- Are you dating anyone?
- Well, I think I just started dating someone.
- You think?
- I think, yeah.
(Devin giggles)
(lighthearted music)
- Hi.
I'm Michela.
- I'm Devin.
- It's nice to meet you.
- Nice meeting you too.
Can you tell us why we are here today?
- You have Down syndrome.
- How do you know?
- Well I can just tell by looking at you.
- That's kinda cool.
Do you know the science behind Down syndrome?
- I know a little bit.
I know that comes when you get an extra chromosome.
Yeah that's basically all I know.
- So basically Down syndrome
is like packages of chromosomes.
Do you know what chromosomes are?
- They're like the X and the Y
from different parents that become your genes.
- That is correct.
A typical person has 46 chromosomes.
- Yeah.
- And people with Trisomy have 47.
- Oh.
- I have three pairs of the chromosome 21.
- What's special about that one?
- They don't know why
because we are still doing research on it.
- Interesting.
So what are some of the challenges that you face,
like to day to day?
- Sometimes math.
- Yeah I struggle with that too.
(girls chuckle)
Is this your first media interview?
- No it's not.
I am on ESPN
and KING 5 and KOMO.
- For doing what?
- Special Olympics.
- (gasps) Oh, what sport?
- Stand up paddle boarding, actually.
- Really?
- Yes.
- Wow, I would not be good at that, I don't think.
(Devin chuckles)
Have you gotten any other cool opportunities?
- I went to the White House.
- Really, which president (chuckles)?
- Obama!
- Oh yeah.
- Which is really good.
- So what did you get invited for, what did you talk about?
- I was there because I was beating the odds
and going to college.
- Oh!
What was your major?
- I studied advocacy and marine biology.
- Oh!
What would you do as a marine biologist?
- I would go out and dive in the sound.
Since I am a scuba diver 'cause I got certified.
- Do you like seafood?
- I love seafood.
- Is that sometimes weird, like you're studying
these animals and trying to protect them,
and then you love seafood, like to eat.
Is that weird?
- Not really, no.
- Are you dating anyone?
- Well I think I just started dating someone.
- You think?
- I think, yeah.
(Michela giggles)
- Do you ever wanna get married?
- I do, yes.
- Would you have kids?
- No (laughs).
- Is it a higher risk that their kids will have
Down syndrome or is it not at all related?
- Yes.
- Is that partly why you'd never wanna have kids?
- No, I just think they're a lot of hard work.
- What do you do as a job?
- I am a lab aid actually.
It's a biotech company that's doing stem cell science.
- Oh, that's so cool!
Yeah, I'm really interested in that,
like science-y medicine stuff.
And do you ever worry that the only reason
the company hired you is to kind of like,
look good to the outside world?
You know, that they're being diverse and inclusive
and not because of your skills?
- Yes, because they underestimate people
with disability to get a job.
And I do have skills that I do.
Like, I am very organized and I am smart
and I went to college.
- Yeah.
- It makes me feel upset and uncomfortable
when it's said to me personally.
I normally cry when I get home
when someone calls me that.
And someone has called me that but I went home
and I cried and then I think my dad
actually tried to look for him.
(all laughing)
- Did he find him?
- No.
- Oh no!
What would he have done if he found him?
- He would like, beat him up.
(all laughing)
- Do you ever wish you didn't have Down syndrome
or are you happy?
- I'm happy just the way I am.
- Bye, it was really nice
meeting you. - Good to see ya.
- Yeah definitely.
(crowd applauding) - Good job everyone, whoo!