Single, happy and in no rush to meet Mr Right
Claire Mitchell.
Claire doesn't like nightclubs but she likes to party. Her family is important, but so are new friends. She's a self-confessed romantic and, yes, she is looking for Mr Right, but she's happy to wait.
All up, Claire Mitchell has a pretty clear vision of what she wants and where she's going for a 22-year old.
"I represent myself well, so I expect a partner to as well. That sounds fair to me. Definitely no drugs, swearing or drinking way over the top so you lose your head."
"I am not a square but I am Catholic. Being Catholic is very important to me and having nice manners."
Claire said she meets lots of people through Club Rainbow, a youth group organised by the Down Sydrome Association of Queensland, and Life Stream, a community organisation that arranges sport and leisure activities.
"I would like to meet someone and, yes, have a boyfriend, but I am not chasing; I am waiting. I have lots of friends who chase, and it can almost be like a job. No way! I am happy to wait." In terms of the way her disability might affect future relationships, Claire has a very down to earth attitude.
"I might get married one day if I meet the right person. It might be good to meet someone without a disability- that would give me more freedom and make things easier."
"I know all about Down Syndrome. I do things slower, and I get tired easily, so someone has to be understanding of these differences."
And if there were anything about her life Claire would change?
"Well, I would have preferred to have better vision and be a bit taller, but apart from that I'm happy."
Last updated November 2007