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#freeingteresa

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Franke James

It's a milestone day for me. My op-ed is in The Star!

"My sister’s rights were taken away, like thousands of others with developmental disabilities"

thestar.com/opinion/contributo

#WDSD #assumethatIcan
#endthestereotypes
#developmentaldisabilities #downsyndrome #longtermcare
#freeingteresa

Toronto StarMy sister was sent to a nursing home against her will. We fought and won, but thousands of others aren’t so luckyBy Franke James is an award-winning activist, artist, and the author of 'Freeing Teresa: A True Story about My Sister and Me.' She lives in Vancouver, B.C., with her husband and her sister, Teresa.
Continued thread
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Franke James

Continuing rollercoaster: Ten years ago, on Nov 30, 2013, after getting Teresa out of the nursing home, we went back to my dad's condo to celebrate Teresa's freedom. The phone rang.
My sister Deirdre issued a warning: “If you do not return Teresa, the police will come and escort her. And you just think of how awful it’s going to be for that poor little girl to be dragged back [to the nursing home].”

#FreeingTeresa #truestory #Downsyndrome #forcedcare #disabilityrights
a.co/d/5vEbGeH

Caption: Teresa raises her paper coffee cup to cheer her return home Alt: Teresa is sitting at the piano bench in Dad’s living room, proposing a toast to celebrate returning home. She is white and has Down syndrome. Teresa has straight brown hair and is wearing a purple fleece sweatshirt. One arm rests on the keyboard cover, and the other is raised, holding a take-out cup of coffee. She has a big smile. Behind her, we can see a row of family photos sitting along the top of the upright piano, which includes Mom and Dad’s wedding photos. Photo by Franke James, Nov 30, 2013
Continued thread
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Franke James

Ten years ago today, on Nov 29, 2013, I called my father about @TeresaHeartchild's sudden placement in the nursing home. He felt that she had been kidnapped. “Listen, I’m really upset now.” Dad was steaming. “I want somebody to bring me down there! And I want to get Teresa out.” “Maybe we should take you down?” I said, “And we could try to get Teresa released.” #FreeingTeresa #truestory #Downsyndrome #forcedcare #activist #memoir #disabilityrights
[Amazon link: a.co/d/5vEbGeH ]

In the rush to put Teresa in the nursing home on Nov 27, 2013, her framed school photo and her Sick Kids bottle with her finisher medals in it were left behind. Nov 28, 2013 Franke James Photo: Teresa’s treasures were left behind at the condo. On her bedside table sits a bright pink translucent Sick Kids water bottle containing Teresa’s fitness medals and lanyards. Her framed school photo is beside it. In that school photo, Teresa is a teenager wearing her school uniform. She is smiling and looks happy.
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Franke James

Ten years ago today, on Nov 28, 2013, I was heartbroken. I was visiting my sister @TeresaHeartchild on her second day at the Toronto nursing home. Teresa was sitting cross-legged on her bed. On the floor next to her was a row of big plastic shopping bags stuffed with her clothing & belongings. I was pleased that she hadn’t unpacked yet; I took it as a sign that she did not want to stay. [Amazon link: a.co/d/5vEbGeH ]
#Downsyndrome #forcedcare #activist #memoir #FreeingTeresa #truestory

Image of excerpt from "Freeing Teresa," Chapter 32 by Franke James: “It’s just past this funeral home,” bill said as we walked from the subway. “That’s where they took my grandparents when they died.” Then he pointed down the street to a four-storey brick building. “See, there it is.” Aiker Place looked like a nondescript apartment building with a plastic sign over the entrance. Nearby there was a church, a few drab apartment buildings, a small inner-city park, and panhandlers on the sidewalk. It was depressing to imagine Teresa living in this neighbourhood. For the last twenty-four hours we had been phoning around, getting advice. We called our lawyer, Nikolas Vincente. We spoke with Bill’s activist friends in the medical community, who introduced us to Lois Sampson, an elder rights activist. Everyone was concerned but nobody had an easy solution, especially if Deirdre and Conrad had the proper legal authority, as they insisted. I was nervous as we walked up to the entrance. The official word from Conrad was that visits should be delayed. I hadn’t asked if that applied to us, and I was afraid that Aiker Place might bar us from visiting Teresa. But I tamped down my fears. We had to give it a try. Lois had given us..."
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