Donna: Well the day's finally come, Ry.
Ryan: Yes, it has.
Donna: What do you think?
Ryan: I'm thrilled, excited, over the top.
Donna: This is the ride to independence. Ryan: The final ride to independence.
[cheering, blowing horns]
person: Yeah, whoo!
Ryan: All right.
And we have touchdown!
[light music]
As a toddler, I ran in the yard rode bikes and played with kids--
so I've been told.
I had seizures growing up.
They started three and a half, and I had 'em for over nine years.
I had over 100 surgeries, and half of my brain removed
to get rid of my seizures.
At the end of the day, I'm just like everyone else.
My challenges are just on the outside,
and theirs might be on the inside.
Alyson: It's getting closer to moving day,
so I've moved some of my closet already downstairs,
but we're working on getting some more stuff out.
And this is my little Yorkie Jasper.
He's wondering what's going on with all the moving and stuff.
My name is Alyson, and I'm 33 years old.
I've lived with my family my whole life,
but tomorrow, I finally get to move into Champions Place.
Champions Place is a first of its kind shared living community
for young adults with physical challenges.
All the residents met through the Titans.
The Titans are a wheelchair sports team
where we all get together and we play handball.
Tomorrow is the day we'll all get to live independently together,
with the help of assistive technology.
Ryan: Can't leave all my stuff in the back of your truck.
[laughs]
person: It's going straight to Goodwill, if you do.
Ryan: Yeah, I know.
person: Ryan's in the house, baby.
Ryan: Big dog's here.
person: Big dog's gonna eat, baby. [laughter]
person: Congrats, guys.
Donna: Ryan never thought he'd be independent,
meaning we always felt he'd be reliant on us.
And this is an opportunity for him to get out of isolation,
and during the time we're still here, and the time after we're not here anymore,
he's got a family around him.
Person: Hi! Are you excited?
person: Welcome home, girl! Hey, Miss Dorinda, how are you?
Alyson: I have cerebral palsy, and my disability presents me
with many physical limitations.
To be honest, my biggest challenge has been
overcoming other people's mindset that simply because of my disability,
there was no way I could ever live on my own.
Hey Google, turn my light on.
Is it gonna work? Yay! It does work. Yay.
That's so cool.
Today's gonna be a good day.
Rick: Technology can have an incredible impact on this community,
and so Google plays a very important role in the concept of Champions Place.
Remember, these are physically challenged young adults,
and our whole goal is to help them to live independently,
and become more self-reliant.
You know, as a dad, there's a lot of dreams in your life.
Hm.
And while watching my son thrive, all these kids thrive,
and to really be proud of the fact that they're young adults
and they're capable of that,
that's very special for the parents.
We hope that we can provide that to others
as we expand the Champions Place concept.
Hey, Google, raise the blinds.
automated voice: Got it. Opening two things.
Person: That is so cool. Ryan: That is incredible.
[laughter]
Donna: I need that home, Ry. Ryan: You do.
Donna: I love you Ryan: Love you, too.
person: You ready to get rid of us?
Ryan: Yes. [laughter]
person: You said that with a little too much enthusiasm.
[light music]
Love you. Donna: Love you, buddy.
Ryan: Love you, too.
I've waited for this for as long as I can remember,
been a dream come true, and I didn't ever think I would get this chance.
Donna: Hey, Ry! How you doin'? Ryan: Hello!
I miss you guys
Donna: We miss you, too.
Alyson: When you think about it, it's pretty overwhelming in a good way
to think that we're kind of the beginning of this legacy.
Young adults with disabilities out in the community
and being able to realize or know that they can live independently, too,
which is something that we all strive for.
Everybody wants to be out on their own and achieve their own goals.
[light music]