Reviews

A Sister’s Rescue Mission for Disability Justice

April 18, 2024 by Franke James

The rescue mission: Franke James with her camera and Teresa Heartchild with a plastic whistle at the Toronto nursing home on November 30, 2013.

“Forced care is happening to people with disabilities around the world. Most people don’t escape. And the world shrugs.” ~ Franke James

The memoir opens on the night of November 30, 2013, with cops knocking at the door.

Franke, her husband Bill, and her father had just freed Teresa from the nursing home she was forced into. From that tense beginning scene, we jump backward in time to get glimpses of the events leading up to that pivotal day.

[Based on digital records] readers are introduced to a cast of people — Teresa’s siblings, father, and the key players in her life. But in all images, Teresa and Franke’s siblings are whited out, a deliberate approach to reflect their absence in Franke’s life, and their role in Teresa’s…

Bill lights the candles for the dinner part with Siobhan, Jared, Spencer, and Phoebe

With an aging father and a sister with Down syndrome, this group of siblings naturally worries about ensuring their relatives are taken care of. Still, nobody is willing to step forward… for fear it will interrupt the flow of their lives. Casual discussions turn to planned meetings to determine the future of Teresa and their father’s care—without either’s knowledge or consent.

Things turn dark

Things turn dark as Franke and Bill hit dead end after dead end, until pressure spurs the couple into a final decision — to let Teresa live with them. Of course, it’s easier said than done, as the group of siblings will do anything to maintain control.

Who decides where you live?

Should everyone have the right to choose where they live? The answer seems obvious — of course, choosing where you live is a basic human right.

But for Teresa Heartchild, an artist, self-advocate and author who has Down syndrome, everything changed when that right was taken away from her. Teresa’s older sister, Franke James, gives a true account of the arduous path that led to Teresa’s wrongful institutionalization and eventual rescue in her memoir, Freeing Teresa.

Climate Activism Lays Foundation to Fight for Disability Rights

Freeing Teresa depicts complex dynamics between family members and harsh ableism directed towards Teresa — but it also celebrates growth, change and humanity. Though this is a portrait of Teresa’s life, her autonomy, intelligence and endless capabilities, it also shows the transformation Franke embarks on over the course of her own life.

Dedicated To Those Who Are Different

Freeing Teresa is dedicated to “those who are different” and is a refreshing reminder that people who are different deserve the same dignity and respect as any of us. Franke’s constant persistence that Teresa is so much more capable than anyone expects, and her determination to fight for her sister is inspiring. In 2023, Teresa celebrated the 10-year anniversary of her rescue.

Franke’s wise words make for a touching closing thought: “The struggle for equality is never done. But sometimes by standing up for what’s right, you can make a difference.”

See the full review by Megan Beauregard on BookTrib: Memoir Recounts Sister’s Rescue Mission and the Ongoing Fight For Disability Justice

Buy the book: Freeing Teresa

Tickets to Freedom

April 4, 2024 by Franke James

A True Story of Empowerment

The compelling saga of siblings in conflict over one sister’s disability and the right thing to do

Freeing Teresa: A True Story about My Sister and Me
“The result is more than a memoir: it’s a testimony to how ‘tickets to freedom’ are gained through fighting and love, displaying how Teresa’s own wishes and interests add fuel to the fire of empowerment on many different levels.”
D. DONOVAN, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

Midwest Book Review (excerpt):

Franke and Teresa found themselves virtually alone. Standing against forces of medical, legal, and psychological systems bent on declaring Teresa incompetent and institutionalizing her for life.

Surprisingly, Franke’s work as an environmental activist and the lessons she learned from that job translated nicely to her efforts on her sister’s behalf. They provided a foundation of methodology, approach, ideology, and confrontation that served her well in her latest battle.

From decision-making empowerment and voting rights to navigating possibilities for Teresa, Franke’s interactions with her father and siblings provides a powerful set of discourses that examine ideals, realities, and the mix of special interests and perceptions that can create a perfect storm in a family.

Of particular interest are the points of contention that clearly outline different possibilities in acting and reacting to family members:

“Weren’t Deirdre and Conrad still in charge? Probably, I said. But the alternative was seeking guardianship through the court system, and that could take six months or more. If we went down to Aiker Place with Dad, he could ask to see the paperwork, and maybe there would be another way. We both believed that Dad would have the moral authority as Teresa’s father and her primary caregiver. Maybe that would be enough.”

From issues of control to others about empowerment and battles… Franke lays out a candid, clear course of struggle. This will engage a wide range of readers, from those coming from legal circles to families facing their own internal and external truths.”

Read the full review
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Family, disability rights, and the fight for freedom

March 10, 2024 by Franke James

Book Review by SHUBHAM LAKHINA, @a_limitless_reader

Gripping narrative

The complex dynamics of family, disability rights, and the fight for freedom are woven into Freeing Teresa by Franke James. It is a gripping narrative which chiefly focuses on Franke’s quest to challenge her siblings’ decision to place their disabled sister, Teresa, into a nursing home against her wishes.

Riveting battle

Franke’s commitment to Teresa’s autonomy and dignity is unwavering, thus setting the stage for a riveting battle against the forces determined to deny her sister’s right to self-determination. Despite resistance from her own family members, who wield power as Teresa’s guardians, Franke refuses to back down. Then, she rallies a team of supporters to champion Teresa’s cause.

The enduring bond between two sisters

Straightaway, readers are drawn into a compelling narrative of courage, resilience, and the enduring bond between two sisters. Franke’s advocacy for Teresa’s freedom is a powerful reminder of the inherent worth and agency of individuals with disabilities. This book challenges social norms and systems that seek to marginalize and disempower them.

Franke’s vivid storytelling and candid reflections invite readers to confront their own preconceptions and biases. This prompts a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and their families. It is a captivating narrative of one family’s fight for justice and a rallying cry for social change and inclusivity.

Shines a light on broader issues within the disability rights movement

Freeing Teresa shines a light on broader issues within the disability rights movement. Significantly, it highlights the ongoing struggle for community-based living and the right to choose one’s own living arrangements. Teresa’s story is contextualized within the larger framework of civil rights. Throughout, Franke underscores the importance of ensuring that all individuals, regardless of ability, have the opportunity to live with dignity and autonomy.

Freeing Teresa colour hardcover with an orange cover and blue silhouette of Teresa raising her arms overhead. Her body is filled with a photo of blue sky, low mountains, and a sandy, rocky beach;

Summing up, Freeing Teresa is a compelling read that will leave a lasting impact on readers. Franke James’s courage in the face of adversity serves as a testament to the power of advocacy and the enduring strength of the human spirit. This book is a must-read for anyone passionate about disability rights, social justice, and the fight for freedom.

Advance Praise

October 24, 2023 by Freeing Teresa

“With characteristic courage and determination, Franke James took on the health care system and her own family to free her sister Teresa from a nursing home. By turns gut-wrenching and awe-inspiring, Freeing Teresa shows how the disability rights ideal of ‘nothing about us without us’ is the only way to make decisions about frail or aging family members. This story will break your heart and then fill it up again.”
Catherine McKercher, author of Shut Away: When Down Syndrome Was a Life Sentence

“An unshakeable belief in human potential”

“This is a gripping story about courage, love, and an unshakeable belief in human potential—about people who possess a rare combination of optimism with savviness about power, law, and human nature. Inspirational.”
Marty Seldman, Ph.D., WSJ Bestselling author of Survival of the Savvy

“Full of insight, heartbreak and inspiration”

“Full of insight, heartbreak and inspiration, Freeing Teresa offers a compelling glimpse into the experience of people with disabilities. This no-holds-barred story is a must-read for decision-makers, advocates, family members, and anyone who cares about disability rights.”
Karla Verschoor, Executive Director, Inclusion BC

“A must-read for anyone who cares about human dignity and equal rights”

“The battle to have Teresa be the best she can be—and to spend her life in a loving environment—is the heart of this book. A truly amazing story about an inspiring person and those who made it happen. A must-read for anyone who cares about human dignity and equal rights.”
George Melnyk, Professor Emeritus, Communication, Media and Film, University of Calgary

“Authentic, raw and riveting”

“Freeing Teresa is authentic, raw and riveting. It was an emotional roller coaster—one that will be very real for many disabled people. At its core, it’s about hope for a better life and resilience.”
Isabel Mavrides-Calderon, @Powerfullyissa, disability advocate

“A courageous, personal account”

“Franke James has written a courageous, personal account of fighting the system—and her family—to free her sister, Teresa, from forced care. It is a study in family dynamics and how individual perspectives, regardless of how ‘well-meaning’ they may be, can place our loved ones’ human rights at risk. Freeing Teresa reflects in microcosm society’s struggles to maintain appropriate supports for people with disabilities who need care, in the face of those who resent expenditures on the ‘unproductive’ amongst us.”
Alanna Hendren, Executive Director, Developmental Disabilities Association