Freeing teresa: a true story about my sister and me - franke james

A true story about sisters, disability, and standing up to family.

Its a searing account of how paternalistic attitudes ripped one family apart.

But its also about resilience and finding the courage to protect the ones you love.

Franke James objected when she heard her siblings plan to put her sister, Teresa Heartchild, into a nursing home.

What about Teresas human rights? But she was told that Teresa, who was born with Down syndrome, had been declared incapable and had lost her right to decide.

Then the siblings, acting as the guardians, had Teresa admitted to an institution.

But Franke did not give up on her sister.

Using her skills as an activist, she put a team together to help Teresa get discharged.

Thats when all hell broke loose.

And so, the two sisters had to stand together-against their siblings, the medical system, and the police-to defend Teresas right to be free.

Teresa is just one of thousands.

The old institutions have closed, but today theres a conveyor belt putting people with disabilities into institutions like nursing homes.

This deeply personal sister story shines a light on a pressing civil rights issue for people with disabilities-the right to decide where you live.