"Can we get married?" BBC2 documentary featuring young couple from Devon
One to watch, tonight at 21:50 on BBC2 watch the story of Ben and Emma...
Like many couples who have been together for six years and are in their late twenties, Emma Bishop and Ben Marshall are thinking of getting married. But for them, it is not entirely straightforward. Emma and Ben both have Down's syndrome and are residents of a supported-living community in Devon, where they have an active social life and part-time jobs. They live in a small house with their friend Cy Clench, who also has Down's syndrome.
If Emma and Ben were to get married, it could mean a completely different way of living. Through the high spirits of their dance nights to the tired conversations at the end of their working days, this film follows Emma and Ben as they decide whether married life would be an enormous stress they could do without, or the romantic dream they always imagined.
In recent years, the Down's Syndrome Association has regularly received news of people with Down's syndrome in fulfilling serious relationships. Several of these relationships have resulted in happy successful marriages. There is no reason why people with Down's syndrome cannot live successfully as committed couples. The charity, however, adds that it is really important that people with Down's syndrome are given good advice and education about relationships and sexuality. As in other areas of learning, they may need more support than some of their peers.
Young people and adults with Down's syndrome have the same dreams and aspirations as everyone else - "to love and be loved in return."
If you watch the programme and want to comment or send a message to Ben and Emma please visit the following website www.emmaandben.org.uk