"high-profile role models for children with autism were few and far between. Sure, there is the occasional child who grows up to earn his Ph.D. and have a family or become a top-selling artist"

Sorry, there's a setting of an agenda there I'm not sure should be accepted!
(Is every soldier a failure who doesn't become a general? Every driver who doesn't win televised races?)
There's something wrong with the thinking, at least when it is presentad as simply as it is in this article. Yes, there is the reverse error of "writing people off", curtailing possible achievements by parents, doctors and teachers (and the individuals themselves) just not allowing these to be in the frame. But I'm not at all happy with the idea that the answer to this is high-profile sports models.
The person whose own standard of success might be a complete stamp collection is to be laughed at, or ignored, but if they can be athletic they can be lauded and welcomed?

If Jason McElwain is happy and successful at his sport, good for him. If it encourages others to try that because they want to, even better. But if it sets up the idea that to be accepted you need to be like this... Sad if it isn't true, doubly sad if it is.

(added in edit in response to your edit:)

"The only reason the coach doesn't let him play, is because of his height"
I'd missed that, not being into that sport. (Wasn't there a film "White men can't jump"?)
I don't think it much affects the argument above, though it does speeak against assuming what people can or can't do, which is good.
"when he was given that chance he excelled. "
This is fine, and I'm with you on that.

Where I stick is in terms of what you yourself describe:
"This kind of acceptance and admiration is not seen much with the autisitc community."
Unless they succeed or stand out in conventional (NT) terms, it seems:
"something about this kid's personality that makes everyone in that school like him despite his differences. "

Despite his differences. You won't get more than half a cheer from me till that doesn't apply.
(I'm not arguing it doesn't. That's a very big chunk of the problem)

How about:
<something about this kid's personality that makes everyone in that school like him despite his colour> Wouldn't that raise hackles?

emettman please re read my edited post, I am saying the kid was admired not only for his sports ability, but his ability to be confident in himself despite his differences. Also his dedication and passion torwards the team is admirable.

Yes, Jman. Those points I am not questioning:
"That he was accepted is great."
"If Jason McElwain is happy and successful at his sport, good for him. If it encourages others to try that because they want to, even better."
"it does speak against assuming what people can or can't do, which is good."
"This is fine, and I'm with you on that. "

That's not, for me, a point of dispute, and I'm not sure how to make that clearer.


But... there's much more in the article than that, and either you are not picking up what I'm seeing, or I'm seeing something that isn't there. To me it's very clear.

Its in the seeing of his condition as a disease, it's in seeing the difference as something to be overcome by him, not celebrated by society. It's in letting the majority set the rules for what's "great".


Look at the translation into "colour" and you might better be able to see what's going on.

"but his ability to be confident in himself despite his differences"
<but his ability to be confident in himself despite his colour>

"something about this kid's personality that makes everyone in that school like him despite his differences. "
<something about this kid's personality that makes everyone in that school like him despite his colour>

Why should the differences involve a "despite"? Any more than colour should.
We may have got slightly further with the colour issue (maybe) but here the same story is being written over again:
Isn't it great? Some aspies can be "just like white folks".
Well surprise, surprise, some of us don't have that as an ambition.

Well personally I atleast want to come off as semi normal but I still try to be myself sometimes.

I can "pass for" most of the time. And most of the time I consider it a courtesy not to give deliberate offence to other's values. And we are dealing with, nearly always, the majority culture. (I wear an utterly pointless tie at work, because it is the convention. I'd be more efficient in a sweater and jeans)
But a little reciprocity would be nice. A courteous recognition of my values and point of view, not an assumption that I'd be better and happier if I took theirs on board.
Not you, but the world that insists anything that isn't the norm is weird. And often is so quietly wedded to that idea it it doesn't notice it's own stance.

(apologies if my last post came across as too sharp, it might have done as I re-read it. I was only trying for clarity and illustration)