Born This Way (2015) s01e01 Episode Script
Up Syndrome
1 Yup.
Guys' night out.
- It is.
- Drinking beers.
Online dating is the worst.
I remember I picked one up, and, uh, I found out she is as crazy as a a lunatic.
I wonder if there's any cute girls around here.
She has a ring on.
- Hi there.
- Hi.
- Steven.
- Olivia.
Nice to meet you.
Hi, Sean.
Olivia.
Dating.
Yes.
Boyfriend, yes.
That's cool.
Yeah.
Okay.
Yup.
We are seven friends.
Each unique.
But with one thing in common.
Down syndrome.
But that doesn't define us.
This is our story.
Okay, Mr.
DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.
Some people think people with disabilities never could make it big.
Um, how can I say this politely? Screw you.
You can make your life anything you want.
What I want is to buy a house with my boyfriend and I.
My goal is to inspire people with my work.
- Say something to me.
- I'm sexy.
I know you're sexy.
What else are you? Hot.
I'm kind of boy crazy.
I kind of feel like I'm like the Matt Damon of the bunch.
I got hopes, dreams.
Everything that you have, I have.
I am a very typical 22-year-old girl.
I play golf.
I love to cook.
Also, I like poetry.
- My dream is to get married.
- I want a girlfriend.
I want a car.
I want independence.
If you don't want people to treat you different, don't treat me different.
I do have a story to tell.
Don't be afraid of me.
I don't bite.
When people look at you, what do you want them to see? The real me.
Hello, princess.
You are gorgeous.
Uh-huh, girlfriend.
- Okay, we're setting the table for your friends.
- Okay.
My name is Cristina.
I'm 25 years old.
I live in a nice, sweet house with my parents.
This is my dad, my brother, myself my mom and my brother.
Interesting enough, it has been - not the challenge we thought - Yes.
it was going to be when we had her.
I was expecting a completely different future.
My thought is that I was not going to have a relationship with my daughter like other moms.
That's the way you put it to me.
"I will not wake up waiting for my daughter to come back from a date like my mom did for me.
" And I think that was your lowest moment.
That was a moment that, uh Now I look back, I see Cristina and I we have beautiful moments.
And you worry about her relationship with her boyfriend.
And I worry the relationship with the boyfriend.
What you thought you'll never have to worry about.
Surprise, surprise, yes.
In my life, everything's perfect, nice and organized.
I like to hang out with my friends, my family, my boyfriend.
Love you.
To hang out and chill.
- Hey, Rachel! - Hey, Cristina! - Hey, Cristina.
- Come in.
- Hi, guys.
How are you? - Thank you.
- Hello.
How are you? - Good.
Hey, Rachel.
Oh, you look beautiful.
Thank you.
I'm Rachel.
I'm I'm 32.
And I live with my mom and dad.
At first, my mom and dad didn't know I had Down syndrome.
And the doctor told them, and they're, they're okay with that.
One of the things about being the parent of a child with an intellectual disability is you just have different things to celebrate, different things that are rewarding, and they come along at different times.
So we follow a different timeline than most your typical parents would.
But the feelings are the same.
I have great parents.
My dad, he's a really cool dad.
- Oh, do I get a hug for that? - Oh That's good.
Aw, thanks.
My mom I love my mom so much! We do everything together.
We go shopping together.
We like to go out to eat.
We like to go to movies.
Rachel enjoys going to see R-rated movies.
Ted 2? - I love Ted movies.
- Can you watch that one? - Yeah.
- It's rated, like, double R.
- Well, I'm over 30.
- Oh, that's right.
I'm very independent.
I do my own laundry.
I've been doing that for years now.
And I do my own shopping.
I got the checkbook right here.
And I go to work on my own.
I'm a mail room assistant.
I've been working for three years.
I love my job.
What do you want people to know about you? Oh, boy.
- Oh, John.
- Hey, John! - What's up? What's up? - Hey, John.
Hi.
My name is John Tucker, and I live in Los Angeles, California.
I am a rap artist, honey.
You know how I do, keep it real JT is so hot for real I'm the person that's gonna make you want to get down and get your groove on, get your dance on.
Outgoing as you are, you got a shy side, huh? - No.
- No? You're not shy? I'm never shy.
When I was born, my parents treated me as part of the family.
My sisters treated me as part of their family.
It was just like, "Okay, my brother has Down syndrome.
He's not different.
" John is not your typical person.
John is totally unique.
He likes to perform.
I didn't know nothing about no rapping and stuff, but that's what he wanted to do, so we stood by him all the time.
People comes in different sizes and different disabilities.
- Yes! - Yes! Nice! I thought he was not gonna get it.
My name is Steven.
I'm 24 years old.
I was born with mosaic Down syndrome.
Kids with mosaic Down's syndrome are typically higher functioning than a typical Down's kid.
I don't think we've ever met anybody else that had mosaic.
- It's so rare that - Yeah, it's very rare.
You know, he was Down's syndrome.
He didn't quite fit into that category.
So we didn't talk about it very much in front of him.
To us, he was just a kid.
The problems that Steven had growing up is he kind of fit in between special ed and non-special ed.
That was hard.
Because sometimes when you have a label, people don't see your your abilities.
They see your disabilities.
Sean! I have a job.
I'm a dishwasher at Angels Stadium.
I would like to get out of the house, do more social things.
At some point, have a, a girlfriend.
And I really like having some new experiences.
Watch out! - Oh! - Aw - Are you okay? - I'm fine.
I knew that was gonna happen.
- Are you okay? - Ow! So, uh, what's for dinner? Well, for dinner is Spanish food.
- It's gonna be a surprise.
- Mm-hmm, big surprise.
So is it chicken or is it? John, don't ruin it, okay? - Okay.
- I can eat anything.
- I'll eat anything.
- Well, let's see.
- Hello.
- Hello.
We have dinner.
All right, there you go.
Bea is gonna put a little bit of French fries.
- Okay.
- Okay.
And we want to see if you like our dinner.
Uh You're gonna try it first, and then I will tell you what it is.
- Are you ready, Steven? - I'm ready.
Okay, what is this? Is this, is this chicken? All right, try it.
And then I'll tell you what it is.
This is really good.
- All right.
- Thanks.
- I'm glad you like it.
- I love it.
Mmm.
Hmm, I don't know.
But the, uh, French fries is really good.
- Thank you, John.
- You're welcome.
It tastes like calamari to me.
This is exactly what it is.
- Yes! - Calamari.
- Oh, it is? - It is calamari.
Do you guys know what calamaris have inside? - What? - They have ink.
Oh, ink.
This is the calamari ink.
I lost my appetite.
I'm sorry.
I made it with ink.
This is nasty.
That's nasty? - Squid.
- No, what he's saying is nasty.
- Okay, you want some more? - Hell no.
What the hell? I'm ready to go, you guys.
To L.
A.
I'm Megan, and I'm 22.
My dreams are to move to L.
A.
and be a film producer.
- See you in L.
A.
- See you in L.
A.
Is moving realistic for us? I don't know.
I'm here, I'm alive, I'm human, and that's what we need to know.
We're all humans.
Okay.
You have your clothes that you want to take? - Yes.
- It is a lot hotter in L.
A.
- than it is Colorado.
- Yes, it is.
I kind of like this one.
That looks cute.
All right.
- That's comfy.
- Yeah.
I'm Megan, and I'm 22.
I was born and raised in Denver.
My dreams are to move to L.
A.
and be a film producer.
Are you excited about the drive? - Yeah, I think so.
- I think we're gonna have fun.
- Yeah, we are.
- Are you gonna sing the whole way? I think so.
How about you? All the way.
I don't want the whole society because I have this.
My passion is singing and dancing.
I was a cheerleader at my high school.
I am a public speaker.
I'm in college right now, and I have my own business, Megology.
I should give you my business card.
For me, I am beating the odds right now.
Your business cards I'm gonna take 'em out of the box.
- Oh, okay.
- Just goes right there.
Okay, you ready? I am Megan's mom.
I imagine Megan's mom has a name.
- What is your name? - Oh.
Oh, that.
I'm Megan's mom.
My name is Kris.
Last bag of Mom's.
There we go.
Ah, good job.
When she was born, I became Megan's mom, and that's that identity that I've had since she was born.
I have dedicated my life to my daughter.
I made the choice for her to be here.
Therefore, it is my responsibility to make sure she has the best life she possibly can.
I love you.
I love you, too.
I'm ready to go, you guys.
To L.
A.
- Can we go now? - Let's go now.
- Let's go right now.
- You want to go right now? - Yes, right now! - Right this minute? - Right now! Right now! - Okay, let's go! Let's go right now.
- Gotta find the keys.
- Yes, we do.
Find the keys.
Megan has been wanting to move to Los Angeles for the past three years.
Fortunately, this summer, we're able to give it a try.
Um, for Megan, having a commonality with her peers is so important.
Yes.
I've found a community center called Leaps n Boundz where I'm hoping that Megan can make some new friends.
Okay.
Is moving to Los Angeles realistic for us? I don't know.
- Bye! - See you in L.
A.
! See you in L.
A.
! - Boom.
- Oh You like to torture me so much, huh? I do.
It is it's so much fun for me.
Geez, man! See? Like that.
"Cheese, man.
" - Not "cheese"! - Yes I said "geez.
" Oh, okay, I thought you said "cheese.
" Not "cheese.
" My name is Elena.
I was born in Japan, Tokyo.
I speak a little bit of Japanese.
The Japanese culture isn't very open with disabilities.
It was hard, because I wasn't looking at her as a person, Elena.
It's always the title.
Down Syndrome Elena.
Back to one and action! Elena is the outgoing personality.
She loves to sing, acting and just being the center of attention.
I was waiting for something crazy.
I like to hang out with my friends, go to movies, go to dinners.
And I also love to cook.
I go to this program with my friend John Tucker.
He's kind of like my favorite guy.
What's it start with? I want to guess.
Thank you.
I was like, So I was like, "What's up, boy, what's up, baby?" I was like, "What's up?" What the hell? I'm sorry, I can't help it.
Well, I have a different kind of laugh.
Yeah, that I don't do it like that part.
Yeah, you do Well, not all the time I be like a pig.
- Please stop.
- Fine.
- Hi, Cristina.
- Hello.
So you can go first, 'cause you're at the back.
Why, thank you.
No offense, John What's that? but last night I was making fun of you.
- Oh, yeah.
- Why? He says, Excuse me! But you're really good at that attitude.
- But she makes me laugh.
- I know, I know - She makes me laugh so hard.
- Yep.
- Okay, enough of this.
- Because of him.
John, stop! Hey! Come on.
Not not all the time I'm always crazy.
- It sure sounds like you are.
- Are you? - Yes, she is.
- Sometimes, - but not always.
- She is.
- She is.
- Sometimes! That's what I said.
I'm aware that I am crazy, but you don't have to say it in front of my face.
I don't like that.
Are you ready to bowl? I'm always ready to bowl.
Cool.
Eleanor, why don't you come over here and sit by us? Elena! Uh Elena.
Close enough.
John Tucker.
He does that a lot.
He has a habit of saying my name the wrong way, and I don't appreciate it.
- Hello.
- Hey, guys.
- Hi, Steven.
- Hey, John.
- Hi, Elena.
- Hi, Steven.
- Hey! - Hey! Mmm! - Hey, dude! - What up? My name's Sean.
I'm a huge ladies' man.
I love ladies.
Hi, ladies.
Do you have a boyfriend? - How are you? - Good, how are you? I wake up at 5:00 in the morning, I shave Let me see.
Shave was good? - Yep.
- You gonna grow a beard again? - Nope.
- Yeah, that was gross.
That'd be gross.
We are Sean's most excellent parents.
We had a lot of OMG moments during the pregnancy, and when Sean was born with Down syndrome it was like, all right! This is the journey God wants us to have.
Well, Dad's putting the golf clubs in the car.
You think you're gonna win anything today? A cute babe.
They don't give away cute babes in Special Olympics.
I've been playing golf since ten years old.
I have a lot of trophies.
- Yeah! - Yeah! Let's get our team on! I got so I got Steven.
Sean! - No.
- Nope.
- Nope.
- It's you guys.
It's you guys.
- Elena, Sean and Rachel.
- Oh, yeah.
How about this way? How about this? I have a better idea.
- How about we can - I was about to say something! We could go alphabetical order.
No, I have a better idea.
- Oh, my God.
- How about we can switch Steven to Rachel, and we'll be perfect.
You know what? This is getting really confusing right now, 'cause I'm like Okay.
I have a better idea, I have a better idea.
Let's do the teams that was on the board.
Can we just bowl? - So I'm good.
- Yeah! It's confusing me! I know I want to switch, but didn't we make the teams already? - I know, but - So we gotta leave it.
my mind was telling me that you want to switch, so that's why they make they make me confused.
- It's okay.
- So it's my fault.
- I'm sorry.
- That's okay.
Let's leave it the way it is.
Next time next time, if you want to switch, - just tell me.
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Yeah? Then let's bowl.
- Yeah, man! - Holla, baby! Bull's-eye! Go, Rachel! Yeah! - All right! - Two in a row! - Okay, I guess I'm next.
- Yeah.
So, what's up? That's good.
Oh, you you're very close to me.
- I know, is that okay? - Yeah.
- Come on, Steven! - Come on, come on, come on! Yeah! Check it out! Check it out, check it out, check it right now! Check it right now, check it right now, check it right now, now! You and Steven do the same! Hey.
You okay? I want to go home.
Uh, uh What happened? I feel like I'm in a movie right now.
Watching you out here doing what you want to do is very brave.
And maybe I need to start being brave, too.
What happened? Uh, let me talk to her.
No, let me handle it.
What happened? : I want to go home! Why? I just want to go home! I have a better idea.
Let's go over there and make new friends and have fun, okay? If you have a problem, you tell me, okay? But don't get up and walk away, okay? I don't like when John Tucker say that I am crazy.
I am really sensitive what people say about me.
I've been picked on when I was a kid, and I don't like that.
- One more.
- Hey, Cristina, John Tucker, I need you guys for a second.
Me? - Both of you guys.
- Okay.
- Yo, Johnny? - What? Come here.
What? What? You guys kind of said that I'm crazy and Miss Piggy.
I don't like that.
That kind of hurts my feelings.
I just don't like it when you call me crazy.
I really don't like that.
It makes me really uncomfortable.
It's like this, it's like when I, when I say that you're crazy, I don't mean it, like, you know, like, you crazy, like, I'm not really saying like I'm trying to be mean.
Hey! Sometimes you do act like Like a six-year-old.
I would say more than that.
Like a three-year-old.
I just don't like the word "crazy," but it would be easy if you say the word, I mean, it makes me feel much calmer.
Oh, something like, I could say something like, you know, "Elena, just cool it down, like" Oh, yeah, I love that! - Cool down, cool down.
- I love that one better! Just, yeah, just keep it on the, on the DL.
- Not like - Yeah, keep it down low.
- On the DL, not over - Overboard! Yeah, so - Yeah, I see what you mean.
- Yeah.
Otherwise, it's kind of like, really Keep it on the DL.
Okay.
- Are we okay, John? - Yeah, we're great.
- Bam! - Good.
You guys, good game.
Thanks, Seany.
Ooh, I said Seany! You were good out there.
- Thanks, bud.
- You're welcome.
Where are we? - California.
- Where? - California.
- Where are we?! - Oh, stop it.
- Come on, girl.
Mommy, stop it.
We're tourists right now, aren't we? My dreams are really different compared to my mom's.
My dream is to move here and to start a life in California.
- Here we are! - That's right! First time here? - Yes.
- Our first time.
Is there anything specific you want to see in L.
A.
? Oh, you want to go to Hollywood.
- Yes, I do.
- Yeah.
Megan has called me her dream maker.
And if she didn't have Down syndrome, she'd be able to move out here and I wouldn't worry.
I would cry and worry like everyone else's mother does.
But there's an added component.
Um, it's just not that easy.
Just stay here forever? You want a movie deal? Starting today.
All right, I think there's a possibility we over-packed.
Well, don't get too comfy in here, girl.
That's Mama's room! Let's go look at where your room is.
- No, no, no, no, no! - Yeah, yeah, yeah.
No, no, I don't think so, no.
- How come you get the big room? - Because I want to.
- Let's flip for it.
- Mom, no.
Come on, let's flip.
- No - I'm showing you your bedroom.
Okay, come here.
That was funny.
Toast to my mom and making my dreams come true - as a dream maker.
- Aw.
Thank you.
I love being your dream maker.
Oh, that is good.
I like this.
This is awesome.
Yum! That's cold! Oh, sweet mama, that's cold! Oh, my gosh, we're soaked.
Yes, we are.
Must be California! - I know.
- California wet.
- California wet! - Yes, Mom.
I've been talking about this a lot.
You've been talking about coming here for years.
And, look, here we are.
I feel like I'm in a movie right now.
I know, right? You know the first time I saw the ocean, I was not very much younger than you.
So, how old were you then? - When I moved out? - Yes.
I was 18 when I moved out.
- Really? I did not know that.
- I did.
That's cool.
Really good idea.
It was really hard, though.
Yeah.
Does it make you nervous or anything? - I don't know.
- No? I don't know yet.
- Maybe it makes me nervous.
- You think so, Mom? Yeah, maybe.
Yeah.
When you move out Yeah? you know, it's gonna be just me.
And I'll miss you.
- You're right, I probably - Yes.
shouldn't be so attached to you, but then if you are living in California, where would you like me to live? Okay.
Well Oh, my God! Oh, my goodness.
- Well - Just say it.
- It's not gonna hurt my heart.
- Okay.
Oh, thank you.
You know? I want you to be able to be independent and have your own life.
And I guess it's probably time for me to start thinking about having my own life.
Yeah, like dating.
What? What? You want to start dating, right? It's been a really long time.
- Yeah.
- But I want to get you set up and get you organized.
And I did some research, and I found this place called Leaps n Boundz.
- Yeah.
- It's a community center where you can meet some new friends.
So you could check it out.
You know, watching you out here, doing what you want to do is very brave.
Then maybe I need to start being brave, too.
- Yeah.
- You know? Can we do a Snapchat, Mom? - Right now? - Yes.
A little selfie? What are you gonna say? - Whoo-hoo, California! - Okay, Mom.
- As loud as you can.
- Oh, my God.
Your biggest cheerleader voice.
Okay, ready? One, two, three.
California! Let's go, Dodgers.
Melissa.
Nice to meet you.
I know that my boyfriend's gonna watch my show, but I just wanted to tell my boyfriend that I I don't want to cheat on him.
I'm not very good at basketball.
- Try it.
- All right, try.
- Hey-oh! - Nice.
How was your day? What'd you do? Chillax.
- Chillax? - Yeah.
All right.
I'm Melissa, and I work with Leaps n Boundz in social programming for individuals with special needs.
Hey, John.
What's up, Melissa? - How was school? - It was good.
We like to see ourselves as a launching point for anything that these adults want to do.
Hello! You must be Miss Megan.
Welcome.
Thanks.
- Very cool.
- Megan, you want to check it out? Yes.
Look around a little bit? - All right.
Have fun.
- Okay.
- Bye.
- Bye.
Okay, then.
Miss Megan, what do you think? It's pretty good.
Pretty cool? I feel a little anxious.
To go through all these things to make friends, you know, like, new friendships from the beginning, from a new start, you know, like, my heart's pounding.
I don't know what to think, I don't know what to say.
Do you guys know Tyler Perry? Tyler Perry? Yeah.
Madea on the Run.
Yeah, Madea on the Run.
See, I think you guys have a lot to talk about.
Yeah, I kind of have a crush on him, too.
- Ooh! - Oh, do you? Girl.
Ooh! Yeah, player! I can't stop talking about Tyler Perry right now.
I'm his future ex-wife, is what I call myself.
Don't don't get me started on that.
He's a film producer, just like I am a film producer.
- Oh, wow.
- Yes.
Cool.
I am a music artist.
You are? Well, so am I, 'cause I'm a singer and a songwriter myself.
Me, too, singer, songwriter and rapper.
Well, that's good to know, 'cause I do the same thing.
I'm, like, a party girl.
I party way too much.
Okay, that that's cool.
Hey, Rachel.
Rachel, this is Megan.
Hi, I'm Rachel.
That's my friend's name - is Rachel.
- Hi.
- It's nice to meet you.
- How are you? - I'm great.
- Do you watch American Idol? Yes, I do, actually.
'Cause I have a favorite singer from American Idol.
Really? You know who is my favorite singer? - Who is it? - Adam Lambert.
Wow, that's wonderful.
So what kind of music do you like? - Hip-hop.
- Oh, my gosh, hip-hop.
Jennifer Hudson knows Jamie Foxx.
I met Jamie Foxx.
What?! That's crazy.
Jamie Let me tell you something, Really? I watch this show called The Housewives of the Orange County.
- Oh, wow.
- So does my brother.
Let me tell you this, though.
Sean is a ladies' man.
- He loves the ladies.
- Really? I dated a ladies' man.
- You did? - I used to, yeah.
You dated a ladies' man? - Yeah, I did.
- So maybe you two would be perfect.
Is he sexy? - You think he's cute? - Yeah.
Yes, he is cute.
I know that my boyfriend's gonna watch my show, but I just want to tell my boyfriend that I I don't want to cheat on him.
I am not a player.
This is Steven.
Oh, it's Steven.
- This is Megan.
- Steven, this is Megan.
- Hi.
- Hi, Megan.
Hi, it's nice to meet you.
That's Cristina.
Hi, I'm Megan.
- Hi, Megan.
Hello.
- It's nice to meet you.
Now we got this new girl, Megan.
Now, me and her can be really good friends.
Me and Megan like to talk about boys.
And she could be a really good influence for me.
and we've been talking the whole time.
Yes.
So, do you have Facebook? Yes, I do have Facebook.
Add me on Facebook.
I'll try, maybe later.
I have got to tell you guys something about myself.
I am a public speaker to people with Down syndrome and just like you guys.
I decided to make a documentary about Down syndrome.
Oh, my God! Are you kidding me? When you say about the DS thing, and you said the whole word, that kind of makes me uncomfortable.
- Really? - When you say the whole word, like "Down syndrome," I kind of get offensive with that.
- What, you don't like hearing that? - No.
I'd rather not hear it.
Okay.
I don't blame you if you don't want to hear it, you know? Excuse me.
I'm sorry, I I'm sorry that really offended you.
I just can't deal with all the pain.
When Elena was born, I was crying every day.
I love her very much, but it took 20 years to be able to finally accept her as she is.
When Elena was born in Japan, to have any family member with special needs is not really acceptable.
It was a shame for the family.
Elena, are you in there? I was crying every day.
All I could think is, I wished I could gave birth normal child.
I love her very much, but it took 20 years to be able to finally accept her as she is.
Elena, do you feel like when you hear the label of Down syndrome, - do you feel like it limits you, - Please don't say that.
so that people don't understand who you really are? Because they're basing - their opinion - I'm just afraid.
- Yeah.
- I'm afraid to be who I am.
And it's hard so much.
I just can't deal with it.
I'm sorry, I I'm sorry that really offended you.
I just can't deal with all the pain.
I don't like to be called you-know-what.
And what is you-know-what? Down syndrome.
Hold my hand, and I'll hug you, okay? To cheer you up, okay? I have, uh, DS, and when people say that to my face, I kind of get real emotional on that.
It makes me really uncomfortable, being that a DS person.
I know you don't like it, but I'm just letting you know, if you have a any problems or something, you tell me, and I will help you.
Uh, I kind of get emotional all the time.
I can't help it.
And that's okay.
But I believe in you guys, 'cause you guys have Down syndrome, and so do I.
I know I get offensive, and I know I'm kind of crazy, but it is kind of hard for me to show who I really am.
When I hear those certain words, like, uh, you know what and other stuff She says to herself, "I do silly things.
I do wrong thing.
It's because of Down syndrome.
I cannot try because I have Down syndrome.
" I want Elena to feel that it is okay to have Down syndrome.
Just love yourself as you are.
I remember when, uh, I first heard from my parents that I was different.
And they actually set me down and said I have a a disability.
And that's when I first said, "I don't really care what people think of me or what they, uh how they judge me.
" It's just a title.
It is, it is, it's just it's just a title.
I was at this, uh, event with my parents, and, uh, my mom, one of her, like, friends was, uh, wondering what I thought about me having Down syndrome.
And I said, uh, "I never really thought of it as 'down' syndrome.
I thought it was, uh, 'up' syndrome.
" And they sort of just laughed.
"Up syndrome" is just my way of saying that I'm just upbeat.
I want to be more up than depressed.
When I was born, the doctors had to tell my mom that I will be Down syndrome, and so the doctors asked her When I found out from the doctors after the amniocentesis, they first said it was a boy, and then they said, "Down syndrome.
"Don't expect a lot.
He will never be an asset to society.
He will never be a productive citizen.
" Those are the words they tell you.
You know, all negative.
I just said, "No, John is gonna be my child.
"I will take care of him.
He has Down syndrome, but it's not gonna limit him.
" I really want to hear about your new friends.
Elena, she was there.
Every time you say "Down syndrome," - she just kind of, like, shuts down.
- Really? I never had a a friend that really cares about me.
Don't give up on me.
Bye, John.
Bye, Melissa.
Yes.
I know, look at all this stuff going on.
So maybe we can get together sometime, me and you.
Yeah, maybe.
- You know? - Yeah.
I'll give you my number.
- That's really cool, you know.
- That's right.
Sometimes I get nervous It's hard to express myself, who I really am.
Bye, guys.
I really want to hear about your new friends.
Well, John was pretty funny.
Is he funny? - Yes.
- Yeah? I heard he's a rapper.
Yes, he is.
- Yeah? - Yes.
There was a couple of others talking about having a disability with Down syndrome.
And Elena, she was there.
Every time you say "Down syndrome," - she just kind of, like, shuts down.
- Really? I guess she was, like, not ready for this conversation.
Not ready for a conversation about Down syndrome? Yes, she's, like, saying that she's struggling - Yeah.
- With e everything, I guess.
How did you feel about that? Me? I mean, 'cause you really love who you are.
- Yes.
- And you love everything about yourself.
Yes.
That's kind of a situation It's just, like I'm not the one that is God.
Mm-hmm.
I can't change people having Down syndrome.
No.
I can't do that as my power to be God, I guess.
- I don't know.
- You don't have that power? - No, I don't.
- No? But would you want to change? I mean, would you want to not have Down syndrome? Well, I don't know.
People like us - are different.
- Yeah.
And some of them don't want to be different.
I want you - Ow.
- to spread your wings and do whatever you want and something for yourself.
I never had a a friend that really cares about me.
Don't give up on me.
- I love you.
- Love you, too.
- I love you.
- Love you, too, Mom.
- Say it like you mean it.
- I love you, too, Mom.
There you go.
- No! - Oh, my God! That's beautiful.
- Good shot, Sean.
- Wow.
A woman who just got a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome could watch this and see, "Oh, my gosh, here's people that date.
"My son can get married.
My child one day will have a job, will have meaningful relationships, and will have an amazing life.
" Now I'm like ooh, ah.
That was the best day of my life.
Our dream for them is that they could live as independent as they can.
My paycheck way to start the day.
Being independent is working on our own.
Hey, Kevin.
You can make your life anything you want.
Are you currently working? It's hard enough in this industry without a disability.
I have dreams of my own.
- I think you're sexy.
- Oh.
How do you handle dating? How do you handle kissing? - I love you.
- Girl, I love you too.
I love you way more, Brendan.
I do want her to experience a satisfying sexual life.
Why not? - What did you get her? - A ring.
You got her a ring? It's a really big step to get married.
Whew.
If we want to have an independent life, we got to make sure that they have an independent No, and the problem is I'm not ready.
Uh, ladies, if you're out there, call me.
Cheers.
I need a girlfriend.
What's up with all the messages you've been posting on Facebook with Hillary? It does hurt my feelings a little bit.
You need to respect her boundaries, because she did say she had a boyfriend.
I know this will break your heart and hurt your feelings, but I have to set some boundaries for you.
Everybody, uh, has their own challenges.
You want me to talk to her? No! She's just very emotional.
That's how you make friends.
You want to control her.
I feel stressed about Elena.
We'll get you your own apartment.
- No.
- You don't want an apartment or condo? Enough! My dreams are really different than my mom's.
All of my life is here.
She needs to be independent, but what happens when I die? Megan really wants babies.
I'm a single mom; I don't want to raise another baby.
- It's confusing for you.
- Confusing? How's it confusing? I would really like for you to reconsider that dream.
Oh, my God.
Guys' night out.
- It is.
- Drinking beers.
Online dating is the worst.
I remember I picked one up, and, uh, I found out she is as crazy as a a lunatic.
I wonder if there's any cute girls around here.
She has a ring on.
- Hi there.
- Hi.
- Steven.
- Olivia.
Nice to meet you.
Hi, Sean.
Olivia.
Dating.
Yes.
Boyfriend, yes.
That's cool.
Yeah.
Okay.
Yup.
We are seven friends.
Each unique.
But with one thing in common.
Down syndrome.
But that doesn't define us.
This is our story.
Okay, Mr.
DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up.
Some people think people with disabilities never could make it big.
Um, how can I say this politely? Screw you.
You can make your life anything you want.
What I want is to buy a house with my boyfriend and I.
My goal is to inspire people with my work.
- Say something to me.
- I'm sexy.
I know you're sexy.
What else are you? Hot.
I'm kind of boy crazy.
I kind of feel like I'm like the Matt Damon of the bunch.
I got hopes, dreams.
Everything that you have, I have.
I am a very typical 22-year-old girl.
I play golf.
I love to cook.
Also, I like poetry.
- My dream is to get married.
- I want a girlfriend.
I want a car.
I want independence.
If you don't want people to treat you different, don't treat me different.
I do have a story to tell.
Don't be afraid of me.
I don't bite.
When people look at you, what do you want them to see? The real me.
Hello, princess.
You are gorgeous.
Uh-huh, girlfriend.
- Okay, we're setting the table for your friends.
- Okay.
My name is Cristina.
I'm 25 years old.
I live in a nice, sweet house with my parents.
This is my dad, my brother, myself my mom and my brother.
Interesting enough, it has been - not the challenge we thought - Yes.
it was going to be when we had her.
I was expecting a completely different future.
My thought is that I was not going to have a relationship with my daughter like other moms.
That's the way you put it to me.
"I will not wake up waiting for my daughter to come back from a date like my mom did for me.
" And I think that was your lowest moment.
That was a moment that, uh Now I look back, I see Cristina and I we have beautiful moments.
And you worry about her relationship with her boyfriend.
And I worry the relationship with the boyfriend.
What you thought you'll never have to worry about.
Surprise, surprise, yes.
In my life, everything's perfect, nice and organized.
I like to hang out with my friends, my family, my boyfriend.
Love you.
To hang out and chill.
- Hey, Rachel! - Hey, Cristina! - Hey, Cristina.
- Come in.
- Hi, guys.
How are you? - Thank you.
- Hello.
How are you? - Good.
Hey, Rachel.
Oh, you look beautiful.
Thank you.
I'm Rachel.
I'm I'm 32.
And I live with my mom and dad.
At first, my mom and dad didn't know I had Down syndrome.
And the doctor told them, and they're, they're okay with that.
One of the things about being the parent of a child with an intellectual disability is you just have different things to celebrate, different things that are rewarding, and they come along at different times.
So we follow a different timeline than most your typical parents would.
But the feelings are the same.
I have great parents.
My dad, he's a really cool dad.
- Oh, do I get a hug for that? - Oh That's good.
Aw, thanks.
My mom I love my mom so much! We do everything together.
We go shopping together.
We like to go out to eat.
We like to go to movies.
Rachel enjoys going to see R-rated movies.
Ted 2? - I love Ted movies.
- Can you watch that one? - Yeah.
- It's rated, like, double R.
- Well, I'm over 30.
- Oh, that's right.
I'm very independent.
I do my own laundry.
I've been doing that for years now.
And I do my own shopping.
I got the checkbook right here.
And I go to work on my own.
I'm a mail room assistant.
I've been working for three years.
I love my job.
What do you want people to know about you? Oh, boy.
- Oh, John.
- Hey, John! - What's up? What's up? - Hey, John.
Hi.
My name is John Tucker, and I live in Los Angeles, California.
I am a rap artist, honey.
You know how I do, keep it real JT is so hot for real I'm the person that's gonna make you want to get down and get your groove on, get your dance on.
Outgoing as you are, you got a shy side, huh? - No.
- No? You're not shy? I'm never shy.
When I was born, my parents treated me as part of the family.
My sisters treated me as part of their family.
It was just like, "Okay, my brother has Down syndrome.
He's not different.
" John is not your typical person.
John is totally unique.
He likes to perform.
I didn't know nothing about no rapping and stuff, but that's what he wanted to do, so we stood by him all the time.
People comes in different sizes and different disabilities.
- Yes! - Yes! Nice! I thought he was not gonna get it.
My name is Steven.
I'm 24 years old.
I was born with mosaic Down syndrome.
Kids with mosaic Down's syndrome are typically higher functioning than a typical Down's kid.
I don't think we've ever met anybody else that had mosaic.
- It's so rare that - Yeah, it's very rare.
You know, he was Down's syndrome.
He didn't quite fit into that category.
So we didn't talk about it very much in front of him.
To us, he was just a kid.
The problems that Steven had growing up is he kind of fit in between special ed and non-special ed.
That was hard.
Because sometimes when you have a label, people don't see your your abilities.
They see your disabilities.
Sean! I have a job.
I'm a dishwasher at Angels Stadium.
I would like to get out of the house, do more social things.
At some point, have a, a girlfriend.
And I really like having some new experiences.
Watch out! - Oh! - Aw - Are you okay? - I'm fine.
I knew that was gonna happen.
- Are you okay? - Ow! So, uh, what's for dinner? Well, for dinner is Spanish food.
- It's gonna be a surprise.
- Mm-hmm, big surprise.
So is it chicken or is it? John, don't ruin it, okay? - Okay.
- I can eat anything.
- I'll eat anything.
- Well, let's see.
- Hello.
- Hello.
We have dinner.
All right, there you go.
Bea is gonna put a little bit of French fries.
- Okay.
- Okay.
And we want to see if you like our dinner.
Uh You're gonna try it first, and then I will tell you what it is.
- Are you ready, Steven? - I'm ready.
Okay, what is this? Is this, is this chicken? All right, try it.
And then I'll tell you what it is.
This is really good.
- All right.
- Thanks.
- I'm glad you like it.
- I love it.
Mmm.
Hmm, I don't know.
But the, uh, French fries is really good.
- Thank you, John.
- You're welcome.
It tastes like calamari to me.
This is exactly what it is.
- Yes! - Calamari.
- Oh, it is? - It is calamari.
Do you guys know what calamaris have inside? - What? - They have ink.
Oh, ink.
This is the calamari ink.
I lost my appetite.
I'm sorry.
I made it with ink.
This is nasty.
That's nasty? - Squid.
- No, what he's saying is nasty.
- Okay, you want some more? - Hell no.
What the hell? I'm ready to go, you guys.
To L.
A.
I'm Megan, and I'm 22.
My dreams are to move to L.
A.
and be a film producer.
- See you in L.
A.
- See you in L.
A.
Is moving realistic for us? I don't know.
I'm here, I'm alive, I'm human, and that's what we need to know.
We're all humans.
Okay.
You have your clothes that you want to take? - Yes.
- It is a lot hotter in L.
A.
- than it is Colorado.
- Yes, it is.
I kind of like this one.
That looks cute.
All right.
- That's comfy.
- Yeah.
I'm Megan, and I'm 22.
I was born and raised in Denver.
My dreams are to move to L.
A.
and be a film producer.
Are you excited about the drive? - Yeah, I think so.
- I think we're gonna have fun.
- Yeah, we are.
- Are you gonna sing the whole way? I think so.
How about you? All the way.
I don't want the whole society because I have this.
My passion is singing and dancing.
I was a cheerleader at my high school.
I am a public speaker.
I'm in college right now, and I have my own business, Megology.
I should give you my business card.
For me, I am beating the odds right now.
Your business cards I'm gonna take 'em out of the box.
- Oh, okay.
- Just goes right there.
Okay, you ready? I am Megan's mom.
I imagine Megan's mom has a name.
- What is your name? - Oh.
Oh, that.
I'm Megan's mom.
My name is Kris.
Last bag of Mom's.
There we go.
Ah, good job.
When she was born, I became Megan's mom, and that's that identity that I've had since she was born.
I have dedicated my life to my daughter.
I made the choice for her to be here.
Therefore, it is my responsibility to make sure she has the best life she possibly can.
I love you.
I love you, too.
I'm ready to go, you guys.
To L.
A.
- Can we go now? - Let's go now.
- Let's go right now.
- You want to go right now? - Yes, right now! - Right this minute? - Right now! Right now! - Okay, let's go! Let's go right now.
- Gotta find the keys.
- Yes, we do.
Find the keys.
Megan has been wanting to move to Los Angeles for the past three years.
Fortunately, this summer, we're able to give it a try.
Um, for Megan, having a commonality with her peers is so important.
Yes.
I've found a community center called Leaps n Boundz where I'm hoping that Megan can make some new friends.
Okay.
Is moving to Los Angeles realistic for us? I don't know.
- Bye! - See you in L.
A.
! See you in L.
A.
! - Boom.
- Oh You like to torture me so much, huh? I do.
It is it's so much fun for me.
Geez, man! See? Like that.
"Cheese, man.
" - Not "cheese"! - Yes I said "geez.
" Oh, okay, I thought you said "cheese.
" Not "cheese.
" My name is Elena.
I was born in Japan, Tokyo.
I speak a little bit of Japanese.
The Japanese culture isn't very open with disabilities.
It was hard, because I wasn't looking at her as a person, Elena.
It's always the title.
Down Syndrome Elena.
Back to one and action! Elena is the outgoing personality.
She loves to sing, acting and just being the center of attention.
I was waiting for something crazy.
I like to hang out with my friends, go to movies, go to dinners.
And I also love to cook.
I go to this program with my friend John Tucker.
He's kind of like my favorite guy.
What's it start with? I want to guess.
Thank you.
I was like, So I was like, "What's up, boy, what's up, baby?" I was like, "What's up?" What the hell? I'm sorry, I can't help it.
Well, I have a different kind of laugh.
Yeah, that I don't do it like that part.
Yeah, you do Well, not all the time I be like a pig.
- Please stop.
- Fine.
- Hi, Cristina.
- Hello.
So you can go first, 'cause you're at the back.
Why, thank you.
No offense, John What's that? but last night I was making fun of you.
- Oh, yeah.
- Why? He says, Excuse me! But you're really good at that attitude.
- But she makes me laugh.
- I know, I know - She makes me laugh so hard.
- Yep.
- Okay, enough of this.
- Because of him.
John, stop! Hey! Come on.
Not not all the time I'm always crazy.
- It sure sounds like you are.
- Are you? - Yes, she is.
- Sometimes, - but not always.
- She is.
- She is.
- Sometimes! That's what I said.
I'm aware that I am crazy, but you don't have to say it in front of my face.
I don't like that.
Are you ready to bowl? I'm always ready to bowl.
Cool.
Eleanor, why don't you come over here and sit by us? Elena! Uh Elena.
Close enough.
John Tucker.
He does that a lot.
He has a habit of saying my name the wrong way, and I don't appreciate it.
- Hello.
- Hey, guys.
- Hi, Steven.
- Hey, John.
- Hi, Elena.
- Hi, Steven.
- Hey! - Hey! Mmm! - Hey, dude! - What up? My name's Sean.
I'm a huge ladies' man.
I love ladies.
Hi, ladies.
Do you have a boyfriend? - How are you? - Good, how are you? I wake up at 5:00 in the morning, I shave Let me see.
Shave was good? - Yep.
- You gonna grow a beard again? - Nope.
- Yeah, that was gross.
That'd be gross.
We are Sean's most excellent parents.
We had a lot of OMG moments during the pregnancy, and when Sean was born with Down syndrome it was like, all right! This is the journey God wants us to have.
Well, Dad's putting the golf clubs in the car.
You think you're gonna win anything today? A cute babe.
They don't give away cute babes in Special Olympics.
I've been playing golf since ten years old.
I have a lot of trophies.
- Yeah! - Yeah! Let's get our team on! I got so I got Steven.
Sean! - No.
- Nope.
- Nope.
- It's you guys.
It's you guys.
- Elena, Sean and Rachel.
- Oh, yeah.
How about this way? How about this? I have a better idea.
- How about we can - I was about to say something! We could go alphabetical order.
No, I have a better idea.
- Oh, my God.
- How about we can switch Steven to Rachel, and we'll be perfect.
You know what? This is getting really confusing right now, 'cause I'm like Okay.
I have a better idea, I have a better idea.
Let's do the teams that was on the board.
Can we just bowl? - So I'm good.
- Yeah! It's confusing me! I know I want to switch, but didn't we make the teams already? - I know, but - So we gotta leave it.
my mind was telling me that you want to switch, so that's why they make they make me confused.
- It's okay.
- So it's my fault.
- I'm sorry.
- That's okay.
Let's leave it the way it is.
Next time next time, if you want to switch, - just tell me.
- Okay.
- Okay.
- Yeah? Then let's bowl.
- Yeah, man! - Holla, baby! Bull's-eye! Go, Rachel! Yeah! - All right! - Two in a row! - Okay, I guess I'm next.
- Yeah.
So, what's up? That's good.
Oh, you you're very close to me.
- I know, is that okay? - Yeah.
- Come on, Steven! - Come on, come on, come on! Yeah! Check it out! Check it out, check it out, check it right now! Check it right now, check it right now, check it right now, now! You and Steven do the same! Hey.
You okay? I want to go home.
Uh, uh What happened? I feel like I'm in a movie right now.
Watching you out here doing what you want to do is very brave.
And maybe I need to start being brave, too.
What happened? Uh, let me talk to her.
No, let me handle it.
What happened? : I want to go home! Why? I just want to go home! I have a better idea.
Let's go over there and make new friends and have fun, okay? If you have a problem, you tell me, okay? But don't get up and walk away, okay? I don't like when John Tucker say that I am crazy.
I am really sensitive what people say about me.
I've been picked on when I was a kid, and I don't like that.
- One more.
- Hey, Cristina, John Tucker, I need you guys for a second.
Me? - Both of you guys.
- Okay.
- Yo, Johnny? - What? Come here.
What? What? You guys kind of said that I'm crazy and Miss Piggy.
I don't like that.
That kind of hurts my feelings.
I just don't like it when you call me crazy.
I really don't like that.
It makes me really uncomfortable.
It's like this, it's like when I, when I say that you're crazy, I don't mean it, like, you know, like, you crazy, like, I'm not really saying like I'm trying to be mean.
Hey! Sometimes you do act like Like a six-year-old.
I would say more than that.
Like a three-year-old.
I just don't like the word "crazy," but it would be easy if you say the word, I mean, it makes me feel much calmer.
Oh, something like, I could say something like, you know, "Elena, just cool it down, like" Oh, yeah, I love that! - Cool down, cool down.
- I love that one better! Just, yeah, just keep it on the, on the DL.
- Not like - Yeah, keep it down low.
- On the DL, not over - Overboard! Yeah, so - Yeah, I see what you mean.
- Yeah.
Otherwise, it's kind of like, really Keep it on the DL.
Okay.
- Are we okay, John? - Yeah, we're great.
- Bam! - Good.
You guys, good game.
Thanks, Seany.
Ooh, I said Seany! You were good out there.
- Thanks, bud.
- You're welcome.
Where are we? - California.
- Where? - California.
- Where are we?! - Oh, stop it.
- Come on, girl.
Mommy, stop it.
We're tourists right now, aren't we? My dreams are really different compared to my mom's.
My dream is to move here and to start a life in California.
- Here we are! - That's right! First time here? - Yes.
- Our first time.
Is there anything specific you want to see in L.
A.
? Oh, you want to go to Hollywood.
- Yes, I do.
- Yeah.
Megan has called me her dream maker.
And if she didn't have Down syndrome, she'd be able to move out here and I wouldn't worry.
I would cry and worry like everyone else's mother does.
But there's an added component.
Um, it's just not that easy.
Just stay here forever? You want a movie deal? Starting today.
All right, I think there's a possibility we over-packed.
Well, don't get too comfy in here, girl.
That's Mama's room! Let's go look at where your room is.
- No, no, no, no, no! - Yeah, yeah, yeah.
No, no, I don't think so, no.
- How come you get the big room? - Because I want to.
- Let's flip for it.
- Mom, no.
Come on, let's flip.
- No - I'm showing you your bedroom.
Okay, come here.
That was funny.
Toast to my mom and making my dreams come true - as a dream maker.
- Aw.
Thank you.
I love being your dream maker.
Oh, that is good.
I like this.
This is awesome.
Yum! That's cold! Oh, sweet mama, that's cold! Oh, my gosh, we're soaked.
Yes, we are.
Must be California! - I know.
- California wet.
- California wet! - Yes, Mom.
I've been talking about this a lot.
You've been talking about coming here for years.
And, look, here we are.
I feel like I'm in a movie right now.
I know, right? You know the first time I saw the ocean, I was not very much younger than you.
So, how old were you then? - When I moved out? - Yes.
I was 18 when I moved out.
- Really? I did not know that.
- I did.
That's cool.
Really good idea.
It was really hard, though.
Yeah.
Does it make you nervous or anything? - I don't know.
- No? I don't know yet.
- Maybe it makes me nervous.
- You think so, Mom? Yeah, maybe.
Yeah.
When you move out Yeah? you know, it's gonna be just me.
And I'll miss you.
- You're right, I probably - Yes.
shouldn't be so attached to you, but then if you are living in California, where would you like me to live? Okay.
Well Oh, my God! Oh, my goodness.
- Well - Just say it.
- It's not gonna hurt my heart.
- Okay.
Oh, thank you.
You know? I want you to be able to be independent and have your own life.
And I guess it's probably time for me to start thinking about having my own life.
Yeah, like dating.
What? What? You want to start dating, right? It's been a really long time.
- Yeah.
- But I want to get you set up and get you organized.
And I did some research, and I found this place called Leaps n Boundz.
- Yeah.
- It's a community center where you can meet some new friends.
So you could check it out.
You know, watching you out here, doing what you want to do is very brave.
Then maybe I need to start being brave, too.
- Yeah.
- You know? Can we do a Snapchat, Mom? - Right now? - Yes.
A little selfie? What are you gonna say? - Whoo-hoo, California! - Okay, Mom.
- As loud as you can.
- Oh, my God.
Your biggest cheerleader voice.
Okay, ready? One, two, three.
California! Let's go, Dodgers.
Melissa.
Nice to meet you.
I know that my boyfriend's gonna watch my show, but I just wanted to tell my boyfriend that I I don't want to cheat on him.
I'm not very good at basketball.
- Try it.
- All right, try.
- Hey-oh! - Nice.
How was your day? What'd you do? Chillax.
- Chillax? - Yeah.
All right.
I'm Melissa, and I work with Leaps n Boundz in social programming for individuals with special needs.
Hey, John.
What's up, Melissa? - How was school? - It was good.
We like to see ourselves as a launching point for anything that these adults want to do.
Hello! You must be Miss Megan.
Welcome.
Thanks.
- Very cool.
- Megan, you want to check it out? Yes.
Look around a little bit? - All right.
Have fun.
- Okay.
- Bye.
- Bye.
Okay, then.
Miss Megan, what do you think? It's pretty good.
Pretty cool? I feel a little anxious.
To go through all these things to make friends, you know, like, new friendships from the beginning, from a new start, you know, like, my heart's pounding.
I don't know what to think, I don't know what to say.
Do you guys know Tyler Perry? Tyler Perry? Yeah.
Madea on the Run.
Yeah, Madea on the Run.
See, I think you guys have a lot to talk about.
Yeah, I kind of have a crush on him, too.
- Ooh! - Oh, do you? Girl.
Ooh! Yeah, player! I can't stop talking about Tyler Perry right now.
I'm his future ex-wife, is what I call myself.
Don't don't get me started on that.
He's a film producer, just like I am a film producer.
- Oh, wow.
- Yes.
Cool.
I am a music artist.
You are? Well, so am I, 'cause I'm a singer and a songwriter myself.
Me, too, singer, songwriter and rapper.
Well, that's good to know, 'cause I do the same thing.
I'm, like, a party girl.
I party way too much.
Okay, that that's cool.
Hey, Rachel.
Rachel, this is Megan.
Hi, I'm Rachel.
That's my friend's name - is Rachel.
- Hi.
- It's nice to meet you.
- How are you? - I'm great.
- Do you watch American Idol? Yes, I do, actually.
'Cause I have a favorite singer from American Idol.
Really? You know who is my favorite singer? - Who is it? - Adam Lambert.
Wow, that's wonderful.
So what kind of music do you like? - Hip-hop.
- Oh, my gosh, hip-hop.
Jennifer Hudson knows Jamie Foxx.
I met Jamie Foxx.
What?! That's crazy.
Jamie Let me tell you something, Really? I watch this show called The Housewives of the Orange County.
- Oh, wow.
- So does my brother.
Let me tell you this, though.
Sean is a ladies' man.
- He loves the ladies.
- Really? I dated a ladies' man.
- You did? - I used to, yeah.
You dated a ladies' man? - Yeah, I did.
- So maybe you two would be perfect.
Is he sexy? - You think he's cute? - Yeah.
Yes, he is cute.
I know that my boyfriend's gonna watch my show, but I just want to tell my boyfriend that I I don't want to cheat on him.
I am not a player.
This is Steven.
Oh, it's Steven.
- This is Megan.
- Steven, this is Megan.
- Hi.
- Hi, Megan.
Hi, it's nice to meet you.
That's Cristina.
Hi, I'm Megan.
- Hi, Megan.
Hello.
- It's nice to meet you.
Now we got this new girl, Megan.
Now, me and her can be really good friends.
Me and Megan like to talk about boys.
And she could be a really good influence for me.
and we've been talking the whole time.
Yes.
So, do you have Facebook? Yes, I do have Facebook.
Add me on Facebook.
I'll try, maybe later.
I have got to tell you guys something about myself.
I am a public speaker to people with Down syndrome and just like you guys.
I decided to make a documentary about Down syndrome.
Oh, my God! Are you kidding me? When you say about the DS thing, and you said the whole word, that kind of makes me uncomfortable.
- Really? - When you say the whole word, like "Down syndrome," I kind of get offensive with that.
- What, you don't like hearing that? - No.
I'd rather not hear it.
Okay.
I don't blame you if you don't want to hear it, you know? Excuse me.
I'm sorry, I I'm sorry that really offended you.
I just can't deal with all the pain.
When Elena was born, I was crying every day.
I love her very much, but it took 20 years to be able to finally accept her as she is.
When Elena was born in Japan, to have any family member with special needs is not really acceptable.
It was a shame for the family.
Elena, are you in there? I was crying every day.
All I could think is, I wished I could gave birth normal child.
I love her very much, but it took 20 years to be able to finally accept her as she is.
Elena, do you feel like when you hear the label of Down syndrome, - do you feel like it limits you, - Please don't say that.
so that people don't understand who you really are? Because they're basing - their opinion - I'm just afraid.
- Yeah.
- I'm afraid to be who I am.
And it's hard so much.
I just can't deal with it.
I'm sorry, I I'm sorry that really offended you.
I just can't deal with all the pain.
I don't like to be called you-know-what.
And what is you-know-what? Down syndrome.
Hold my hand, and I'll hug you, okay? To cheer you up, okay? I have, uh, DS, and when people say that to my face, I kind of get real emotional on that.
It makes me really uncomfortable, being that a DS person.
I know you don't like it, but I'm just letting you know, if you have a any problems or something, you tell me, and I will help you.
Uh, I kind of get emotional all the time.
I can't help it.
And that's okay.
But I believe in you guys, 'cause you guys have Down syndrome, and so do I.
I know I get offensive, and I know I'm kind of crazy, but it is kind of hard for me to show who I really am.
When I hear those certain words, like, uh, you know what and other stuff She says to herself, "I do silly things.
I do wrong thing.
It's because of Down syndrome.
I cannot try because I have Down syndrome.
" I want Elena to feel that it is okay to have Down syndrome.
Just love yourself as you are.
I remember when, uh, I first heard from my parents that I was different.
And they actually set me down and said I have a a disability.
And that's when I first said, "I don't really care what people think of me or what they, uh how they judge me.
" It's just a title.
It is, it is, it's just it's just a title.
I was at this, uh, event with my parents, and, uh, my mom, one of her, like, friends was, uh, wondering what I thought about me having Down syndrome.
And I said, uh, "I never really thought of it as 'down' syndrome.
I thought it was, uh, 'up' syndrome.
" And they sort of just laughed.
"Up syndrome" is just my way of saying that I'm just upbeat.
I want to be more up than depressed.
When I was born, the doctors had to tell my mom that I will be Down syndrome, and so the doctors asked her When I found out from the doctors after the amniocentesis, they first said it was a boy, and then they said, "Down syndrome.
"Don't expect a lot.
He will never be an asset to society.
He will never be a productive citizen.
" Those are the words they tell you.
You know, all negative.
I just said, "No, John is gonna be my child.
"I will take care of him.
He has Down syndrome, but it's not gonna limit him.
" I really want to hear about your new friends.
Elena, she was there.
Every time you say "Down syndrome," - she just kind of, like, shuts down.
- Really? I never had a a friend that really cares about me.
Don't give up on me.
Bye, John.
Bye, Melissa.
Yes.
I know, look at all this stuff going on.
So maybe we can get together sometime, me and you.
Yeah, maybe.
- You know? - Yeah.
I'll give you my number.
- That's really cool, you know.
- That's right.
Sometimes I get nervous It's hard to express myself, who I really am.
Bye, guys.
I really want to hear about your new friends.
Well, John was pretty funny.
Is he funny? - Yes.
- Yeah? I heard he's a rapper.
Yes, he is.
- Yeah? - Yes.
There was a couple of others talking about having a disability with Down syndrome.
And Elena, she was there.
Every time you say "Down syndrome," - she just kind of, like, shuts down.
- Really? I guess she was, like, not ready for this conversation.
Not ready for a conversation about Down syndrome? Yes, she's, like, saying that she's struggling - Yeah.
- With e everything, I guess.
How did you feel about that? Me? I mean, 'cause you really love who you are.
- Yes.
- And you love everything about yourself.
Yes.
That's kind of a situation It's just, like I'm not the one that is God.
Mm-hmm.
I can't change people having Down syndrome.
No.
I can't do that as my power to be God, I guess.
- I don't know.
- You don't have that power? - No, I don't.
- No? But would you want to change? I mean, would you want to not have Down syndrome? Well, I don't know.
People like us - are different.
- Yeah.
And some of them don't want to be different.
I want you - Ow.
- to spread your wings and do whatever you want and something for yourself.
I never had a a friend that really cares about me.
Don't give up on me.
- I love you.
- Love you, too.
- I love you.
- Love you, too, Mom.
- Say it like you mean it.
- I love you, too, Mom.
There you go.
- No! - Oh, my God! That's beautiful.
- Good shot, Sean.
- Wow.
A woman who just got a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome could watch this and see, "Oh, my gosh, here's people that date.
"My son can get married.
My child one day will have a job, will have meaningful relationships, and will have an amazing life.
" Now I'm like ooh, ah.
That was the best day of my life.
Our dream for them is that they could live as independent as they can.
My paycheck way to start the day.
Being independent is working on our own.
Hey, Kevin.
You can make your life anything you want.
Are you currently working? It's hard enough in this industry without a disability.
I have dreams of my own.
- I think you're sexy.
- Oh.
How do you handle dating? How do you handle kissing? - I love you.
- Girl, I love you too.
I love you way more, Brendan.
I do want her to experience a satisfying sexual life.
Why not? - What did you get her? - A ring.
You got her a ring? It's a really big step to get married.
Whew.
If we want to have an independent life, we got to make sure that they have an independent No, and the problem is I'm not ready.
Uh, ladies, if you're out there, call me.
Cheers.
I need a girlfriend.
What's up with all the messages you've been posting on Facebook with Hillary? It does hurt my feelings a little bit.
You need to respect her boundaries, because she did say she had a boyfriend.
I know this will break your heart and hurt your feelings, but I have to set some boundaries for you.
Everybody, uh, has their own challenges.
You want me to talk to her? No! She's just very emotional.
That's how you make friends.
You want to control her.
I feel stressed about Elena.
We'll get you your own apartment.
- No.
- You don't want an apartment or condo? Enough! My dreams are really different than my mom's.
All of my life is here.
She needs to be independent, but what happens when I die? Megan really wants babies.
I'm a single mom; I don't want to raise another baby.
- It's confusing for you.
- Confusing? How's it confusing? I would really like for you to reconsider that dream.
Oh, my God.