When Matthew Von Der Ahe was in high school, his drama teacher asked for him to be removed from her class due to him having Down syndrome, which is a genetic condition that can cause developmental delays.
“She suggested that I would not be able to keep up with her college prep class, that I would hold everyone back. I don’t think I have to tell you how it makes me feel each time I have success in the acting world,” Matthew says.
The stereotype remains that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) cannot and will not achieve as much as other people; however, what Matthew’s teacher didn’t know was that in years to come, he would be acting alongside two-time Academy Award-nominated actor Woody Harrelson, whether he was in her drama class or not.
‘Champions’ is a film that shares the story of a basketball coach named Marcus, played by Woody Harrelson, who commits a drink-driving offence and winds up coaching a local team with intellectual disabilities called ‘The Friends’. Much like Matthew’s teacher, Marcus quickly writes them off as useless, but the longer he coaches them, the more he sees their potential.
The American version of the film was made after the original Spanish film ‘Campeones’ was released in 2018, which was inspired by the real Aderes team in Valencia, who won twelve Spanish championships. The 2023 adaptation, directed by Bobby Farrelly, portrays ‘The Friends’ in a way that allows the viewers to see past their disabilities, providing representation for people with IDDs both in sports and in film.
Matthew Von Der Ahe, who plays Craig in the film, says:
“I think it shows that we are just like everyone else. We have goals, dreams, and setbacks. The film allowed our own personalities to shine, which hopefully allowed people to connect with us as individuals rather than focusing just on our disabilities.”
Matthew has been acting since he was seven years old and feels extremely fortunate to have been chosen for the role of Craig after an intense audition process.
“I knew this movie would help change how people see actors with disabilities, and I wanted to be a part of that movement,” he says.
According to Mencap, there are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK, and children with special needs are twice as likely to be bullied as children without.
The Mental Health Foundation also says that children with learning disabilities are four and a half times more likely to have a mental health issue.
Even in spaces built for disabled people, those with IDDs still struggle to be included, with athletes who have learning disabilities only being able to compete in three sports at the Paralympics.
Joshua Felder, who plays Darius in the film, says, “People don’t necessarily say that they doubt me, but you can just tell from their expressions. I prove people wrong every day.”
Joshua opens up about how he was chosen for the film, not only for his acting skills but also for his basketball skills, which are highlighted throughout the movie as he’s deemed ‘the best player on the team’. He was diagnosed with having high-functioning autism at two years old but says that he didn’t truly know what that meant until he reached middle school.
His character in Champions, Darius, is a vital part of the plot, as not only is he the best player on the team, but he makes Woody Harrelson’s character, Marcus, work to build his trust. This aspect of the film shows that it isn’t just about basketball but about the relationships built throughout the story.
“I knew I was different, but I also knew I was smart,” Joshua says, “My diagnosis helped me discover my strengths, and I like that my character was portrayed as an amazing player.”
Aside from acting, Joshua is extremely passionate about sport, playing flag football in the Special Olympics, as well as being involved in baseball and track and field throughout his life. He was also the first autistic person to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show, which he did alongside The Weeknd as a backup dancer. Joshua’s experiences alone show that people with IDDs are capable of extraordinary things, and this is simply reiterated and reassured in the movie when we see how the team improves and progresses.
Joshua says, “My castmates and I all share common ground, and that’s because of our success, not because we have disabilities.
“Just give us a chance, not because you feel bad for us but because you have confidence in our skills. I want people to support us, not feel sorry for us.”
A Sport England survey shows that disabled people are nearly twice as likely to be physically inactive as people without a disability, which could be due to a variety of different circumstances and barriers. However, ‘Champions’ does a great job of showing that people with IDDs can be just as physically active and passionate about sport as anyone else.
DOSport UK, a company in the North West of England, offers basketball and multi-sport opportunities to people with disabilities. As a company who can relate to the film, they teamed up with Universal for the release of ‘Champions’ along with Basketball England and the Special Olympics.
Jacob Meaton, the director of DOSport UK, feels that this opportunity allowed their players to be truly involved in the release, and it showed the impact that representation in both sport and film can have on real people.
He says, “Often people create a stereotype from the people they see in the street with obvious disabilities, but that’s not the reality for everyone. Typically, people with intellectual disabilities go about their lives the same as everyone else.
“There needs to be more representation to show that most people with learning disabilities aren’t big and scary; they’re fun to work with.
“The film hits the nail on the head about the variety of skills people may have. They may need extra support, but don’t just shove them to the side. Try to include them rather than push them out.”
‘Champions’ provides a representative space as the film presents ‘The Friends’ as real and human, allowing people to relate to them and see past the disabilities at the surface. It’s an enjoyable watch, seeing the characters’ humour and personality, showing them not only to be capable but great. Each of the characters has their own individual jobs and opinions, with the underdog spirit really coming through as we see their success.
What we must take from Champions is that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities deserve to be in these spaces, and they deserve a chance to show their potential, whether that be in acting, sports or anything else. They may have their differences, but representation in these spaces allows us all to move past the stereotypes. Most of all, they deserve the chance to prove people wrong, just like Matthew did with his drama teacher.
He says, “The more people see actors, athletes, and professionals with disabilities in the media, the more the world will realise we belong in these spaces.”
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