0:00:02 > 0:00:07Needs to harness all the power. 2.5 twists, full twist, front, perfect!
0:00:07 > 0:00:12- Wow!- Oh, fantastic!- Unbelievable.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16Has she done enough? Well, I tell you what,
0:00:16 > 0:00:19she gave it everything she could give it there.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21She claps the crowd,
0:00:21 > 0:00:24but goodness me, they are giving you a standing ovation.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29Incredible, and that opener, Christine, just out of this world.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32- Superb.- Whatever next? I mean it's just absolutely fantastic.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36# I can tell that we are gonna be friends... #
0:00:39 > 0:00:45Beth Tweddle is Britain's most successful gymnast and three-times world champion.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49This year, she hopes to win her first Olympic medal.
0:00:49 > 0:00:54Omar, who has Down's syndrome, is already a silver medallist,
0:00:54 > 0:00:57thanks, in part, to Beth's help and inspiration.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59Good, a lot better.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02Because Beth has also coached for the Special Olympics.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05He absolutely loves it. As soon as he got here, he's like, "What can I do?
0:01:05 > 0:01:09"When can I start? How long are we training for?"
0:01:09 > 0:01:12It's just that enthusiasm that inspires me.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16The event that Omar competed in, the Special Olympics,
0:01:16 > 0:01:21is almost unknown to the millions who will watch the 2012 Games.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26When I got involved, I thought it was the Paralympics,
0:01:26 > 0:01:28and I soon learned how big it is.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31In America, it's bigger than the Paralympics.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36For athletes who complete in the Special Olympics,
0:01:36 > 0:01:39just taking part is an achievement in itself.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41The Special Olympics.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44Receiving the silver medal from Special Olympics Great Britain,
0:01:44 > 0:01:46Hannah Dempsey!
0:01:46 > 0:01:51The Special Olympics is for athletes with learning difficulties.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54I'm going on a journey to discover just what it takes
0:01:54 > 0:01:57to overcome those difficulties and compete on an international stage.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01# I can tell that we are gonna be friends
0:02:01 > 0:02:06# I can tell that we are gonna be friends. #
0:02:11 > 0:02:14I've never met anyone with Down's syndrome
0:02:14 > 0:02:16or talked to anyone with autism.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19Over the next six months, I'm going to follow four competitors
0:02:19 > 0:02:22as they prepare for the 2009 Special Olympics.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27A world champion judo fighter who has autism
0:02:27 > 0:02:29and is blind in the right eye.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36# There is a house in New Orleans
0:02:38 > 0:02:43# They call the Rising Sun... #
0:02:43 > 0:02:47A 10-pin bowler who couldn't walk properly until he was nine.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51Now he's hoping to strike gold in Leicester.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56Why did the chicken cross the road?
0:02:57 > 0:03:00To get to the other side of the road.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03A basketball player who has Asperger's syndrome,
0:03:03 > 0:03:06hates crowds, and finds it difficult to mix in a team.
0:03:08 > 0:03:13When I'm sort of stressed and stuff, I normally lash out and hit walls
0:03:13 > 0:03:16and I do different things.
0:03:16 > 0:03:18Hannah Dempsey is a dancer who has Down's syndrome
0:03:18 > 0:03:23and is performing in the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics in front of 30,000 people.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31So do you love dancing?
0:03:31 > 0:03:34I do. Absolutely fantastic.
0:03:34 > 0:03:42Because...I love dancing because it feels like I'm floating like a ballerina,
0:03:42 > 0:03:45as Billy Elliot.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48What dance moves do you think that you need to be better at?
0:03:48 > 0:03:52Or the most difficult to do and you'd like to be better?
0:03:52 > 0:03:57Now, that is a top question. I can answer that.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01Sorry, I'm off the plot. Can I start again please?
0:04:01 > 0:04:07- I liked that answer!- Thank you!
0:04:07 > 0:04:11With their health and the help of their family and friends, I'm going to tell their story.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14I'd go absolutely nuts!
0:04:24 > 0:04:26Hannah lives at home with her mum and dad.
0:04:26 > 0:04:27For part of the week,
0:04:27 > 0:04:31she lives and works with a touring dance company.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35I spoke with Hannah's mum Lynne to find out about Hannah's extraordinary life.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38She wasn't quite what we expected. When we had Hannah,
0:04:38 > 0:04:42we had no idea we were having a child with Down's syndrome.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58I'm blushing! I'm blushing!
0:04:58 > 0:05:04I would say having a child with Down's syndrome was probably going to be my worst nightmare.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08Well, the thing I'd like to change in my life
0:05:08 > 0:05:12is that I'd like to be in a cinema
0:05:12 > 0:05:18and on a newspaper a lot, every week,
0:05:18 > 0:05:23and I want that to change
0:05:23 > 0:05:28because I can change people's minds about me
0:05:28 > 0:05:34because I want people to see me because I am famous.
0:05:34 > 0:05:40Because they can't believe it, but they have to see it.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44We accepted her and we loved her and she was great to be with,
0:05:44 > 0:05:49but then we thought about what else, what there was out there for her?
0:05:49 > 0:05:53And she was quite hard work.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57We used to have police helicopters up there on a regular basis
0:05:57 > 0:06:00because she used to get lost, or we thought she was lost -
0:06:00 > 0:06:03she knew exactly where she was, but we thought she was lost.
0:06:03 > 0:06:07Well, the best bit that I love my mum
0:06:07 > 0:06:13is that she is the best main carer
0:06:13 > 0:06:18and she's a brilliant star.
0:06:18 > 0:06:23We didn't feel ashamed about her,
0:06:23 > 0:06:29erm, but certainly I felt embarrassed when I used to take her...
0:06:29 > 0:06:32I used to quite like having her in a hat when she was young,
0:06:32 > 0:06:37and I had the hood of the pram up because of other people's embarrassment
0:06:37 > 0:06:39and our own embarrassment,
0:06:39 > 0:06:42so it was embarrassment rather than being ashamed of her.
0:06:42 > 0:06:48And that's something that's definitely been a journey for me in particular,
0:06:48 > 0:06:56going from being uncomfortable with having a child with Down's syndrome
0:06:56 > 0:07:03to, you know, aren't we lucky, and look what she can do.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14This is Jonathan. He's 42 and lives at home with his mother.
0:07:14 > 0:07:20He and 17 of his friends are entering the Special Olympics national 10-pin bowling tournament.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24But 42 years ago, things were very different.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28I suppose when I first of all realised he'd got measles
0:07:28 > 0:07:30I didn't think anything of it.
0:07:30 > 0:07:35I'm a football fanatic, Man United supporter.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41And it's not until you start to progress,
0:07:41 > 0:07:44as they get a little bit older, and you realise, oh, my God,
0:07:44 > 0:07:47he's a slow learner, he's not doing this,
0:07:47 > 0:07:52he's not doing that and that's when it comes home to you.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57Going to Leicester for a 10-pin bowling tournament.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59Hopefully I will strike gold.
0:07:59 > 0:08:05Went to the doctors, went to child psychiatrists,
0:08:05 > 0:08:09and went to audio people for his hearing and everything else,
0:08:09 > 0:08:13and it was everybody saying yes, your child...
0:08:13 > 0:08:17He's poorly, he's disabled.
0:08:17 > 0:08:23In those days they talked about people that were retarded.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26That name to me is revulsion.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Well, I've got a problem though.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34I can't spell properly.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39I can read a bit, not much.
0:08:46 > 0:08:47That's about it.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53Well I think it's how you actually react to that.
0:08:53 > 0:08:57My husband found it very, very, very difficult, believe me,
0:08:57 > 0:09:03to convince Dad that he had disabled child.
0:09:03 > 0:09:08What's the favourite thing that you love about your mum?
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Good question, that.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17Well, half and half really.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23I do love her in certain ways.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28When she starts to get a bit grumpy all the time, I don't.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35She's a good mum, I respect that.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39Jonathan was born a perfectly normal baby,
0:09:39 > 0:09:45and I, unfortunately, forgot his pushchair when we went up to see Nanny Bates.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47That's right, you gave me measles.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49I didn't give you the measles
0:09:49 > 0:09:52but I must admit I feel personally responsible for it
0:09:52 > 0:09:54because I didn't take his pushchair
0:09:54 > 0:09:57so I borrowed somebody's pushchair
0:09:57 > 0:10:02and this lady never told me that her son was still in quarantine for measles.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05And Jonathan got measles very badly, very badly.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09It stopped him walking, seeing, speaking, the whole works.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13And...which was devastating.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15And he was saying Mama and Dada,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18you know, and all of a sudden there was nothing coming through.
0:10:18 > 0:10:24If I'd have taken Jonathan's pushchair up to my mother's,
0:10:24 > 0:10:28Jonathan would have been a totally normal child
0:10:28 > 0:10:33so I've had a big, big part to play... Excuse me.
0:10:34 > 0:10:39I've had a very big part to play in his life,
0:10:39 > 0:10:43and I suppose it's my repayment to him, really.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58I was back off down the motorway to meet the next athlete.
0:10:58 > 0:11:01He has autism, which affects the way he communicates
0:11:01 > 0:11:04and relates to people around him.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15Their conditions affect them in very different ways.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17Some are able to live everyday lives,
0:11:17 > 0:11:21whilst others require a lifetime of specialist support.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23I met up with Ollie at his foster home
0:11:23 > 0:11:26where he's lived for the past seven years.
0:11:26 > 0:11:32Both Ollie and this foster brother James have excellent chances of getting medals at the Games.
0:11:32 > 0:11:35I'm blind in my right eye, short-sighted in my left eye.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38I've got learning difficulties,
0:11:38 > 0:11:43erm, and I think that's it. I think so, yeah, that's it.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Oliver is on the low end of the autistic spectrum.
0:11:47 > 0:11:53He was born very early and has been blind in his right eye since birth.
0:11:54 > 0:12:00His learning difficulties, in lots of ways a lot of people wouldn't realise.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04Oliver does have obsessions, yes. Some of them...
0:12:04 > 0:12:06One obsession can be moving furniture about.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10That is not his obsession but he will jump from one to another.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15This last week it's been the Irish. God knows why.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18I don't know, don't ask me, he might know, but it's been the Irish.
0:12:18 > 0:12:23And then it's been Mount Everest, it's been Titanic,
0:12:23 > 0:12:27and it's just something... He's just obsessed with them for a while
0:12:27 > 0:12:30and then it will go away onto the next thing.
0:12:30 > 0:12:36We've had more ups and downs with Oliver than we ever have with James.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40James grew up with nothing.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Oliver, on the other hand, had everything money could buy
0:12:43 > 0:12:48apart from the thing that he really wants and that's his mum.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51And then one day when I was having home contact,
0:12:51 > 0:12:53she came over and said, "Can I have a quick word, please?"
0:12:53 > 0:12:55and I thought, "Oh, God, now what's going on?"
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Have I been naughty or something? I hadn't, no!
0:12:58 > 0:13:00It was breaking the news that they were going to Spain
0:13:00 > 0:13:04and I thought of course mothers and fathers joke around, don't they,
0:13:04 > 0:13:08having a laugh and I thought "You're joking, aren't you?"
0:13:08 > 0:13:11And they said, "No, it's the truth, we're actually moving,"
0:13:11 > 0:13:13and I just burst into tears.
0:13:13 > 0:13:18It was like my whole life collapsed because I thought, "Oh, my God, what are they doing?"
0:13:18 > 0:13:20It's like the worst mistake they've made in their life.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25They're moving, like, 5,000, 2,000 miles away from me
0:13:25 > 0:13:27and it's like how am I going to cope?
0:13:33 > 0:13:36Hannah works as a professional dancer.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40I travelled up to Banbury with her and her carer to see her in action.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43We gave her a camera so she could film her journey.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56The dance company is called Anjali,
0:13:56 > 0:14:01which in Sanskrit means joining of hands.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05The unique thing about Anjali is that all the dancers have learning difficulties.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07I didn't know what to expect,
0:14:07 > 0:14:10as it was the first time I would have seen Hannah perform
0:14:10 > 0:14:13and interact with other people with learning difficulties.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20Anjali had been asked to perform in the Opening Ceremony at the Special Olympics.
0:14:22 > 0:14:27The performance will focus on Hannah's solo dance called The Divine Splashette.
0:14:33 > 0:14:38We are the first kind of people in Oxfordshire
0:14:38 > 0:14:41of a dance company,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45of learning with disability people.
0:14:45 > 0:14:51With the... It's by, if I can say it,
0:14:51 > 0:14:54synchronised swimming,
0:14:54 > 0:15:00and all the swimming movements into it, into the solo.
0:15:00 > 0:15:07It feels really cool, like a cool dude really.
0:15:07 > 0:15:13Because I'm trying to look really big, like, really cool,
0:15:13 > 0:15:16that's what I'm trying to do.
0:15:16 > 0:15:20When Hannah completed as a swimmer in the last Special Olympics,
0:15:20 > 0:15:21she won a gold medal.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25She uses this for the inspiration for her dance.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28It was clear that Hannah had the talent,
0:15:28 > 0:15:32although I was wondering whether or not she would have the confidence
0:15:32 > 0:15:36to perform in a stadium in front of 30,000 people.
0:15:39 > 0:15:46How I feel about the performance, it sounds very exciting
0:15:46 > 0:15:52because all the audience clapping away, laughing away.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56How do think you're going to feel when the audience starts clapping?
0:15:56 > 0:15:59I'd go absolutely nuts!
0:16:01 > 0:16:06I just, like, focus on what I'm doing, concentrating.
0:16:06 > 0:16:14All the audience thinks, "Oh, my Lord, what is that girl doing?"
0:16:17 > 0:16:22I've never seen her dance before in that setting,
0:16:22 > 0:16:27and certainly not on stage in front of so many people,
0:16:27 > 0:16:29and she was fantastic.
0:16:29 > 0:16:33And you suddenly see your daughter through different eyes
0:16:33 > 0:16:38because I didn't realise she was capable of doing it so well.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49I was invited to see Hannah perform,
0:16:49 > 0:16:51but this time it was in front of an audience.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54Hannah also dances with a company called Magpie
0:16:54 > 0:16:57which reaches out to anyone who wants to dance
0:16:57 > 0:17:00and focuses on ability rather than disability.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20I was on the road again,
0:18:20 > 0:18:23travelling to meet the final athlete in my story.
0:18:23 > 0:18:24He has Asperger's syndrome,
0:18:24 > 0:18:28which is a form of autism that affects how a person makes sense of the world,
0:18:28 > 0:18:31processes information and relates to other people.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36Asperger's syndrome is a mostly hidden disability,
0:18:36 > 0:18:40which means you can't tell from their outward appearance that they have it.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44This is Tom. He is 14 and lives at home with his mum and dad.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48He was in training for the Special Olympics basketball tournament,
0:18:48 > 0:18:52but only a short time ago this would have never seemed possible.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Tom developed as normal.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00He spoke, he walked, all at the right milestones,
0:19:00 > 0:19:04but when he went to school there were difficulties beginning to set in,
0:19:04 > 0:19:08socially, and achieving,
0:19:08 > 0:19:13and being part of groups and things like that, but it came to a head
0:19:13 > 0:19:16when he was about seven. I think, his behaviour deteriorated,
0:19:16 > 0:19:22and by the last year at primary school he was on the verge of being excluded with no support
0:19:22 > 0:19:27because they wouldn't believe us that we thought there was something going on.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31My dyslexia is all right because I'm not too bad on that.
0:19:31 > 0:19:37My autism is like how I react with people, like, sort of winding me up.
0:19:37 > 0:19:43I get annoyed with myself so I react to them instead of just walking off.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46And then eventually we got that sorted out
0:19:46 > 0:19:49and he's gone from hating school to loving school.
0:19:49 > 0:19:55He now takes part in Special Olympics, and he goes to a youth club.
0:19:55 > 0:20:01He's been out a few times with friends from school which he'd never dream of doing.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05He has sleepovers now so normal teenager stuff is creeping in.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Yeah, is beginning to creep in, yeah.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12How does playing basketball make you feel?
0:20:12 > 0:20:15It makes me feel good and I'm proud of doing it.
0:20:15 > 0:20:20It's something that I'm good at. People say I'm good at it.
0:20:22 > 0:20:27It just makes me feel like er... helpful, really, like to the team and stuff.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31He had no understanding, it was the ball, "I've got it, no one else is here.
0:20:31 > 0:20:32"I'm playing on my own."
0:20:32 > 0:20:34He used to go up and down the court all the time,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37he had no perception of everyone else.
0:20:37 > 0:20:42And also, if they didn't pass it to him, he would automatically lose interest and walk off
0:20:42 > 0:20:46and not play any more because they weren't passing him the ball
0:20:46 > 0:20:48so things have changed since then.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Oh, yeah, definitely, yeah.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Having autism, it's annoying
0:20:52 > 0:20:57because I don't feel like I'm mixing with other people as well as other people can.
0:20:57 > 0:20:59It's hard.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02It's like I wish I could mix in with different people.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11I fought to get him into a special school
0:21:11 > 0:21:16because I took Jonathan out of school when he was six
0:21:16 > 0:21:21because he was being bullied, and I kept him at home for nine months.
0:21:21 > 0:21:27I was threatened with imprisonment by the education.
0:21:27 > 0:21:32The Tonight programme of the BBC, Tony Salmon -
0:21:32 > 0:21:33I shall never forget his name -
0:21:33 > 0:21:39came onto the scene and I said to him - because I was in quite an influential position in London -
0:21:39 > 0:21:43so I knew these sort of people, and I said, "I've got a story for you."
0:21:43 > 0:21:45I told him the story, he said, "I like it,
0:21:45 > 0:21:47I said, "Yes, you will do because it's my son."
0:21:47 > 0:21:53Well, she does...she does... she does make me happy.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55She puts me on the straight and narrow.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00Then things really started to work for him.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02He went to a special school,
0:22:02 > 0:22:05because there he was with all like-minded other students.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09And Jonathan stayed there till he was 19.
0:22:09 > 0:22:13He left behind all his friends.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15When he did come home,
0:22:15 > 0:22:18he knew he had to have a job.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20I knew there was a Tesco's
0:22:20 > 0:22:23being built in New Malden, and I rang the personnel officer.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27He walked in to this lady and said, "I want a job",
0:22:27 > 0:22:29and he came out with a job.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32And 21 years later, he's still there.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35Then, what happened, he was working with 900 people.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39And he became very lonely - he'd left all his mates behind.
0:22:39 > 0:22:42And Jonathan took to the drink.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45And he took to the drink big time.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49My husband and I would stop going out.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52We rather isolated ourselves, because of Jonathan.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54We thought if we went out,
0:22:54 > 0:22:56we'd come back, and Jonathan would be drunk.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59So when did you go off the straight and narrow?
0:22:59 > 0:23:01A long time ago.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Did she put you back on it?
0:23:04 > 0:23:06No, she didn't. I did it for myself.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10How did you get back on the straight and narrow?
0:23:10 > 0:23:12Keep off the drink.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15I had a drinking problem,
0:23:15 > 0:23:17a couple of years back.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21We decided we couldn't live our lives like that.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23I'd done everything for Jonathan
0:23:23 > 0:23:26to put him on a path that I thought was the right path -
0:23:26 > 0:23:30and he was definitely walking the path really well.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32And then we went out for one night,
0:23:32 > 0:23:35and came back, and Jonathan was absolutely paralytic,
0:23:35 > 0:23:37on the floor.
0:23:37 > 0:23:43I got so annoyed, because all the work I'd done with Jonathan,
0:23:43 > 0:23:47I thought, "This is one problem I cannot cope with",
0:23:47 > 0:23:49cos I was much too close to it.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52so I called in the learning disability team of the borough,
0:23:52 > 0:23:57and they were fantastic - absolutely fantastic.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00How could you have had a drinking problem?
0:24:00 > 0:24:04Cos I had no friends, no girlfriend.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06It got to me quite a lot.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11So Christmas , 1993, we wrote Jonathan's story, didn't we?
0:24:11 > 0:24:13Yeah, you did.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15And we printed Jonathan's story in the local paper.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17And the story was
0:24:17 > 0:24:20that Jonathan was lonely, Jonathan wanted friends -
0:24:20 > 0:24:23who wants to come along and be Jonathan's friend?
0:24:23 > 0:24:26We had the first 11 people, didn't we?
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Came knocking on the door, which was brilliant.
0:24:29 > 0:24:31It was as though
0:24:31 > 0:24:34a great big weight had been lifted off our shoulders.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36It was off mine, because I was now realising
0:24:36 > 0:24:39that Jonathan, all of a sudden, will have these friends.
0:24:39 > 0:24:42And it helped him come through
0:24:42 > 0:24:44the unfortunate parts of his life.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47But now, at 42,
0:24:47 > 0:24:49I'm a proud mother.
0:24:50 > 0:24:54Really proud mother. Which is great, which is lovely.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58- We've been through some rocky times, haven't we?- Yes.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02When we lost Dad, seven years ago,
0:25:02 > 0:25:04- it was a traumatic time for you, wasn't it?- Yeah, it was.
0:25:04 > 0:25:08But we've walked through that,
0:25:08 > 0:25:10and now he's walking towards independence,
0:25:10 > 0:25:13which will be in three months' time.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16Now, I'm fine as a fiddle.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28If it didn't exist, we didn't have any friends.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30We wouldn't have any dancing.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33So we have just a normal
0:25:33 > 0:25:37other thing in other life.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40What do you think you'd be doing?
0:25:40 > 0:25:42Well, I'd be still stuck in Sainsbury's!
0:25:42 > 0:25:44HE LAUGHS
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Well, the new things
0:25:47 > 0:25:49in Anjali
0:25:49 > 0:25:52are contemporary and rap.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55So that's what you want to learn?
0:25:55 > 0:25:59I do. That's what I want to learn big time, mate.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03Oh, she's achieved my dreams.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Just seeing her dance.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09I never would have dreamt,
0:26:09 > 0:26:1521 years after her birth, that we would be where we are now with her.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17She's achieved all my dreams,
0:26:17 > 0:26:21and more, and more, and more, and more, and more.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24The skills Anjali gave me
0:26:24 > 0:26:29is being famous, and being glamorous,
0:26:29 > 0:26:33and I'm not actually graceful,
0:26:33 > 0:26:38cos I am very, very strong.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42And I just get on with it,
0:26:42 > 0:26:46focus on what I'm doing -
0:26:46 > 0:26:48just do it.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51I don't care - I just do it, perfect.
0:26:52 > 0:26:55That's that sorted,
0:26:55 > 0:26:59then back to my father. He's brilliant,
0:26:59 > 0:27:02and he takes me to Millwall.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06He takes me to the Chinese restaurant.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09He takes me everywhere.
0:27:09 > 0:27:13And he's a fantastic lad.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18He's very gentle and calm with me.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23But he doesn't argue with me,
0:27:23 > 0:27:26but he does argue with Mum,
0:27:26 > 0:27:28but not with me,
0:27:28 > 0:27:31cos he doesn't seem to moan at me,
0:27:31 > 0:27:35so that's the other thing that I really love,
0:27:35 > 0:27:37cos he's a really nice lad.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40I love him so much.
0:27:40 > 0:27:41THEY LAUGH
0:27:41 > 0:27:44My solo
0:27:44 > 0:27:47is looking very well.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50Sometimes Nicole can be a bit over the top,
0:27:50 > 0:27:53because they'll want to change
0:27:53 > 0:27:57a little bit around, which I'm not actually that keen on,
0:27:57 > 0:28:01cos I'll get really confused.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04I thought, "What the hell?"
0:28:04 > 0:28:07I asked to know what I'm doing.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10Apart from that, it's all fine, really.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14We love to dance, and love to move.
0:28:14 > 0:28:18That's what Anjali is.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21This is Nick. He is one of Hannah's best friends,
0:28:21 > 0:28:24and one of the most intriguing people in the group.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26Their friendship will give me an insight
0:28:26 > 0:28:29into how Hannah interacts with people.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32Do you think that we should
0:28:32 > 0:28:35go through it in Leicester?
0:28:35 > 0:28:39Yes, we can go from the bottom
0:28:39 > 0:28:41of our bottoms!
0:28:41 > 0:28:44- SHE LAUGHS - Why's that?
0:28:44 > 0:28:47Because we are very good dancers.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49All dancers are brilliant.
0:28:49 > 0:28:51We're going to make it happen.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54What are we?
0:28:54 > 0:28:56We're doing the Olympics!
0:28:58 > 0:29:00MUSIC: "Happiness" by Twirl
0:29:05 > 0:29:10# It's the sun pouring down And it's kisses full of rapture. #
0:29:10 > 0:29:14How dancing makes you feel?
0:29:14 > 0:29:16Being a dancer...?
0:29:16 > 0:29:20I love moving around, stretching.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23Mainly, I empathise a lot.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26Because it helps with my dancing,
0:29:26 > 0:29:29and of course when I dance,
0:29:29 > 0:29:31I dance sexy,
0:29:31 > 0:29:32because I want to.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36# It's a beautiful day
0:29:36 > 0:29:39# La-la-la - it's a beautiful day
0:29:39 > 0:29:41# Happiness. #
0:29:41 > 0:29:45She's got a filthy laugh that always gets other people laughing as well.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48My mother used to say, "You can tell when Hannah is in the room,
0:29:48 > 0:29:50"Because people are smiling".
0:29:50 > 0:29:54And I think that's still the case with Hannah.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57SHE LAUGHS
0:30:08 > 0:30:10What is your earliest memory?
0:30:12 > 0:30:14The only thing that pops in my head
0:30:14 > 0:30:17is when I was seven, and my dad died.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20That's the only thing that pops in my head.
0:30:20 > 0:30:25I didn't really talk to him about it - he was an alcoholic, anyway.
0:30:25 > 0:30:30He came back from... Like I say, he was an alcoholic anyway,
0:30:30 > 0:30:34and he went out drinking - went on trips, and that.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37He got out the coach - he obviously had too much to drink,
0:30:37 > 0:30:38like an alcoholic would do.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41He stumbled across the road, fell down,
0:30:41 > 0:30:43like they would do anywhere,
0:30:43 > 0:30:46and he smacked his head - I'm not quite sure where -
0:30:46 > 0:30:50and had a brain haemorrhage. He went into hospital the next day and died.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53It's not good, and I've learnt from that.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56I'm perfectly fine about it now.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58When I was a little kid, I was devastated.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00It was like, "Oh, my God - I've lost my only one dad".
0:31:00 > 0:31:04You don't get another day, here and then, when you get another chance
0:31:04 > 0:31:06to have another dad.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08And it was just horrible.
0:31:08 > 0:31:13It left me stranded in some sort of field.
0:31:15 > 0:31:18It wasn't good at all. The experience was horrible.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20What do you mean, it left you stranded?
0:31:20 > 0:31:22It was like I didn't know where I was.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25I only had my mum there beside me.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28She was having drugs at the same time, as well -
0:31:28 > 0:31:30to try and control herself.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34Of course, I was on a lot of medication, as well.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36That, of course, made it worse.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38And then she couldn't cope with me.
0:31:38 > 0:31:43Then I went into a children's home in Kent
0:31:43 > 0:31:46and they took me off the drugs straight away -
0:31:46 > 0:31:48it was quite good.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50I was there for around
0:31:50 > 0:31:52two or three months, probably,
0:31:52 > 0:31:55and went to-and-fro, back to home, there and everywhere.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58and I've had more support
0:31:58 > 0:32:00from when I was a little kid.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02Ever since I was three, I've been in foster care.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05It's been quite good from then on.
0:32:05 > 0:32:08I don't have a bad relationship with him.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11Perhaps that's the easy...
0:32:11 > 0:32:13Because he hasn't got his own father,
0:32:13 > 0:32:16it's easy for him to look on me as a father.
0:32:16 > 0:32:22Easier than it is for Janet, cos he still has his own mother.
0:32:22 > 0:32:26Yeah, at the moment, things are a little bit fraught.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28I call Mick, "Dad",
0:32:28 > 0:32:30and I've forgotten Mum lives over in Spain.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32Perfectly fine, not caring about me all.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34So I call Janet, "Janet".
0:32:34 > 0:32:39I find it a little bit harsh sometimes, now and then,
0:32:39 > 0:32:41that Janet does everything for me.
0:32:41 > 0:32:43Everything that my mother doesn't call me,
0:32:43 > 0:32:44that does for me.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47I can call her, "Janet",
0:32:47 > 0:32:50but I can call my mother, who does nothing for me at all, "Mother".
0:32:50 > 0:32:51It just seems
0:32:51 > 0:32:53quite horrible sometimes.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56So how do you get on with Olly?
0:32:57 > 0:32:59Sometimes OK.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05What are the times you don't get on? Why would you not get on?
0:33:05 > 0:33:07When he's...
0:33:09 > 0:33:11..erm,
0:33:11 > 0:33:13horrible to my mum and dad.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15When he don't get his own way.
0:33:15 > 0:33:18What does he do when he's horrible?
0:33:18 > 0:33:22Slams doors, puts his fist through doors.
0:33:22 > 0:33:23Breaks things.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26How does that make you feel?
0:33:26 > 0:33:28Upsetting to my mum and dad.
0:33:30 > 0:33:33Do you think you could control your anger?
0:33:33 > 0:33:36Erm...
0:33:38 > 0:33:40..I suppose I can.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43At home, it's a totally different story altogether.
0:33:43 > 0:33:47When I'm on the mat, it's nice and controlled and calm.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50I respect everybody out there who I'm fighting,
0:33:50 > 0:33:51even the players I fight.
0:33:51 > 0:33:53Coaches, and everyone else.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56When I'm at home, it's a totally different story altogether.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58I don't know why, but that's how it is.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01I can sometimes control my temper,
0:34:01 > 0:34:05but when people argue with me, I always have to have the last say.
0:34:05 > 0:34:06And that's not good.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08HE LAUGHS
0:34:08 > 0:34:10It's not the easiest thing, and God knows how people
0:34:10 > 0:34:16really deal with children on the higher end of the autistic scale.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18It must be extremely difficult.
0:34:18 > 0:34:21You must need the patience of I don't know what.
0:34:21 > 0:34:23Really difficult.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26A lot of the time, I don't think he quite realises what he's doing.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29I mouth back Janet and Dad,
0:34:29 > 0:34:30and that's not very good at all,
0:34:30 > 0:34:33as they're taking me to the Games,
0:34:33 > 0:34:36and they've spent a lot of money on the Games - travelling up there -
0:34:36 > 0:34:37on hotels, and that.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41I've done physical violence to Janet.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44- It's not very good, I know. - HE LAUGHS
0:34:44 > 0:34:45I've done all that lot, as well.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48They look after me so much,
0:34:48 > 0:34:50and they've looked after me for seven years, nearly.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52And I treat them like that.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54How can I do something like that?
0:34:54 > 0:34:56I suppose because, like most people...
0:35:00 > 0:35:04..you can hurt those that you love the most.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07It's just a bad whole state to be in.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10I'm perfectly fine at school.
0:35:10 > 0:35:14People ask me to do something - "Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
0:35:14 > 0:35:15"Yes, madam, I'll do that for you".
0:35:15 > 0:35:18But when I'm at home, it's a totally different story altogether.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21It's not good. So I need to try and sort it out.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25Olly is a product of a broken home.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28What makes this even sadder is that his mother will not consent
0:35:28 > 0:35:30to him being adopted.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33For someone with autism, who needs routine, structure,
0:35:33 > 0:35:35and to know what is happening next,
0:35:35 > 0:35:38this must be especially difficult for him.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41He has experienced a lot for such a young man.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44I bear this in mind when I listen to his story.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53Sue left Jonathan for a week's trial separation,
0:35:53 > 0:35:56to see how he's cope with living independently.
0:35:56 > 0:36:00I decided to visit him halfway through the week.
0:36:00 > 0:36:04After my visit, I immediately had to call Sue.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08'Jonathan didn't answer the door to me - it was his new housemate, PJ.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11'We set up in the back room, and started the interview.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13'It was soon apparent that this wasn't
0:36:13 > 0:36:16'the happy Jonathan I'd seen in the past,
0:36:16 > 0:36:19'so I asked some warm-up questions to get him relaxed.
0:36:19 > 0:36:23'But at this, I still seemed to be failing.'
0:36:23 > 0:36:26OK, Jonathan, you've got to look at me now.
0:36:29 > 0:36:30Yeah? Look at me.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32Don't worry about the camera.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35You're focused on that - forget all that stuff, OK?
0:36:35 > 0:36:36Talk to me.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39'I was finding it very hard to engage Jonathan.
0:36:39 > 0:36:41'He didn't seem in a good place,
0:36:41 > 0:36:43'and I was worried.'
0:36:43 > 0:36:47What do you most love about life?
0:36:47 > 0:36:49I don't.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51Life is not easy.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56So what don't you like about life?
0:36:56 > 0:36:58I don't know. I don't like it.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01Because all the things...
0:37:01 > 0:37:03Bad things happen.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05What bad things have happened, then?
0:37:05 > 0:37:06People getting killed.
0:37:12 > 0:37:15So there's nothing you love about life?
0:37:15 > 0:37:17I do. When I'm...
0:37:17 > 0:37:19happy.
0:37:22 > 0:37:24That's about it.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27Enough questions.
0:37:27 > 0:37:29'And that was that.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32'When we finished the interview and turned off the lights,
0:37:32 > 0:37:34'Jonathan seemed to come back to life.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37'He said that whilst the lights were on,
0:37:37 > 0:37:40'he could hear people screaming and shouting in his head.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43'And when we turned them off, they went.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45'Mindful of Jonathan's mental health,
0:37:45 > 0:37:47'I didn't want to put him through a process
0:37:47 > 0:37:50'which would set him back in any way.
0:37:50 > 0:37:51'I needed to speak with Sue,
0:37:51 > 0:37:56'to find out if Jonathan could continue filming.'
0:37:58 > 0:38:01# La, la, la... #
0:38:02 > 0:38:04That's it, you're forming it.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07'I met up with Sue and Jonathan at his weekly singing lesson,
0:38:07 > 0:38:10'hoping to see the old Jonathan back.
0:38:10 > 0:38:12'It was a make-or-break meeting.'
0:38:12 > 0:38:14When I came home,
0:38:14 > 0:38:17I felt as though something was slightly wrong,
0:38:17 > 0:38:19because Jonathan wasn't himself.
0:38:19 > 0:38:23I thought the whole thing of the whole week -
0:38:23 > 0:38:26his pattern was totally out of synch.
0:38:26 > 0:38:31And Jonathan does like a very structured week.
0:38:31 > 0:38:33And if he's thrown off that structure,
0:38:33 > 0:38:36he does get quite upset about it.
0:38:36 > 0:38:40What was actually happening with the lights, cos it was affecting him?
0:38:40 > 0:38:42How was that actually affecting...?
0:38:42 > 0:38:44Yeah - you told me it was affecting you,
0:38:44 > 0:38:46cos... People arguing?
0:38:46 > 0:38:47- In my head, yeah.- In your head?
0:38:47 > 0:38:48It was weird.
0:38:48 > 0:38:50It was weird, wasn't it?
0:38:50 > 0:38:52Was it like shouting and stuff like that?
0:38:52 > 0:38:54Yeah, something like that.
0:38:54 > 0:38:56Very weird - he told me as soon as I came back.
0:38:56 > 0:38:58Because you don't like arguing, do you?
0:38:58 > 0:39:00- You don't like arguing, do you? - That's true.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02He doesn't like that at all.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05That was the reaction he got from the lights.
0:39:05 > 0:39:07Which was a very strange reaction.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10- I'm a gentle person. - You're a gentle person.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12Oh, What A Beautiful Morning?
0:39:12 > 0:39:15'We got to the bottom of Jonathan's problem.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17'While his mother was away, his routine was broken,
0:39:17 > 0:39:19'and his Playstation stopped working.
0:39:19 > 0:39:23'These seemingly small events pushed Jonathan into a dark place.
0:39:23 > 0:39:27'Fixing his Playstation was the first step to his recovery.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30'So Jonathan agreed to continue filming.'
0:39:30 > 0:39:33# Everything's going my way. #
0:39:33 > 0:39:34Well done.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40'I was back in Banbury,
0:39:40 > 0:39:42'and tonight I was going to see Hannah dance with Anjali
0:39:42 > 0:39:45'in a gala performance.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48'It would be her last opportunity to perform in front of an audience
0:39:48 > 0:39:50'before the National Games.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53'I arrived early and waited at the side of the stage.
0:39:53 > 0:39:55'There seemed to be a nervous atmosphere,
0:39:55 > 0:39:58'as a lot rode on this performance.
0:39:58 > 0:40:01'Hannah was put outside to regain her composure.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03'All I could do was take my seat.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13COUNTRYSIDE SOUND EFFECTS
0:40:21 > 0:40:25MUSIC: "Theme From A Summer Place" by the Percy Faith Orchestra
0:41:30 > 0:41:32APPLAUSE
0:41:36 > 0:41:40What I'm really pleased about now is I didn't have any test,
0:41:40 > 0:41:42because what would I have done?
0:41:42 > 0:41:47Whatever I'd have chosen would have been both right and wrong,
0:41:47 > 0:41:50and what these tests can't do
0:41:50 > 0:41:54is tell you the degree of problems the child is going to have.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58So I'm pleased I didn't know that Hannah had Down's syndrome.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00because I don't know what I would have done,
0:42:00 > 0:42:03and wouldn't our lives have been different?
0:42:07 > 0:42:09'I met up with Hannah at her weekly cookery class,
0:42:09 > 0:42:13'which she takes so she can be more independent.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16'This was the last time I would see Hannah before the Games,
0:42:16 > 0:42:20'and it was one of the happiest times we spent together.
0:42:20 > 0:42:24'Everyone in the class was really excited about seeing us film.'
0:42:41 > 0:42:43Today, we're cooking.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46Why is it important for you to learn to cook?
0:42:46 > 0:42:49I'd like to be on telly, that's why.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52I was doing this for my mum and dad, really.
0:42:52 > 0:42:53It looks silly - girly.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56MUSIC DROWNS SPEECH
0:43:01 > 0:43:03HE LAUGHS
0:43:13 > 0:43:16Hello!
0:43:16 > 0:43:19I love you, darling!
0:43:19 > 0:43:22It's all right - I like being filmed
0:43:22 > 0:43:25from you two, cos you're a good mate of mine.
0:43:26 > 0:43:27You're wonderful,
0:43:27 > 0:43:29you're attractive blokes.
0:43:30 > 0:43:32And then you are fantastic.
0:43:32 > 0:43:35- Aw, thanks, mate!- That's all right.
0:43:35 > 0:43:36THEY LAUGH
0:43:39 > 0:43:40THEY LAUGH
0:43:40 > 0:43:44MUSIC DROWNS SPEECH
0:43:46 > 0:43:49I can't even think of any questions now.
0:44:03 > 0:44:05The final, ultimate goal
0:44:05 > 0:44:06is to always make your child
0:44:06 > 0:44:08independent.
0:44:08 > 0:44:11He has the right person moving in with him into the home,
0:44:11 > 0:44:13into my home.
0:44:13 > 0:44:15And I think it's going to work.
0:44:15 > 0:44:18He can't wait for me to go, so he says.
0:44:18 > 0:44:21But it'll be interesting to see.
0:44:21 > 0:44:25The first two or three months will be very strange for both the boys.
0:44:25 > 0:44:29Um...am I excited about moving in?
0:44:29 > 0:44:31Erm...obviously, I'm a bit nervous
0:44:31 > 0:44:33cos it's the first time I'd done it.
0:44:35 > 0:44:43But then, it feels like it's the right time to move in in my...
0:44:44 > 0:44:46..in my life.
0:44:46 > 0:44:50I can show you 42-year-old men
0:44:50 > 0:44:52that are still with their families,
0:44:52 > 0:44:58where the parents are doing absolutely everything for them.
0:44:58 > 0:45:02How do they expect these people to react when anything happens to them?
0:45:02 > 0:45:04These people are in their senior years.
0:45:04 > 0:45:07You could be talking 75, 80 years of age.
0:45:08 > 0:45:10How are they going to cope?
0:45:10 > 0:45:15Do they want their children to go into council residential care?
0:45:15 > 0:45:18I bet you 100%, everybody would say no.
0:45:18 > 0:45:21If the answer's no, they have to do something about it.
0:45:27 > 0:45:29Things that Tom finds difficult -
0:45:29 > 0:45:34being in a large group where he has to be stayed.
0:45:34 > 0:45:37If he can wander off and come back when he feels uncomfortable,
0:45:37 > 0:45:40he can deal with that.
0:45:40 > 0:45:43How does it feel to be in a big group of people?
0:45:43 > 0:45:46Scary and nervous.
0:45:46 > 0:45:52It makes me feel uncomfortable, being in big groups,
0:45:52 > 0:45:54and people.
0:45:54 > 0:45:58Small groups, I can cope with.
0:45:58 > 0:46:01So this is quite a big achievement for you, playing basketball,
0:46:01 > 0:46:06and in Leicester, you will be surrounded by lots of people.
0:46:06 > 0:46:09Hm. It's going to be difficult.
0:46:09 > 0:46:12Is that going to be the most difficult part of it for you,
0:46:12 > 0:46:15rather than playing?
0:46:15 > 0:46:16Mm, yeah.
0:46:16 > 0:46:18People watching, as well.
0:46:18 > 0:46:19Yeah.
0:46:23 > 0:46:27It was the morning of the opening ceremony, and I travelled up
0:46:27 > 0:46:29with the bowling team from London to Leicester.
0:46:29 > 0:46:32The mood was high, and it continued that way
0:46:32 > 0:46:33for the rest of the journey.
0:46:36 > 0:46:39CHEERING
0:46:39 > 0:46:42What are you most looking forward to about Leicester?
0:46:44 > 0:46:47Taking 17 athletes
0:46:47 > 0:46:49up to have the time of their life.
0:46:49 > 0:46:50Simple as that.
0:46:50 > 0:46:54ALL: Leicester! Leicester! Leicester! Leicester!
0:46:54 > 0:46:56The first to arrive was Hannah.
0:46:56 > 0:46:59She walked me around the stadium, filming and directing as we went.
0:47:01 > 0:47:03Wow - look at that view!
0:47:03 > 0:47:05That's amazing!
0:47:05 > 0:47:07Check it out!
0:47:07 > 0:47:09Need to go to the dressing room, guys - this way.
0:47:09 > 0:47:11Sweet!
0:47:11 > 0:47:15As I walked down the tunnel, I started to feel nervous for Hannah,
0:47:15 > 0:47:17nerves which were not shown in her.
0:47:17 > 0:47:20The stadium felt overpowering when empty.
0:47:20 > 0:47:24Imagine how it would feel when it was full.
0:47:24 > 0:47:26MUFFLED CONVERSATION
0:47:26 > 0:47:29APPLAUSE
0:47:32 > 0:47:35And it is time to fulfil my destiny.
0:47:35 > 0:47:38And my heart.
0:47:38 > 0:47:41A dream's come true.
0:47:41 > 0:47:43And all that remained was for Hannah to open the ceremony.
0:47:43 > 0:47:45APPLAUSE
0:47:51 > 0:47:53We saw you before you were going out,
0:47:53 > 0:47:55and you were whispering stuff to yourself.
0:47:55 > 0:47:57- I did.- What were you saying?
0:47:57 > 0:48:02I was saying that I can do it.
0:48:02 > 0:48:03I am a star,
0:48:03 > 0:48:07and also, I'm a dancer and an athlete.
0:48:07 > 0:48:11MUSIC: "Theme From A Summer Place" by the Percy Faith Orchestra
0:48:19 > 0:48:21How did you think it went tonight, then?
0:48:21 > 0:48:23Fantastic!
0:48:23 > 0:48:26How did it feel to perform in front of 26,000 people?
0:48:26 > 0:48:30I feel...
0:48:31 > 0:48:34..I feel excellent.
0:48:34 > 0:48:35I was really going for it,
0:48:35 > 0:48:39and I have so many talents.
0:48:39 > 0:48:43MUSIC: "Theme From A Summer Place" by the Percy Faith Orchestra
0:48:47 > 0:48:49I can't believe it.
0:48:49 > 0:48:52I was so, so sexy.
0:48:52 > 0:48:56I was doing this, and that - huh!
0:48:56 > 0:48:58APPLAUSE
0:49:14 > 0:49:17WHOOPING AND CHEERING
0:49:19 > 0:49:23Tom! Tom! Tom! I love you! I love you!
0:49:23 > 0:49:25I love you, Tom!
0:49:28 > 0:49:31- Hi!- We meet again!
0:49:56 > 0:49:58Don't let it hold you back, really.
0:49:58 > 0:50:00It's not all doom and gloom.
0:50:00 > 0:50:03It doesn't have to be - it's what you make of it.
0:50:10 > 0:50:13CHEERING
0:50:16 > 0:50:18People are either scared or are very unsure
0:50:18 > 0:50:20of people with learning disabilities,
0:50:20 > 0:50:24purely through not understanding their needs,
0:50:24 > 0:50:26and not treating people as normal people.
0:50:26 > 0:50:31They are normal people, but they've just got a disability of some sort.
0:50:32 > 0:50:36But it's coping with reactions and that that's very difficult.
0:50:36 > 0:50:38And it's not a seen disability,
0:50:38 > 0:50:41it's not like a physical disability that we can all see
0:50:41 > 0:50:43and we understand that.
0:50:43 > 0:50:47But when it's a learning disability and everyone looks the same,
0:50:47 > 0:50:51it's difficult to know how to react to people.
0:50:51 > 0:50:54You don't know whether they're playing up
0:50:54 > 0:50:57or whether it's part of a disability that they have.
0:50:59 > 0:51:02Tom nearly fulfilled his dream by winning a silver medal,
0:51:02 > 0:51:06but he vows to return next time and win gold.
0:51:25 > 0:51:27Out of all of the athletes in my film,
0:51:27 > 0:51:30I wanted Jonathan to succeed the most.
0:51:30 > 0:51:33Because I knew winning would lift his mood,
0:51:33 > 0:51:36and I didn't want to see him in that dark place again.
0:51:45 > 0:51:47That's the one.
0:51:47 > 0:51:49The boys are on fire.
0:51:49 > 0:51:52Jonathan is bowling out of his tiny mind.
0:51:52 > 0:51:54It's strike, strike, spares.
0:51:54 > 0:51:59You can see the emotion coming through from Jonathan today.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01I've never seen him so happy,
0:52:01 > 0:52:06but whatever it is, he's recaptured the Jonathan that his mum knows
0:52:06 > 0:52:10here at the National Games, which is absolutely wonderful.
0:52:15 > 0:52:20I just can't believe it. His dad would be over the moon if he saw him
0:52:20 > 0:52:23because he just loved bowling.
0:52:25 > 0:52:27You did good. Do you think you won it?
0:52:27 > 0:52:29You're not sure, are you?
0:52:29 > 0:52:31Cross my heart...
0:52:33 > 0:52:35..hope on my...
0:52:35 > 0:52:37You had a 200 game yesterday, didn't you?
0:52:37 > 0:52:40Right, now, I've got a secret to tell you. Right?
0:52:40 > 0:52:43I've found out from the organisers that you won
0:52:43 > 0:52:44the singles yesterday.
0:52:44 > 0:52:46- No!- I've just found out you've got a gold medal.
0:52:46 > 0:52:48Yes!
0:52:49 > 0:52:52Yeah, shall we go and tell Mum? Come on, then.
0:53:06 > 0:53:07How do we feel?
0:53:07 > 0:53:11- Oh.- Who'd be proud of this moment, up there?
0:53:11 > 0:53:14My dad would be looking down and crying over me.
0:53:14 > 0:53:17He would be crying over you, you're absolutely right.
0:53:17 > 0:53:20APPLAUSE
0:53:25 > 0:53:26Great.
0:53:26 > 0:53:32I'm not even crying. That's a miracle.
0:53:32 > 0:53:35History in the making, big time.
0:53:35 > 0:53:38How did you feel when you were standing on the podium?
0:53:38 > 0:53:40Oh, number one, definitely.
0:53:42 > 0:53:44Is there anything you'd like to say?
0:53:44 > 0:53:46Yeah.
0:53:47 > 0:53:53A message to the world - I've got it, you ain't going to stop me.
0:54:05 > 0:54:09Seeing Ollie on the judo mat was an awesome experience.
0:54:09 > 0:54:13It was easy to see why he was world champion.
0:54:13 > 0:54:16I just wished he could keep his aggression within his sport,
0:54:16 > 0:54:18where he clearly has control.
0:54:20 > 0:54:23As predicted, Ollie won gold, and James took silver.
0:54:25 > 0:54:28There's a real sadness to Ollie's story that I hadn't anticipated.
0:54:29 > 0:54:33Ollie has given me a special insight into how people can be affected
0:54:33 > 0:54:34by learning difficulties.
0:54:34 > 0:54:38He has autism but functions very well,
0:54:38 > 0:54:41so it is easy to forget that he has a disability at all.
0:54:42 > 0:54:45It is only when I spoke to Ollie for long periods of time
0:54:45 > 0:54:48I learnt that not everything I said, he understood.
0:54:51 > 0:54:54It doesn't take a PhD to work out
0:54:54 > 0:54:57that Ollie's past is clearly affecting his present.
0:54:57 > 0:55:01The mixed feelings of resentment he has for his biological mother,
0:55:01 > 0:55:03he inflicts on his foster mother, Janet.
0:55:05 > 0:55:08I hope the professional therapy he's receiving helps him fast.
0:55:08 > 0:55:09Before it's too late,
0:55:09 > 0:55:12and relationships become too damaged to mend.
0:55:14 > 0:55:17I have witnessed a gentler side to Ollie,
0:55:17 > 0:55:19a side which he can be proud of.
0:55:24 > 0:55:27I just feel pretty stupid about the stuff I do
0:55:27 > 0:55:31because underneath all of it, I know that I am a nice person.
0:55:31 > 0:55:33I do treat people with respect, um,
0:55:33 > 0:55:37I can talk nicely, stop mouthing back and that lot.
0:55:37 > 0:55:41It's just one of those things I really need to try and sort out.
0:55:44 > 0:55:47I like everything about my life.
0:55:48 > 0:55:53I've been on the TV, on the news,
0:55:53 > 0:55:58um, on the radio, everywhere.
0:55:59 > 0:56:01What you've got to also know is that
0:56:01 > 0:56:05Hannah thinks she's incredibly lucky having Down's syndrome.
0:56:05 > 0:56:08And if you said to Hannah, would you not like to have Down's syndrome?
0:56:08 > 0:56:12She would say no, she thinks she's very, very special.
0:56:12 > 0:56:15And she's got short legs as well, she says,
0:56:15 > 0:56:17so she's got to have Down's syndrome.
0:56:17 > 0:56:21It feels great filming me,
0:56:21 > 0:56:26because it feels like I am a super star,
0:56:26 > 0:56:30and a Down's syndrome star.
0:56:31 > 0:56:33So, you want to be a Down's syndrome superstar?
0:56:33 > 0:56:35Yes, really, I do.
0:56:35 > 0:56:39He or she would have been given a gift,
0:56:39 > 0:56:43and that gift takes a little time to mature itself,
0:56:43 > 0:56:48but never give up on a disabled kid, you can't,
0:56:48 > 0:56:51because they are part of you,
0:56:51 > 0:56:56and you're going to be holding their hands for a long, long time.
0:56:56 > 0:56:59But every so often, just let go a little.
0:56:59 > 0:57:02And then when you actually have to eventually let go,
0:57:02 > 0:57:04you let go with confidence.
0:57:04 > 0:57:09Because one day, you, me, all of us, are not going to be here,
0:57:09 > 0:57:13so we have to make sure that our children are, in actual fact,
0:57:13 > 0:57:17ready to walk the path on their own.
0:57:17 > 0:57:19But never give up on them.
0:57:19 > 0:57:20It's basic.
0:57:20 > 0:57:24After filming, Jonathan's mother told me it was hard for people
0:57:24 > 0:57:29with learning difficulties to allow strangers like me into their world.
0:57:30 > 0:57:33In the last six months of getting to know these guys,
0:57:33 > 0:57:37I now realise what a privileged journey I've been on.
0:57:37 > 0:57:418,000 people in the UK are currently part of the Special Olympics,
0:57:41 > 0:57:45and for 48 weeks a year, they are trained by people like Beth
0:57:45 > 0:57:47and professional coaches,
0:57:47 > 0:57:52giving them feelings of happiness, belonging, control, and fame.
0:57:55 > 0:57:59So, you know what? I do love the Special Olympics.
0:57:59 > 0:58:04# Somewhere over the rainbow
0:58:04 > 0:58:08# Way up high
0:58:10 > 0:58:13# And the dreams
0:58:13 > 0:58:21# That you dreamed of once in a lullaby
0:58:23 > 0:58:29# Oh, somewhere over the rainbow
0:58:31 > 0:58:34# Bluebirds fly
0:58:36 > 0:58:40# And the dreams that you dream of
0:58:40 > 0:58:46# Dreams really do come true
0:58:46 > 0:58:50# Somewhere over the rainbow...#
0:58:50 > 0:58:55Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd