Underestimated

An Autism Miracle

By: J. B. Handley, Jamison Handley

Narrated by: George Newbern

The incredibly moving and inspiring story about a quest to finally be heard.

In Underestimated: An Autism Miracle, Generation Rescue’s cofounder J.B. Handley and his teenage son Jamison tell the remarkable story of Jamison’s journey to find a method of communication that allowed him to show the world that he was a brilliant, wise, generous, and complex individual who had been misunderstood and underestimated by everyone in his life.

Jamison’s emergence at the age of seventeen from his self-described “prison of silence” took place over a profoundly emotional and dramatic twelve-month period that is retold from his father’s perspective. The book unfolds like a spy thriller while allowing the listener to share in the complex emotions of both exhilaration and anguish that accompany Jamison’s journey for him and his family. Once Jamison’s extraordinary story has been told, Jamison takes over the narrative to share the story from his perspective, allowing the world to hear from someone who many had dismissed and cast aside as incapable.

Jamison’s remarkable transformation challenges the conventional wisdom surrounding autism, a disability impacting 1 in 36 Americans. Many scientists still consider nonspeakers with autism—a full 40 percent of those on the autism spectrum—to be “mentally retarded.” Is it possible that the experts are wrong about several million people? Are all the nonspeakers like Jamison?

Underestimated: An Autism Miracle will touch your heart, inspire you, remind you of the power of love, and ultimately leave you asking tough questions about how many more Jamisons might be waiting for their chance to be freed from their prison of silence, too. And, for the millions of parents of children with autism, the book offers a detailed description of a communication method that may give millions of people with autism back their voice.

©2021 J. B. Handley and Jamison Handley (P)2023 Skyhorse Audio

Critic reviews

“The Handley family’s mission to save their son, Jamie, is the greatest love story ever told. The power of love, determination and strength creates yet another paradigm shift in autism therapies that will affect the masses on a global scale. Jamie Handley is a real-life superhero and his story brings hope to all of humanity. Life, for many, will never be the same after reading this book. Thank you JB, Jamie, and the whole Handley family for sharing your miraculous journey.”

—Jenny McCarthy, author of Louder Than Words; coauthor of Healing and Preventing Autism

“I’m both dumbstruck by and grateful for the dogged determination of Jamison Handley and his loving family. With this book he shows the world that a debilitated, nonspeaking youth severely disabled by full blown autism can transform into a gifted and wry individual with humor and wisdom to share with the world. This book is at once an exhilarating joyride and a pointed critique of the catastrophic failures of the mainstream mental health orthodoxies. Jamison, the trailblazer, shows the world that nonspeakers with autism have extraordinary potential and cognitive gifts. Millions more like Jamison are awaiting their chance to be heard.”

—Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., author of American Values: Lessons I Learned from My Family, Crimes Against Nature, and The Riverkeepers

“A breathtaking story of one family’s fight to overcome adversity. Get out your handkerchiefs. It’s impossible to read this book without crying happy tears."

—Jennifer Margulis, PhD, author of Your Baby, Your Way and coauthor of the #1 Amazon bestseller, The Vaccine-Friendly Plan (with Paul Thomas, MD)

Insightfully Written - Perfectly Narrated

One of the best narrators I've listened to, read with a conversational, natural cadence. Loved the author's use of location to mark milestones. As a special needs educator I was initially trained in data based / behavior modification style strategies but also had an intuitive heart for presumed competency in my students. It is so very helpful to have the viewpoint from the feelings of autistic people, especially re such challenges as stim and compulsions. Over the years it was a blessing to learn about other approaches, see their advantages and successes, and then incorporate them into a "whatever brings the best individual success" learning environment to my classrooms (both special needs and standard ed). I am thrilled to see S2C bringing non speakers' voices to the world! Thank you for sharing your very personal and inspirational journey.

Hope!

I work with 5 and 6 year old student with autism. I've seen the light and we are all going to start on a new path tomorrow!

Inspired and filled with hope

Thank you so much Jamie, JB, and the Dude Bros for sharing your stories! I am filled with so much hope and I’m excited to start this journey with my daughter! This was an amazing book!

Something to think about!!!!

This was a GREAT book written by a GREAT guy!!! I loved to hear your story about gaining your voice!!! I am a special education teacher for students 18 years to 22 years old, many of whom have Autism. This really got me thinking and I could not stop listening! I was up ALL night!! This story will make me look at my students in an all new light!! Thank you for sharing!!!!

inspiring for parents of children with ASD

this book gave me hope for the future of my young child with ASD. We have already done so many of the therapies that the family of Jamie also tried prior to trying the letter board.