- So I see you're wearing a medal. - Right.
- What sport did you place in today?
- I did javelin, mini-jav.
I placed third.
- So you said the javelin mini-jav? - Yes.
- That's throwing the spear.
- Yeah, like a spear. Yeah, the spear-looking thing.
- Very nice. Congratulations.
- Thank you.
- I also understand that you are a published author.
- Right, yes, my dad's car rides
hearing about other Special Olympic athletes' stories.
Like I was telling my dad
that a fellow Special Olympic athlete named Cindy Bentley
published a book and I was real touched about it.
So when we was on a car ride, my dad was like,
"Son, you need to share your story."
So it took me two and a half to three years to write it
cuz I needed somebody to edit it for me.
Polish it up for me.
Make it sound professional.
So I did a Go Fund Me page
and paid someone to edit it for me.
Yeah and so like the reason why I published it,
not just like to have a book published just for like me.
I feel like you know I'm part of the Special Olympic community
and all of our stories need to be heard.
I guess my individual story but it represents all of us.
Like I've seen other Special Olympic athletes on TV
and they talk about what they go through.
So it's like for those that didn't get a book published.
You know, I kind of write about what we go through.
It's on paper.
I have it published so people understand what autism is.
Like a lot of people always ask questions about it.
So it was like a blessing to get it published.
I mean sometimes you could give an elevator speech
to tell people what autism is.
But if they don't have time to chat with you.
A lot of people in today's society
is always on the go and in a rush.
So it's like, "Oh, you published a..."
Break the ice with them.
"Oh, you published a book?
"I would like to buy it" and then I had people buy it.
And then they be like,
"Oh wow, now I have a better understanding what autism is"
and they tell me thank you.
So that's the blessing.
- That's awesome.
Would you tell us the title of your book?
- The name of the book is
"Have You Ever Wished You Were Someone Else?: Carrying the Weight of Autism."
- Wow, thank you for sharing that.
- You're welcome.