A College Student with Down Syndrome and his Autistic Roommate

how does it feel to be turning 21 soon um I think it's gonna feel good what will you do uh we're gonna have pizza yeah we're and we're gonna have cake is there anything else you want um do you mean I'm in my birthday if you could have anything not really if you had one wish what would it be I don't think I really wish for anything because I have everything right here what's it like to be roommates in college it's it's lots of fun yes have fun yep it's on best friend because he's uh I'm nice to me it feels good here Blake say that why because because I've I could hear you hear you mama say - bout nice to him what is autism autism um it makes your brain but will I'm working differently are you happy you're autistic yeah why well because um because I know autism it's not a bad thing are you with caner all the time every time yeah do you like that yes and we hope each other um understandings other safety yeah what kind of things do you help one another with Jim uh well to the blood Blake on me Blake I'm it exited tells me but why are you saying but when I do I don't quite understand what he's saying it right blade yes when people talk to me I'm and I didn't understand them I usually I used to I used to say I used to say what why I didn't really understand I usually say yes because I was a little nervous to tell them I'm and I do understand but but but now I'm a but but now I'm I'm good I'm good but now too but then because then I started getting used to it I'm Blake I'm gonna kick you keep Sookie qtq I didn't understand I didn't understand all the other words um the other words what you were saying so can you say them again one more time please yes yes so I I noted it because I'm his best friend and I guess at first I was afraid to be wrong because I used to be afraid to be wrong do you feel more confident now yes yeah I feel more confident what more could wait wait what what was that word you said confident Hey so yes it cuz because now after you after you're more confident why do you feel more confident you tell me about what conf it means because out remember what confident means either it means strong and brave well I'll tell you because I don't know I mean I don't really understand something it's because now I I know it's okay to be wrong sometimes if you could change one thing in the world what would you change I changed my my mind my mind sometimes um but Blake I'm kind kind of has trouble I'm spelling some words I hope him I'm spell some some words when he needs help and sometimes um he kind of has trouble I'm a lot of words on his phone and um sometimes it he wants me I'm a he he wants me to read to read the words to him do you wish you could read better yes just catch me the kiss untwine I spell a spade good words do you like the Tanner helps you yes why I'm making me uh it make me smaller if day I I think Blake is is a awesome but blink it is is a is a nice is a nice guy to be around yeah what's it like to be you it's great it's great to be me why because because I love myself have you always loved yourself yes why because I think because I know that I'm nice and I'm polite do you two ever have to stick up for one another yeah I don't remember okay but what does it mean I'm to stick up for each other I can't forgot it cotton is like when somebody's mean to one of your friends and you have to say don't be mean oh yes sometimes I have to stick up for Blake when you stick up for him what do you say I say I say yeah I I so I ha I take a few deep breaths so I don't stutter is that a coping mechanism is it what that helps you that helps you relax yes yes Chris and that's how I do I take deep breaths so I don't stutter no still yeah okay Chris so yeah when I just did when I just stick up for Blake I tell I give him a good advice I'm a win-win where we said my friends make him upset I told that I tell him he can he could talk to Isaac and he could talk to Isaac about and Isaac um what will make him feel better who is this Isaac who's he are ila what is an ila the aisle a stands for independent living assistance I think Isaac is a good is a good I'll a - yeah I mean - he's a good yeah he did because he chatting whenever whenever whenever we act you our chores he checks it is he checks to see if we're doing them I'll a him it's a person I'll help you learn how to live on your own what else does Isaac help you with I think it helps me on the Amin to learn how to play Halo I know oh one more thing did Isaac um it showed me I'm it did it showed me how you guys straight a straight shaver does Tanner ever interrupt you oh he does but he's it's enough he does but sometimes he's nice a lot to me so yes he does do you still love him even when he does it yeah yeah yeah does Blake have a diagnosis as well yeah but it does what's this down syndrome what's that um so Down syndrome is um it's a psycho it's where it's kind of like a like a speech and I'm like it's it kind of makes it hard to talk um clearly but it is Down syndrome oh wow - that one is um disabilities my mom knows I have a - dome do you live in this apartment I do live in this apartment what are some of your duties I basically go and make sure that they've done their chores that they are behaving appropriately we have a set of skills and rules that they have to follow and we're essentially modeling these off of college student behaviors and some of the expectations that college students of their age have what do you feel like hearing that I feel good hearing that why because because it's great that he does um it's it's good that he made sure um he but he makes sure we're following the rules there's some of the most real people that I've met there they're not afraid to just express their emotions ask when they need help or I'm just even like complimenting each other like you know you guys are great at making sure that y'all are doing what you're supposed to and just like yeah yeah yeah y'all are great together you're absolutely right okay so there there are definitely my favorite roommates but I've had in college I I know I know we are I know how did you know that because because we're good we're good roommate we're very nice to what we do we do our chores every night just every night yeah it's great to have disabilities because because we know because we know our did our disabilities are not bad things and bad things yep you don't have to be a superhero to work with people with intellectual disabilities you don't have to be a someone that's been born and raised or like had have had lots of experiences anyone can do it you just really really have to just not not be afraid to be yourself because they're gonna they're gonna be real with you when somebody meets you for the first time how do you hope they treat you I hope that they treat me nicely and kind how can somebody treat me kind um oh yeah I I don't didn't know I mobile what you mean in that question yet I'm glad you told me that so I can clarify better how do you know if somebody's nice well um I don't know um anyways yet I'm because because sometimes there are some people who are nice on the outside and they're mean on the outside and my and I know that there can be some people who doesn't mean there are some people that are mean on the on the outside um and and and nice on the inside does everybody learn something from your friendship yes what can you think Isaac's learning I think Isaac's to learn learning um I think I think it's what it's learning um I how bi really a good friend yeah and he's he's learning Amin that autism is not a bad thing because because he knows it's my disability right Isaac yeah do you ever want to stop learning no why not um just keep going does it make you emotional muscatel yes why um why because no change banner every day so now I miss me happy and excited I'm really glad that I got to meet you guys and I'm really glad that I get to live with you guys yeah I'm glad we get to live with you - no - yeah after someone's done this video what do you hope they think I I hope it they think I'm the I hope if they think about the way we're feeling

Channel: Special Books by Special Kids

Views: 1,958,496

Rating: 4.9740524 out of 5

Keywords: SBSK, Autism, Down syndrome, College, Inclusion, Clemson Life, Chris Ulmer, Mr. Chris, Roommates, Blake, Tanner

Id: xn1VI9Dr-d8

Length: 12min 4sec (724 seconds)

Published: Tue Nov 12 2019

Reddit Comments

[u/Zabet-]

I loved this video so much! I really liked what Tanner said about not knowing how he knows if somebody is nice because some people seem one way on the outside but are different on the inside, and I really admire Blake's drive to keep getting better and better everyday! And I liked Isaac's advice about being yourself. My favorite thing about the video was that it really did make me think about and empathize with the way all three guys were feeling, just like Tanner said at the end!

[u/crinnaursa]

My God Tanner has an infectious smile. Just about broke my face from smiling too much.

[u/keep_running]

i love these two! they remind me of the loving relationship i have with my college roommates.

i think it’s so sweet how Tanner has his arm around Blake for a lot of their interviews. you can tell that they love each other so much.

[u/afeliperc]

They are amazing! The way they help each other and their desire to keep learning and be better every day in despite of the obstacles is awesome. Chris is really lucky by having the opportunity to meet such people. I don’t miss any of the videos because It’s like having the chance to get a little piece of his experience and learning from the people he interviews. You guys are amazing! Watching your videos make me study harder every day to be a great psychiatrist

[u/SilverFox8188]

I couldn't possibly love this video more!

[u/zfreakazoidz]

Such sweet and caring friends. Every episode melts me into a puddle. <3

[u/aayme1992]

I loved these two! Do you guys know if there's any way to contact them? I don't remember seing their contacts under the video 😊

[u/frecklesfactsnlogic]

This was definitely my favorite video. It was so sweet to learn about how Blake and Tanner help play to each others strengths while supporting and helping each other through challenges. I'm glad that Tanner expressed that he is getting more comfortable with self-advocacy as well.

[u/leopetri]

a bit late to the party, but are autists good companions to people with down syndrome and viceversa?