Down Syndrome Didn’t Stop Me Becoming A Cheerleader | BORN DIFFERENT
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- Опубликовано: 5 фев 2019
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SHY AnnCatherine Heigl, who has Down syndrome, shocked her family when she came home one day saying she wanted to become a cheerleader. Known as ‘AC’, she had already exceeded expectations playing tennis at her high school, but always said she hated being in front of crowds. Now 20, AC, from Indianapolis, USA, has made a huge leap in overcoming any nerves about big audiences. Her family believes she has become the first ever collegiate cheerleader with an intellectual disability.
Video Credits:
Videographers: Adam Gray, Lauren Knapp
Producer: Liam Miller, James Thorne
Editor: James Thorne
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First of all she’s freaking beautiful.
Absolutely Beautiful Indeed
Valerie Jean right.
Honestly agreed
Ikr
yeah she really is ❤️
She’s so cute agghhh I instantly love her
Kennedy Dandy she really is 💕
Ikr
Kennedy Dandy I knew she was brilliant her voice is adorable
...
@@benn7021 what?
Very inspirational. Great job parents for not holding this beautiful girl from her dreams😍
I wish there were more people like you on YT. I see so many derogatory remarks on videos similar to these. I'm subscribing to you. Xox
The Curly Coopers yeah!!!!!! My dream is going to come true too!!!!! I’m going to be in Special Olympics competitive swimming!!!!!!
Ally Han So happy for you! Wish the best for you ☺️❤️
basic elle thank you so much!!!!! I’m so excited and hopes they will email my mom that I can join the team.
Not only did they not hold her form her dreams, they forced the school to put her on the team when she was underqualified.
She's really good! Nice to see that her position on the cheer team isn't out of pity. She should be so proud of herself and the team she is cheering for should be so grateful that they have someone with special needs egging them on. GO GIRL!!
Tbh I wouldn’t be so sure. This university is 5 minutes down the road from my house and the requirements to make the team are very high because it’s such a big school. I’m a cheerleader and I’ve been to many a GMU games, and all the cheerleaders there have at least level 4 tumbling and stunting ability. I’m not saying she doesn’t, but they showed only a prep (level 1) and extension (level 2) in this video with her in it. Typically at GMU you’d be seeing full ups (level 4, like the other flyer in the video) or even more difficult skills. Knowing GMU, it wouldn’t shock me to know that they just want to avoid a scandal. Even with my 7 years experience as a cheerleader I still am not good enough to make that team because I don’t have a standing back tuck.
Plus it sounds like her family threw a giant fit about it so that doesn’t help the case
Very nicely put and spot on. Could not believe the hateful spewing of "I don't fit in" in the comment section. Had to set her straight. I was erroneously diagnosed bipolar at nineteen drugged and the drugs disabled my brain and caused the diagnosis to appear accurate. My mother force fed me the pills insisting doctors never make mistakes. So lots of idiotic TRUE morons have treated me the same way they treat those they label "retards." People with Downs are actually more EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT than the average. Keep on spreading the love!
@@jillianm8958 EXACTLY.
@@jillianm8958 Yeah totally, her family would have started a fight with the college if she didn't get in.
6:27 LMAO she yeeted the guy, she’s my fav rn
LMAOO i feel bad for the guy 😭 but that was hilarious
YES
She's probably too shy and nervous during that part
😂😂😂
annah c I feel bad for him
My syndrome may be down but my hopes are up!
hhh it's a joke in poor taste but it's funny asdfghjkl
Brandon Rogers is funny
BRANDON ROGERS SHSJSKKSKS
And I am handycapable of Math xD
I just got back from watching stuff&sam for this hhhh
Awesome school to support her. Those students won't remember how accurate the cheers were years down the line, but they will remember embracing & including AnnCatherine as a cheerleader.
"What's your fav part about cheerleading?"
*Giggles*
OMG this is literally so freakin adorable!!!
That shows that she is so down-to-earth
@EveryDay, I’ve noticed that nobody is even attempting to respond to you because they know they can’t refute what you’re saying.
She was good enough to be on the team. That's great, don't need pity or handouts.
bamfbabybamf I’m not sure. This school is 5 mins from my house and the standards to make the team are very high. Everyone has at least level 4 tumbling and stunts and I’m not saying she doesn’t I’m just saying she was only doing level 1 and 2 stunts in this video. It doesn’t help that the sister said her mom basically threw a fit about her being on the team. Knowing GMU, I wouldn’t be surprised if they took her to avoid a “discrimination” scandal. I’m all about inclusion, but I don’t believe in lowering the standards for anyone for any reason.
@@jillianm8958 I think it's awesome that she was given the opportunity to do something like this, even if she isn't able to do what everyone else is doing.
Chloe I think she, like everyone, should be given the opportunity to try out for the team if they want to. But I don’t think that the standards should be lowered for people. If she meets the same standards as the others on the team good for her! But I don’t believe in special treatment. If one person gets it then all people should.
Also, if she is not up to the same level as the other cheerleaders, it brings them down. They have to take 3 bases to put under her to do skills less than what they are capable of. As a cheerleader, I know that stunting with a person who is far below your skill level is extremely frustrating because the stunt group is limited to the skills of the lowest skilled person. That gets really boring when you can not push yourself or ever try more difficult stunts because of one person. I think it’s great for HER, but it’s not great for the TEAM. And since cheer is a team sport, what’s best for the team trumps what’s best for the individual.
That’s why there’s a try out, to make sure all the people on the team will be with people of their own highest skill level which will ultimately advance the team in the sport. If there’s a team, they are only as strong as the weakest link and trying to work around limitations of a single team member is nightmarish for the coaches and the other athletes. It leaves everyone feeling exasperated, unchallenged and unsatisfied with the performance.
Like I said, if she meets the standards then she absolutely deserves the spot. But if she doesn’t have the skills, giving her a spot means you are taking away a spot from a deserving person the skills - and that isn’t fair.
@@Chloe-jt4yb There are other ways to do cheer without being on your school team and ruining it. 😕
Ho come on you can clearly see that she is not at the level of the team.. if it would be an able person
That’s amazing even I’m not a cheerleader I didn’t make the cut
Well maybe you need to get yourself an extra chromosome. 😚
even silly old you eh
she made the cut BECAUSE she's downs. She's masquerading as an "everyday normal girl" but she's not. she's being able to use her downs to get in, for 'normal' girls it's far more challenging.
Kaykattt Wow, EVEN YOU?? I can’t believe even YOU didn’t make the cut. 🙄
Kaykattt you got that truth or dare face hell nah I ain’t playing
What a wonderful story I’m glad she is following her dreams
Aw! My husband is a cheer coach and this just melted our hearts! We will ALWAYS judge on talent and this girl would DEFINITELY get herself on the matt! Spirit, talent, ability! She has it all!
6:27
Rip that dude he just wanted his high five
She would make for a great model because she is very pretty.
Yeah she would
I think she's adorable!
You don’t become a model because you’re pretty...
@@debbyslookingatyou3066 no, but being a cheerleader with an unusual condition is a good start.
@@quiznak1003 that is your damn opinion, don't assume that everyone will have the same
Damn this channel makes me rage 1/2 the time and shed tears of joy the other 1/2.
What do you mean about *rage*
i think theyre talking about the more controversial stuff, stuff like "i married my brother" or things of the sort :L
but then you have wonderful stories like this that make you wanna come back
иєкσ fяєαк True
This about made me cry years of joy. My little sister does not have down syndrome, but she is mentally challenged. My little sister has always looked up to me so when she saw me cheering she took an interest. The coaches said the same thing to her: she can try out but she won't make the team. My sister practiced harder than anyone I know and she nailed her auditions and made the team. She cheered all through highschool and I couldn't be more proud of her. Congratulations!
The way her sister talks about her 💖💖💖
She’s absolutely beautiful. She looked so cute in her cheerleading outfit with her hair done so nicely 👌🏻 ❤️
This is so heartfelt and very heartwarming to watch and people like her are able to do anything anybody else can do. She is a normal person and seems to be beautiful inside and out💙
Oh my goodness! I'm teary eyed right now! I'm so proud of her, the fact that she has Down didn't stop her from fulfilling her dream (one of many dreams I'm sure). You go girl!
She is by far one of the most inspirational girls I have ever seen! She is also hilarious!! And she is the prettiest girl ever!!
This is a beautiful story..everyone deserves a chance, no matter what...treat everyone equal is what I was taught growing up...this totally warms my heart..
She should not be given more of a chance than non-disabled people.
Its so inspirational on how people with disabilities or without drive trough obstacles that would likely take them down. She is passion about being a cheerleader, and her supporters are amazing.
I'm a cheerleader at my high school and I have to say this beautiful girl gave me alot of inspiration🦋 Be yourself and also let ur dreams come true. Don't listen what people say.🦋
She’s so beautiful and adorable, I love her personality! I’m happy she’s perusing her dreams despite her special needs. ❤️
She is the sweetest girl I have ever seen... I love her, please give her a hug from me.. God bless you.
Me Too
She's so pure and innocent, God bless you beautiful young lady and your loving family.
She’s so beautiful 💛❤️😻 love that she’s following her dream🤧
awe. the poor guy wanted a high five 😭 6:27
What a beautiful young lady, she made me smile from the start to the finish of this video 💜
I wish my mother could be that supportive. My little brother has autism and she never wants to let him move out or go to uni or drive when I know he's capable of all that and more. I'm so happy this girl is following her dreams
She’s literally one of the most prettiest people ive ever seen
i can’t stop noticing how beautiful anncatherine is 😍
I was a cheerleader in middle school and I have Cerebral palsy.
I my goodness have you ever watched the channel our life in Holland.
I love the support system that she has and I love her sass. Mama bears are always formidable forces especially those with "special" needs. You go Anncatherine
I love how she said she doesn't get nervous. I would be cacking myself. She is a inspiration. X
She is the real life BECKY from *GLEE*
Sue would be so proud.
Thats what i was Thinking
That’s what I thought haha :)
She's too ADORABLE! I'd love to see her cheer! Instantly made me smile😃❤
Me Too
When I was an assistant coach of a high school that had a programme for developmentally challenged, we had a young lady on our team that did home games and pep rallies. She couldn't remember a 2:30 minute competative routine but loved going to competitions with the team. Im so glad she found happiness as a flyer for three years. Everyone deserves the chance to do what brings them happiness.
She’s literally just so freaking pretty!!
Emily Priminova you literally have no life. You're replying and calling her ugly on everyone's comment that says she is beautiful. Stop trying to put others down because you feel bad about yourself. You would never be brave enough to go up to this girl and tell her to her face how ugly you think she is because you are a coward that uses the internet to hide behind a screen and bully people anonymously to make yourself feel better. She is very beautiful both inside and out. Everyone has their own definition of beauty and just because you don't find her pretty doesn't mean everyone else doesn't. Get a life and stop bullying random people on the internet. You act like a child and you need to grow up.
I agree. Big pretty eyes.
@@alleyw7103 It's the truth. People here are just virtue signaling. Nothing against the girl and her annoying mother who forced the school to let her on the team, but this it's not helping out disabled people to treat them differently like this.
She really is hella adorable
6:27 RIP
Beautiful story and beautiful young woman! I'm glad she pressed on to do what she wanted to do in spite of the opposition. I hope her teammates really appreciate her.
Yes, AC!!! You can do anything! Keep breaking down those barriers ☺️
So sweet. What a great sisterhood you two have.
Why do I feel like she would bully me tho
glee that’s why
alayna smart oh my god this made me laugh
alayna smart omg yeah BECKYYYY!!!!
@@alaynasmart6378 ahhhhhh becky was my queen beeyatch
@@alaynasmart6378 yessss!!!😂
5:57-6:00 My heart melted seeing her smile. She’s beautiful ♥️♥️ God bless her
I love how they are caring and treat her normal and let her live her life and that she can be happy with out anyone being rude to her
This is so heartwarming, and impressive given that Down's syndrome causes hypotonia or low muscle tone (it's the same reason that many people who have Down's have some difficulty with speech clarity, though I always kind of feel uncomfortable when I see videos subtitling their speech bc usually I find I can understand them just fine).
beautiful young girl,am happy to see her been happy that's the most important thing here.my love keep on doing what makes you happy
Such an inspiring young lady. I wish I could meet people like her. It just shows that anything is possible no matter who you are. Bless her 💕
XxAlice GamingxX oh yeah yeah
Yes.😊😊 I also wished to meet her..😍😍🙏
XxAlice GamingxX oh yeah yeah
Emily Priminova Who pooped in your cereal?
I think it's so cool that she's doing something that she loves and that the other members are so accepting... ❤
You do something I can't. I'm not good with heights, so being thrown up in the air I leave to the brave flying folks. Keep flying, kiddo, for all of us who are grounded by fear. Brave, beautiful and talented. . Awesome!
Truly an inspiration to me and others She has the courage and determination to succeed on a higher scale This has really changed my life for the better. Thank You
This is very inspirational! I have mild autism and I was a cheerleader my senior year in high school.
She is so sweet and so brave to do what she wants nothing can stop you from doing the things you love♥️♥️
Born Different used to be a tv show on cable that I watched. She may have been a cast member. She's amazing. Yay for her!
An image of Becky Jackson from Glee immediately flashed in front of me
She has the cutest smile!😊👍
Her smile makes me want to cry, it’s so beautiful 🥺❤️
AC you are a force to be reckoned with!! So proud of you!!!!
Good for her She is extremely pretty and has a ton of confidence.
She is beautiful ❤️ so proud of her!
She's such a smart, brave young woman! I hope she continues to follow her dreams!
This is literally so inspiring to me, I loved this. Tryouts are coming up and this makes me pumped.
Shes really pretty
Omg she’s fr actually so so pretty like not even kidding
I know. And those eyebrows are on fleek.
This is so inspirational and it makes me feel a lot better. My brother actually has Down syndrome as well and I’m so happy to see that she’s succeeding and thriving
This just makes my heart melt! She is amazing!
This is an amazing story. She's really pretty, actually, too.
06:27 lol 😂😂
Why is that funny
She is AMAZING. Not for her difference, but for her drive to succeed. God bless beautiful!! You can do, and be, ANYTHING you want to be.
She's so adorable..I'm glad she's living her best life
YASS GIRL ROCK IT. Follow ur dreams, never let anyone stop you, just believe in yourself and never give up
You go girl ! ❤❤❤
What a darling sweet beauty. She is just perfect. I hope life brings her everything wonderful and good her entire life. She knows what shes doing in that group too. They are fortunate to have her cheer
shes honestly pretty good! shes an inspiring person and i wish her the best of luck through the rest of her life!
Where can I go to see more of her actually cheering with her team? I want to watch her fly!
I instantly love her she is so cute and this makes me so happy.
What AnnCatherine has achieved is something I strive for in myself: to achieve on my own merits and to earn what I have fairly and with honor. I hope I can match her example.
This is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. ❤️
she's adorable 🤧🤧
While i understand how her sister feels, you didn't know she could go to college? You'll be suprised what a disability could really do for a person. Regardless of what people are programed to think. Shes no different and if shes the "first" let her be the first of many young women around the world, because little that we know shes the one more confident than someone who doesn't have a disability. She is her own normal and can obtain anything anyone else has. Go head AnnCatherine! You made my heart smile!!
you know im happy for what she has achieved and think she is a great person, but she IS different. its okay to be different so thats not a bad thing but she really is different
@@written-postcards777 good for you. Yall must be real young on here if you think i said something "bad". Whatever.
Amiss Attire no i never said anything about you saying something bad, you missed my point. what i was saying was that she is no different, even though she obviously is different from the majority of people, making it sound like „dont worry youre not different“ which IMPLIES being different is bad. its the same as saying „dont worry youre not fat“ to someone who is overweight - because they are fat, its just not a bad thing.
@@written-postcards777 its crystal CLEAR that she is different. But what i AM saying is that she is no different than anyone else in that she can obtain anything anyone else can regardless of the fact she is "different", or else nothing would be obtainable. So understood.
There are requirements in normal college programs at least in the US, I couldn't finish college since although I did well in all other classes, I couldn't meet the math requirement because I have a math learning disability.
Okay so I've seen a couple of comments saying 'She isn't good enough, she wouldn't have been on the team if she hadn't down syndrome' and I just want to say: it's awesome for her to get that opportunity because, guess what, she will have a tough time after high school and after college. She might not get her dream job because of down syndrome. She might depend on someone forever. It's not unfair for her to get a spot on the team, whether or not she "stole" it from someone else, who is "normal". And I don't think someone else "lost" a spot because of her. Let her enjoy it! 💖
when i was in high school we had this wonderful student who has down syndrome, and she was just the best, I'm so happy that they let her join the VARSITY SQUAD! like she kicked butt! I absolutely love the sport of cheer because they are so accepting of everyone! female, male. no matter who you were you were cared about
She’s beautiful! 😱❣️
Outstanding young lady keep up the good work
She’s so beautiful and I’m so proud of her!
Being a competitive cheerleader was the best years of my life! I’m so happy for her :)
She was the beautiful person.She was pretty and I like her like a person❤💙💜💚🌎🌏
I jus thought of glee when I saw this. also this is beautiful
This actually made my day! She's so cute ♡
What a sweet story. This girl is a champ...I’m sure the mother threatened litigation against the school and therefore her daughter was chosen for the squad. Go mama bear!
Yay for her! AND we go to the same college!!
Do you know her personally and if so is she as sweet as she seems? 😄
Taterbug Underwood She seems really sweet, I saw her at a game and she really put her all in cheering and kept a smile on her face
The school not wanting their reputation to be destroyed is what *really* didn't stop her from becoming a cheerleader 😐
who cares
That's so not true, they chose her on the team because she's a good cheerleader.
Maren Madison “my mom had a nice little chat with the coach” “she then made the team like everybody else”
yeah, as someone who has participated in sports since i was 4, her mom definitely pulled some strings to get her on the squad. she’s good, but not college level good imo
I appreciate the honesty, even as someone who has autism myself. People need to understand these types of things so they know that this type of discrimination can still occur
@@Chloe-jt4yb I do as someone with an intellectual disability. It shows that if the school didn't have their reputation at risk as far as inclusion goes, they would not consider her "good enough" for the cheer team and thus there was no real stigma "barrier" broken. The discrimination still exists in the back of their minds as well as in many other schools
I love this video! Very inspirational!! Also she is GORGEOUS 😍😍😍
great job. hope she gets to cheer as long as she wants to and has all the fun doing it.
Me :
WHY IS SHE SO FREAKING PRETTYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
Me 20 minutes later : Oh duh! She was born like dat
She's freakin' more beautiful than me! Bless her
AC has the spirit! Yes she does! I’m glad she has a supportive sister!
She’s so inspiring🙏🏽🙏🏽❤️❤️