#freeingteresa — Public Fediverse posts

The "I'm Still Rolling #podcast" with Mike Sugerman and Janice Wright, had me on as a guest to talk about my memoir "#FreeingTeresa":
"On paper, [my sister] Teresa had civil rights, she was protected. They have the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom. They have the UN CRPD, which says that people with disabilities have the right to choose where they will live. And yet Teresa's rights were being trampled every which way."

https://redcircle.com/shows/77b46ab8-62bd-487c-8566-968596a807f6/ep/63890172-44a9-4739-8690-41e280a9978a #downsyndrome

Happy Mother's Day to my late Mom, who would be thrilled to hear how we're blazing new paths for Teresa.
On May 3, we accepted three Gold awards in N.Y. for “Freeing Teresa” from the NYC Big Book Award and the Independent Press. When our awards were announced, I walked up to the stage to accept the trophies. At the same time, my husband pushed Teresa in her wheelchair up to the front. Teresa pumped her arms in the air to celebrate winning gold. The crowd cheered and applauded!
#FreeingTeresa

Listen up! Wowzers, I've done 10 #podcasts in 2024!!
From Activism Begins at Home to Sisterly Love and Siblings as Krazy Glue, here's the Inside Scoop on #FreeingTeresa.

https://freeingteresa.com/the-inside-scoop-on-freeing-teresa-video-and-audio-interviews/ #socialjustice #downsyndrome #memoirs #awards #dysfunctionalfamilies

Jerry Waxler, an author, teacher, and a professional counselor writes about Freeing Teresa:

“When Cain was ejected from the Garden of Eden, he asked a rhetorical question, ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’
“If you have ever wondered about how much of your own comfort and convenience to sacrifice for your brother or sister, …read this book.” ~ JERRY WAXLER

https://memorywritersnetwork.com/blog/siblings-disagree-family-feuds-in-memoirs/
#FreeingTeresa
#memoirs
#siblings
#downsyndrome
#disabilityrights
#ableism

Keep 'em coming!! Today, Freeing Teresa won a Literary Titan Gold Book Award, the sixteenth award for our memoir. Wow! I'm thrilled. Take a bow, @TeresaHeartchild and @billiamjames!

https://literarytitan.com/2024/11/01/literary-titan-gold-book-award-nonfiction-7/

#FreeingTeresa
#awards
#memoir
#downsyndrome
#siblings #sisters
#dysfunctional
#disability
#ableism

Authentic Representation: #LaurenPotter stars as @TeresaHeartchild

"As an #audiobook, #FreeingTeresa ranks among the most unique... With a full cast of 13 actors, two of whom have #DownSyndrome, this audiobook offers listeners an authentic experience... James’ cast of actors helps emphasize some of the most harrowing times in the family’s life, breathing life into a story much less impactful with a single narrator." ~ LITERARY TITAN

#memoirs
#ableism
#disability
https://literarytitan.com/2024/10/26/freeing-teresa-a-true-story-about-my-sister-and-me-audiobook/

🎙️ Yesterday, I was on The School of Heritage #podcast in Nigeria:

"This episode will touch anyone with a heart for family, strength in adversity, and the hope that drives us to never give up." ~ Host Adegoke Temitope

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-journey-of-resilience-and-sisterly-love/id1742830778?i=1000674482884

#FreeingTeresa
#downsyndrome
#disability
#memoir
#ableism

"The rights of the #disabled, the fight to preserve personal freedoms, and James’ determination to provide a fulfilling life are at the core of this exceptional memoir." Literary Titan

#FreeingTeresa
#downsyndrome
#memoirs
#ableism
#fullcast
#audiobook
@TeresaHeartchild @robcottingham

https://literarytitan.com/2024/10/26/freeing-teresa-a-true-story-about-my-sister-and-me-audiobook/

"What would you do to defend your youngest sister or brother?... [Franke] James’ cast of actors helps emphasize some of the most harrowing times in the family’s life, breathing life into a story much less impactful with a single narrator." Literary Titan

https://literarytitan.com/2024/10/26/freeing-teresa-a-true-story-about-my-sister-and-me-audiobook/

#FreeingTeresa
#downsyndrome
#memoirs
#ableism
#fullcast
#audiobook
@robcottingham

Wowzers! 'Freeing Teresa' was a triple winner at #BookFest Fall 2024 in the Audiobook, Memoir and Human Rights Categories! This brings our total to 15 awards & prizes!

'Freeing Teresa: A True Story about My Sister and Me

Silver, Audio Book (Overall Presentation)
Silver, Memoirs (Personal)
Silver, Human Rights & Political Movements (Nonfiction)

Take a bow, @robcottingham, who plays Conrad in the audiobook. 👏 ⭐

https://www.thebookfest.com/award_entries/freeing-teresa-a-true-story-about-my-sister-and-me/

#FreeingTeresa
#downsyndrome
#memoirs
#bookawards

2/3

...(in My SUV and Me Say Goodbye). Or fighting City Hall to build a green driveway (in Paradise Unpaved). Or using a #memoir to spread the word about #government #censorship of my #climatechange art (in Banned on the Hill). Our actions can be chronicled and spotlight issues in a way that is more entertaining than a dry article.

In my most recent #book, I gave a true account of helping my sister @TeresaHeartchild escape forced care (in #FreeingTeresa).

The camaraderie at #NAMW has...

Congratulations @robcottingham!!
🎉 I'm happy to announce that #FreeingTeresa has scored a double-win in the NYC Big Book Awards for “Audiobook Nonfiction” and “Social/Political Change.”

@TeresaHeartchild and @billiamjames are coming with me to accept the awards in New York City in May 2025.

This is an award-winning true story about #disability rights colliding with #ableism. It revolves around a key civil rights issue for all people with disabilities—the right to decide where you live.
1/4

Should you ever tell an author and activist, "Quit wasting time with words!"

My brother Conrad did!

See our latest #FreeingTeresa book trailer, featuring Rob Cottingham [@robcottingham] as Conrad, Jackie Blackmore as me, Lauren Potter as @TeresaHeartchild, Bill Mackie as Dad.

https://vimeo.com/1012589054

(When an idealistic activist objects to her siblings’ plan to ship their disabled sister off to a nursing home, she’s forced to choose between family and her sister’s freedom.)

#downsyndrome

Will you be in Vancouver on Saturday, September 28th? If so, please join me. I'm speaking about #writing #memoirs at Word Vancouver with two other members of the Canadian Authors Association, #RosemaryKeevil and #PatrickMcLaren.

"So You Want to Write a Memoir"
11:00 AM 12:00 PM
Event: Room C420
Time: 11 am

https://www.wordvancouver.ca/main-day-events/so-you-want-to-write-a-memoir #FreeingTeresa

Rolling out our "Freeing Teresa" Book Trailers with the voices from our NEW audiobook. Here's a 15-second one.

What do you think?

#DysfunctionalFamily
#Ableism
#Disability
#Activism
#FreeingTeresa

@robcottingham Rob, your performance as my brother Conrad was so great! We’re working on a trailer as a teaser now! I hope people will check out the full cast audiobook of #FreeingTeresa and listen for themselves 🔥

https://www.audible.ca/pd/B0DD11PK7C?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=pdp #disability #downsyndrome

Be fast!! My book #giveaway turns into a pumpkin tonight! Enter for your chance to win a copy of my memoir about our fight for #disability justice.
BookTrib will randomly pick the winners and contact them for their shipping information. (#FreeingTeresa just won two Gold Awards and two Silver Awards!)

https://booktrib.com/giveaways/giveaway-win-a-transformative-memoir-about-the-ongoing-fight-for-disability-justice/

Milestone Moment: The story behind Teresa’s and my involvement in Community Living Ontario's webinar next week goes back forty-five years to 1979 when the documentary Exploding the Myth aired across Canada—with Teresa in it. The film was produced by Community Living Ontario, which is hosting this webinar now!
“It’s My Decision”
https://freeingteresa.com/its-my-decision/ #DownSyndrome #FreeingTeresa #CivilRights

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"

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/my-sister-s-rights-were-taken-away-like-thousands-of-others-with-developmental-disabilities/article_d52145d8-e2db-11ee-8a9a-8bf4b2bf4b8b.html

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

Thanks to Helen Ries & Siblings Canada, who had me on their webinar to talk about "Freeing Teresa: A True Story about My Sister and Me." We were joined by psychologist Yona Lunsky. It was a very unique interview, as each of us is a sister of a #sibling with a developmental #disability. (@TeresaHeartchild makes appearances in the interview in fun & surprising ways.)

Helen called #FreeingTeresa a “call to action” for all siblings

@billiamjames
#caregiving
#downsyndrome

https://learning.siblingscanada.ca/courses/webcast-freeing-teresa

@TeresaHeartchild Congratulations 🥳 Teresa! You are a wonderful cover star!🌟 https://communitylivingmagazine.com/ #freeingteresa

🎉 This morning, actress ⭐ Lauren Potter ⭐ was in an LA studio recording for the "Freeing Teresa" #audiobook. Lauren is playing the role of @TeresaHeartchild ❤️, along with a full cast of actors! (You may remember her as the actress who played #BeckyJackson in #Glee.)

The audiobook will be released in early 2024!

Freeing Teresa: A True Story about My Sister and Me
https://a.co/d/cMFyaJH

#downsyndrome #disabilityrights
#ableism #freeingteresa
#laurenpotter

@TeresaHeartchild @billiamjames

🎉 @TeresaHeartchild was nervous about going up 553 feet, but the cheesecake won out. On Dec 3, 2023, Teresa, @billiamjames, and I celebrated our 10th anniversary together with a spectacular view of Vancouver!

Freeing Teresa: A True Story about My Sister and Me.
https://a.co/d/hXFD9IN

#disabilityrights #activism #freeingteresa #books #ableism #downsyndrome #memoir

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
https://a.co/d/5vEbGeH

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: https://a.co/d/5vEbGeH ]

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: https://a.co/d/5vEbGeH ]
#Downsyndrome #forcedcare #activist #memoir #FreeingTeresa #truestory

@robcottingham

Thanks, Rob! 👏 Your vocal performance as "Conrad" is excellent! You captured his complex character and brought it to life!

@billiamjames @TeresaHeartchild #freeingteresa #downsyndrome #audiobook

😎 Sunshine in Vancouver -- and I was going into the recording studio to work on our #audiobook! #FreeingTeresa is sounding great with a full cast, including @robcottingham. The audiobook should be out in early 2024. Yeah!

#TrueStory #DisabilityRights #books @billiamjames
@TeresaHeartchild