A Different Perspective on the Jason McElwain Story

I am sure many of you have heard the inspirational and heart-warming story of Jason McElwain, the basketball player with autism, who was brought in for the last minutes of the game and scored the winning points having previously never played.  On a personal level, I was very happy for this young man, but I still had many uneasy feeling about the media coverage.  In my experience media coverage of  people with disabilities seems to come in two flavors--either the individual with a disability (e.g. special education) is draining the public coffers for no good end or otherwise victimizing society or an institution, or the good people of the community have extended their largess for some  "truly deserving" person with a disability. The variant on this latter theme is the Jason McElwain story.  A person with a disability has amazed us with the fact that he or she in fact has abilities which are primarily newsworthy because of the the fact of being disabled.  I had not been able to capture the full range of my feelings about the media coverage of the Jason McElwain story, until I saw the following story by Kathie Snow in Disability is Natural Press which I think hits the mark.

"Inspirational" or Evidence of Old Attitudes?

Like millions of others, I recently watched, read, and listened to the extensive media coverage of Jason McElwain's feats on the basketball court---and just this week, President Bush took time out to meet Jason in front of reporters. As you probably know, Jason, a 17-year-old senior with autism, was the team manager, who was "allowed" to suit up for the last game. (The coach reported that, at 5 feet, 6 inches, Jason was considered too small to make the team.) With a large lead over their opponents and with four minutes left in the last home game, the coach sent Jason in. You know the rest: Jason scored a two-pointer and six three-pointers, and the home video that displayed his abilities and the wild celebration by his teammates captured the attention of the media, film producers, and the President of the United States.

Again, like millions of others, I was thrilled for Jason. But I am also dismayed and disturbed.

I'm dismayed that Jason was not "allowed" to simply be on the team---he obviously has the talent. So why wasn't he on the team? Was it his height (the "official" reason) or because he has autism? We may never know. News reports indicated that since he only played in one regular season game, he was ineligible for post-season games. And where was Jason educated? Was he "allowed" in regular ed classes, alongside basketball team members and other students without disabilities, or was he segregated in a special ed classroom?

I'm disturbed at the hoopla generated. For if Jason had been a regular member of the team, routinely scoring three-pointers, this story would have never made the news! The media coverage left the impression that Jason scoring 20 points in the last few minutes of the game was some sort of miraculous occurrence (the story was repeatedly billed as "inspirational")! But, according to news reports, Jason routinely sunk three-pointers during practice. (So, did anyone else wonder why reporters didn't press the coach or other school personnel about why Jason wasn't allowed to be on the team? Did reporters not ask because they assumed they knew the answer: "Because he has autism.") Lest anyone think I'm being a Scrooge here, let me repeat that I'm delighted Jason was finally able to strut his stuff during a game---and I wish that this "proof" of his abilities led to his being a member of the team!

But the extraordinary press coverage, most of which focused heavily on Jason's diagnosis and some of his "problems," and which did not use People First Language, has perpetuated the "inspirational hero" disability stereotype so prevalent in news coverage and Hollywood productions like Rudy, Radio, Rainman, and other films. And would President Bush's handlers have set up the meeting with Jason if he wasn't a young man with a disability? If one of the actual team members had scored 20 points in the last four minutes, would the President have taken the time to meet with him?

The flip side of the "inspirational hero" is, of course, the "pitiful victim" stereotype, as depicted in Million Dollar Baby, the 2005 Academy Award-winning Best Picture, along with Sling Blade; I am Sam, and others. These deceptive portrayals ---like "Jerry's Kids"---reduce people with disabilities to objects who are used to pull at our collective heartstrings. In some cases, the intent is to generate pity-dollars; in others, it seems the intent is to enable people without disabilities to "feel good" about themselves as they compare their lives to the life of the inspirational hero/pitiful victim. (I once worked as a TV producer/director, and news people just love to put out "feel-good" stories, and the ones with people with disabilities often top the list as the "best" heart-wrenchers.) During a televised interview, Jason's parents expressed concern that a movie made about Jason should be handled the right way. Their reaction seemed to reflect an awareness that producers could turn Jason's story into a less-than-desirable and perhaps less-than-truthful portrayal---a "feel-good" movie---at the expense of Jason and others with disabilities.

Jason's story made the big-time news because it was extraordinary: a student with autism who had never been "allowed" to suit up scored 20 points the first time he was permitted to play in a real game. In contrast, there are other children with disabilities who are playing on regular sports teams, performing in community theater, and participating in other typical activities alongside children who do not have disabilities. Yet there's no news coverage of these children with disabilities. Why? Because their inclusion in schools and communities has become ordinary and their stories would not generate any "inspiration" or "pity." And that's something to quietly celebrate: children with disabilities are classmates, actors, team members, etc.---and their disabilities are irrelevant.

I anticipate that some will soundly criticize my observations. Some will respond with, "Shouldn't we all be grateful that Jason was allowed to play at all?" Others might say, "These things take time...look at the progress we're making....be patient." And others will simply be angry at my comments, in general. No, I am not grateful when people with disabilities are "allowed" to do anything---that smacks of tokenism! And patience with a snail's pace of progress? I have little patience for attitudes that continue to marginalize people whose bodies or minds happen to be different by virtue of conditions we've labeled "disabilities"---what century are we living in? I will, however, be very happy when the Jasons of our world are real players on real teams and no one takes any notice because it will have become the norm.

The Disability is Natural Free Press

www.disabilityisnatural.com

Copyright March 2006 by Kathie Snow

Comments

[chris snyder]

Chris Jackson, now Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, was a college basketball superstar and NBA star who was fully legit on legit's own terms - never fell into the inspiration or tokenism stereotype you mention. Truly a "real player on a real team". But you know, people certainly did "take notice" and were aware of the whole story of who he was. And it's ridiculous to hope for the day when people don't take notice of our differences - that's what makes people interesting; we're all different. So we find those differences interesting and we do notice them and we always will, and we always should - that's the beauty of being human. But I don't mean to be overly extreme; I understand your point. With Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf it was always about his game first, second, and third. That was the story. Nothing else was ever overplayed, only played as it colored in who he was as a human in 3 dimensions, like us all.

[Scott]

Simply unbelievable..that anyone would criticize this story. Especially without know any of the facts which is obvious. Kathy Snow is another "do-gooder" who is only interested in stirring up controversy to serve her interests. She asks,"where was Jason educated? Was he "allowed" in regular ed classes, alongside basketball team members and other students without disabilities?" The answer is, YES, Kathy. it's called "streamlining" and it was one of the bigger parts of this story. The media has educated many people on the many degrees of autism and put focus on the streamlining programs used in Rochester area schools. Jason did attend regular classes at Greece Athena. As to the question, "why didn't reporters press the coach on Jason not making the team." If the writer had done her research she would have found that Jason did play on the Jr Varsity team, but quite frankly wasn't very good (not that he didn't try hard). Jason tried out for the varsity team, but this is a school with tremendous student athletes. They did, in fact, win the championship this year. Jason was just not good enough to make the cut. (Should they have not cut him because he was autistic?). Yes, Jason can shoot a three pointer now and then in practice (so can I and I stink!), but no 5'6" player is going to make a varsity team in this area unless they are a tremendously gifted ball player. Jason simply is not.. except on one very special night. Which is, in part, what made it so special. Give it a break people. See the story for what it is - A child who achieved far beyond his wildest dreams. A community of friends who have always supported him and treated him like their own son. An event that has opened people's eyes to what is possible, when heart and desire can overcome any obstacle. This story would still have been special if Jason didn't have autism. If this were just some small kid who tried his whole life and was finally rewarded it would still be a good story ("Rudy is a good example). But being autistic made it more wonderful because it taught people an important lesson. It removed stereotypes and opened peoples eyes. Jason was not put in the game because he was autistic. He was put in because he had worked very hard as the team manager and the coach wanted to thank him by making his dream come true. Simple as that. At Greece Athena and all the schools in the Rochester area, there are no children with disabilities. Only children who have special needs. Jason is one of many who attend regular classes every day. They may be given extra help by tutors and aids, but otherwise these children are treated no differently than any other. To insinuate otherwise is an insult to those many in our community who work so hard to ensure every child is given the help they need. This story has given many parents of autistic children (like myself) something they desperately need... hope.
The students, athletes, parents and even the media have shown Jason nothing but respect and kindness. So please take your soapbox somewhere else.

Scott
Rochester, NY

[Dianna]

Kathy, I agree with you! If Jason loved basketball, I'm sure it was tough for him to sit beside his peers & wonder why he couldn't play in a game.As a mother of a child with a disability I know first hand the feelings these children suffer. If they wanted to do him a favor they would have let him play every game.He had the talent, he had the enthusiasm.He should have had the right to play just as everyone else, Who are they to give favors? What a joke. Dianna

[Edward]

I have a special ed child who love basketball, has the drive and determination to play. Although he made Varsity, cause I guess he made the cut, well come to a surprise, my son hardly got to play, they had a championship game he never got to play, he shows up for practice all the time. there has been several games he didnt play. The caoches word at the basketball meeting before the season start. "I play all players" well that wasn't true. Its got to the point my son wants to quit a game he so loves cause the coach is not playing him, and is not treating him differently. My son awarded his coach the *my hero award* some hero huh. A coach who is now treating my son different.