No Limits: Matthew Von Der Ahe is Chasing His Dreams

When Matthew Von Der Ahe, now 26, was born with Down syndrome, his mother Emmy—who already had her hands full with a 27-month-old boy running around the house—recalls, “I didn’t know what I was supposed to do.”

Easterseals Southern California (ESSC) eventually began coming to their home to provide occupational therapy and, over the next few years, Matthew started hitting milestones. 

“The therapist worked with us to help him to keep his tongue in his mouth, roll over, sit up, learn to play with his toys and to talk, stand and get ready to walk—all the things that really shaped him,” she said. 

“It wasn’t just the physical therapy,” Emmy shared. “She gave us advice to set him up for his future. She told us not to coddle him, that it would not serve him. That we should expect him to achieve to the best of his ability like every other kid.”

A Lesson in Possibility

It turned out to be good advice. Mathew is now a successful working actor, a dancer who performs around the world, a budding writer/producer/director, a hobbyist musician who plays the drums and piano, an artist and a disability activist.

Matthew attended mainstream nursery, elementary and high school. In second grade, his mother enrolled him in an acting class because she thought it would be a nice social activity.

When he was 13, he auditioned for a movie, The Secret Lives of Dorks, a role that he landed and which was “the moment” that he realized, “I want to do that. I want to be on a set again and again.”

By high school he had already appeared on such popular television shows as Weeds, Code Black and Yo Gabba Gabba. But when he attempted to sign up for a high school college prep drama course, the teacher thought he wouldn’t be able to memorize a script or follow direction and that he would be a distraction to the other students.

“She didn’t even know me,” he said. Instead, he signed up for marching band and with modifications excelled on the bass drum. “The band teacher saw my potential, not just my disability.”

Defying Expectations!

A year later, he landed a role as “Craig” in the feature film Champions, working with Woody Harrelson, Kaitlin Olsen and Cheech Marin. Not only did he memorize all his lines, he memorized everyone else’s lines as well. Harrleson, he proudly notes, has kept in touch with him. “I loved working with him,” Matthew said. “He was the best person to act with. He taught me a lot and was very inspiring.”

Because Matthew was attending a mainstream Los Angeles high school and sometimes had difficulty communicating with other students, he carried a basketball with him to school every day as a way to connect. 

One day, while shooting baskets and missing shot after shot, a large crowd of students began gathering to cheer him on. On his 12^th attempt, he suddenly sank a long-distance shot from center court. His classmates erupted, mobbing him and hoisting him into the air as a teacher captured the celebratory moment on video.

His mother had no idea that was the reason Matthew was carrying the ball to school each day … until the video went viral and landed him on Access Hollywood, where celebrity Kristen Bell sent him a congratulatory video from the Emmy Awards red carpet.

In 2024, he participated in the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge with two entries: Carps, in which he starred; and The Odd Taste, which he co-wrote with AB Farrelly of the famed Farrelly filmmaking clan, who are devoted supporters of the Film Challenge. AB was the on-set acting coach during the Champion’s shoot and, in addition to Harrelson, stays in touch with Matthew.

In 2024, Matthew appeared in ESSC’s D1$@B1L*tY is Not a Dirty Word PSA campaign.

He also enjoys painting and created a charitable endeavor, DOING MY pART, reproducing his artwork as greeting card sets to benefit people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

To be Released Soon

“I’m excited and pumped up,” says Matthew about his upcoming film projects, which include:

• Wish Watch — In a co-starring role as Charlie, he and a high school friend are caught in a birthday wish time loop, forced to repeat the same day over and over. Shot in Arizona, the film is in post-production.
• One Perfect Date — Matthew appears as Evan in this coming-of-age, comedy-romance starring Madison Tevlin as Emma. Shot in Canada, the film is in post-production.
• Wedding Gone Wrong — Inspired by Matthew’s older brother’s recent wedding, this short film  follows a man with Down syndrome who serves as his brother’s best man and keeps accidentally throwing the wedding into chaos, all in the sweetest and most endearing ways. Matthew is co-writing the film with AB Farrelly and will direct but won’t star, although he will make a cameo appearance.

A Whirlwind Schedule

In addition to his film and TV career, Matthew is also an accomplished dancer and part of the Straight Up Abilities Dance Group—a dance group for people with disabilities—and SUPA All Stars, the group’s top-performing ensemble. The SUPA All Stars perform showcases around the world, most recently at Disneyland, last year at the London Ballet (although Matthew’s filming schedule prevented him from attending) and next year in Japan, among other venues.

He takes private lessons from founder Robin Olive and is working with her to write, cast and direct his own mini show, which they hope to open in May.

“We have 30 stars in All Stars and they all shine bright,” said Olive. “It’s a lot of energy and personality, all in one room. They need extra support to make their dreams come true. They need people to hear them and support them. 

“I always ask what do you really want to do?” she continued. “But what stands out about Matthew is that he wants to direct his own show. He’s really passionate about this. So I’m putting my time and energy into supporting him. Let’s promote disabled artists living out their dreams.”

Additionally, Matthew was selected to be part of Google’s Spectrum Laboratory, designed for people with autism to experience the arts, but which recently auditioned and added Matthew and another person with Down syndrome.  Matthew plays drums and piano with various bands.

A Vision for the Future

“This is my childhood dream,” Matthew said. “I have some celebrities I want to work with and some projects I want to do where the storyline isn’t about Down syndrome or any disability—where I’m just part of the cast.”

We’re pretty sure that whatever Matthew sets out to do will also be a slam dunk!

Check out Matthew in Easterseals Disability is Not a Dirty Word PSA campaign.