The ABC’s You Can’t Ask That invites Australians to ask the awkward questions they’re usually too embarrassed to — and gives those with the answers a platform to speak when they usually don’t have one.
Tonight’s episode invited a group of people with Down Syndrome to field queries on everything from their hopes for the future to sex and relationships to whether or not they’d been drunk before (many had).
One question, in particular, struck a chord because it's almost always tricky to answer, and yet, the guests on the show gave frank, moving responses.
"Are you planning on getting married and having kids?"
"Ooh, I love this question," one woman answered.
"Children have crossed my mind," confided another. "Every time I'm around kids I get clucky, everytime."
"Two boys and one girl," said a man.
While not everyone wanted children, several people admitted to wanting partners, some had had them in the past:
"I did try one of the dating websites. And they wanted my money. And my two younger brothers stopped me. So..."
But when it the question of love, whether romantic - or familial - the response was universal:
"I want to be loved."
"I like the idea of love."
"I want to feel loved."
"Love is probably something that makes you smile.
"I want a guy that is romantic, brush me off my feet. On my first date, I would do horseback riding on the beach and then take them on this lovely dinner cruise. 'Hello, darling. Yeah, I love you too, darling.'"
You Can't Ask That airs Wednesday at 9pm on the ABC, but you can catch up on iview.
Top Comments
Love to see this, given that people living with disability are given such little voice in what happens to them. They have a voice and they have control, sadly they are not always able to use either. People living with Down Syndrome have a valuable input into the community and their own life and the lives of others who can't speak up. It's refreshingly good to see that they can be honest and show they are just like the "normal" community and have the same feelings as everyone else.
I think it is rather cruel to encourage this. Not even mentioning the genetic passing on, I still remember the Australian Story episode of last year where there was a couple with Down Syndrome and both sets of parents were terrified about them having children as both of them had very limited ability and believed they could raise exactly 4 children in the boyfriend's bedroom and set up house in his bedroom, and that they believed they had 1 million dollars and can do it. I know it is the go to present them as normal, but the fact is, painfully, they aren't and won't be and that is ok. I think it is very cruel to the couple to lead them on and give them the idea it is possible and to give false hope like this.