'Born This Way': on US TV

Born This Way is a six-episode 'docu-series', following the lives of seven young adults with Down syndrome living in Southern California. It premiered in the US last wee, but the online episodes are not available for viewing via Australian internet connections. You can glean a little of its flavour from the trailer videos online. Reaction from viewers seems to be very positive, although some commentators said they hesitated to watch it because of past experiences of the representation of people with Down syndrome on TV. With the second episode broadcast in the US this week, we expect to hear a broader range of responses, that are interesting, even if we haven't seen it yet.

We will be on the lookout for it on Australian television in the future, or perhaps on DVD. In the meantime, here are some early responses:

born this way

Sue Robins, 14th December 2015
... Make a wish, Santa says and Aaron immediately replies: I wish for a wife. A wife! I don’t know what to do with that wish. I know that Aaron’s wish for a wife is a wish for love and belonging. I wish that for him too ...

To the Creators of ‘Born This Way,’ From a Person With a Disability

Emily Wachter, The Mighty, 11th December 2015

... Thank you for taking me inside the lives of seven people with Down syndrome.

Thank you for showing the struggles of a person with special needs.

Thank you for showing that others with special needs can live normal lives.

Thank you for showing that some people with disabilities have a hard time accepting our diagnoses ...

Tearing Down Barriers Through Television

Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, Huffington Post, 11th december 2015
... Sadly, for generations, television has shown people with disabilities as objects of pity. From the Jerry Lewis telethons, to stories where school teams become heroes simply by letting one kid with a disability play for a few minutes out on the court or field, our television sets have brought us stigmas that undermine the one-in-five Americans who have a disability.

Thankfully, with A and E Networks' new show, "Born This Way," there has been a major breakthrough. Finally, people with disabilities and their families are being shown honestly.

Known in the Twitterverse as #BornThisWay, the show follows seven dynamic young adults with Down syndrome and their families as they navigate jobs and relationships and look to gain greater independence ...

Born This Way - Reactions from Josh's Mom
Walkersville Mom, 9th December 2015
I’ve been waiting for what seems like F-O-R-E-V-E-R to see Born This Way on A&E. I can honestly say it did not disappoint! ...

If you get to see it, let us know what you think!