The Game of Jason McElwain's Life!

Jason McElwain shot a final three-pointer to rack up a school record of six three-point baskets and 20 total points in the last three minutes of the final game in his senior year. But, the most incredible part of the story is that J-Mac, as he’s affectionately known, performed this incredible feat in spite of the fact he was diagnosed with severe autism at a very young age. Thanks to early detection and increasingly sophisticated behavioral interventions, and parents who go the extra mile, life can hold more promise for children like Jason.

Jason tells his remarkable story in The Game of My Life: A True Story of Challenge, Triumph, and Growing Up Autistic with the help of Danile Paisner, New York Times best selling author. Check out the review I've written on Joyful, Jubilant Learning's A Love Affair With Books...

ESPN provides glimpses into Jason’s life and those momentous four minutes when Coach Jimmy Johnson said, “Jason, you’re in,” on the last home game of the year. Jason had acted as manager throughout high school. Because Jason loved the game he practiced though he never played in a varsity game up to this point. Catch the love, thunder and emotion...



Jason's story of triumph inspires people to follow their dreams!

Today Jason's employed in a local Wegman's bakery. Wegman's, a regional supermarket chain, is known for hiring dozens of young men and women with special needs and assigning them to ability-appropriate tasks in their stores. Jason enjoys baking bread...

There's a certain routine to it, a certain rhythm. He know the recipe by heart, but it's more than just a recipe... He likes the way the bread smells when it comes out of the oven. He likes how the smell get into his clothes. He likes when customers say his bread tastes good. He likes that he as a place to go, and this his bosses think he's doing a good job, and that everybody at Wegman's knows he's a team player.

Life indeed holds more promise for people like Jason, thanks to businesses like Wegman's who tap into peoples' strengths!