GREAT AND UNFORTUNATE THINGS

What a remarkable book by a unique and extraordinary man I fell in love with Jason s family especially the incredible Giff what a mother what a woman and I cheered at every infuriating brick wall she and Jason smashed down Kathy Burke author of A Mind of My Own You did it didn t you Jason Mum asked No Giff I told her We did We did it When Jason Arday was thirty seven years old everything changed He made international news by becoming the youngest Black professor in the almost thousand year history of the University of Cambridge But that remarkable achievement is only part of his great and unfortunate tale He grew up in a council house in south London with his parents and two brothers Diagnosed with autism and global developmental delay at the age of three he spent much of his non verbal childhood navigating a system that struggled to understand him Doctors and teachers believed there was no one in there But Jason s mother Giff refused to accept the limits others placed on her son With the faith of his family and the support of a handful of extraordinary friends and mentors Jason slowly found his voice He spoke his first word at eleven learned to read and write at eighteen and discovered a passion for education and helping ot