Unravelling disability in the reality show <i>Down the Road</i>

This study investigates the representation of disability in the Flemish television program Down the Road, which follows six individuals with Down syndrome on a journey accompanied by a program host and a support worker. Using a rhizomatic analytical approach, the research examines key scenes from the show's fifth season through the lens of crip theory, engaging with concepts such as (disability) performativity and (able-bodied) normativity. The analysis is structured around four central themes: disability, the construction of not-yet-adults, the pursuit of independence, and love, sexuality, and gender. Findings indicate that Down syndrome is predominantly framed through a deficit model aligned with medical discourse. Moreover, the program reinforces a normative binary division between disability and ability, portraying independent living as the ultimate aspirational goal. This study contributes to understanding the layered meanings embedded in popular media representations and situates these interpretations within broader socio-cultural frameworks.