planned to move away from the area and he wanted to stay but, like many people his
age, could not afford to rent anywhere. Martha wanted to discuss her work with a
famous French artist. She enjoyed yoga and being with her respite carer who was also
an artist. Martha’s address book of friends was crowded with names. John smiled
when he was asked if he would like to get married.
John: Having a girl friend, which doesn’t mean you have to get married. I’ve been to a
genetics professor....But the main question is, will I have any children? The answer was yes,
but she talked to me about getting married and that leads to responsibilities and coming to
terms with the risks my children will take.
Int: What risks?
John: Electrical things can be dangerous, electrical appliances, plugs, radios, kettles.
Int: Would you like to have children?
John: That all depends on picking someone, no, that’s not the right word, picking, but if the
perfect girl comes up. I don’t know if she will. Children - it all depends on her career and my
career. The important things come first. We’ve got to discuss these matters at the time.
Colin was asked if he had any hopes.
Colin: If I had a lot of money I would stay here [in this town]. I don’t know really, I might
get married even one day.
Int: Would you hope to have children?
Colin: I haven’t thought about that yet, I would have children but it is too early to say, a bit
early for me, anyway.
He talked of a former friend who was now too busy with wife and children to see
Colin. Martha thought she might get married one day but “it’s nice having
independence too, I like that. Eventually, you never know, in some years’ time....and
it takes a long time to arrange a marriage, not getting married, but doing things before
you get married [laughs] yes.” Martha said it was harder for people with learning
difficulties to behave normally because of their circumstances “they don’t get a
chance”, and she mentioned how two people behaved at her party.
Martha: It’s all very well, and there I am talking about safe sex and that up and down
the country, well I mean....normal people wouldn’t do that because they’re normal people,
but people with learning difficulties they don’t get a chance.
Int: When you say normal people, do you think of yourself as quite a normal person in
many ways?
Martha: Yes I am I think, well my dad said to me he was so proud of me being on the
television he said you’re not Down’s syndrome, you’re up syndrome [laughs]. [Martha
enjoys travelling but] The trouble is getting the money together, we=re on benefits, you can=t
afford it on benefits.
Int: No, but you do manage to live quite a - good life?
Martha: I do, yes.
Int: You have to be very good at housekeeping?
Martha: Yes, I do manage my own money, that’s fine but if it’s big money my sister comes
in and sorts out for me.
When asked what they might like to change in themselves or their life, if anything,
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