A new documentary chronicling one woman’s experience as she assumes care of her sister with an intellectual disability is set to premiere on HBO later this month.
The documentary "Raising Renee" is scheduled to premiere on HBO2 Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. ET. (Courtesy: West City Films, Inc.)
The film, “Raising Renee,” follows Beverly McIver and her older sister, Renee, over a six-year period. An acclaimed painter with a flourishing career in the art world, McIver casually promised her mother that she would take care of Renee, who functions at the level of a third-grader, when her mother could not.
When McIver’s mother died in 2004, she followed through on her promise, moving Renee from their mother’s home in North Carolina to live with her in Arizona. Soon realizing that she needed help caring for Renee, McIver ultimately returned to North Carolina — a place she’d vowed never to live after leaving the segregation-filled environment of her youth.
The documentary, which premieres Feb. 22 at 8 p.m. ET on HBO2, follows the two sisters as they adapt to their new reality and confront the opportunity for Renee to live independently for the first time ever at age 50.
“Raising Renee” is just the latest film focusing on disability issues to appear on HBO. In recent years, the cable channel aired Monica & David, a documentary about the marriage of two young adults with Down syndrome, and produced a biopic of autism self-advocate Temple Grandin.
HBO is enhancing the plight of the disabled on cable – a step in the right direction to and highlight the plight of the disabled. Slowly but surely, these situations and difficulties are getting exposure. Bravo HBO
I sincerely hope that this film isn’t another of the “all is well in the end” movies that so often are presented by film makers. There are too many disabled citizens who are hurt by the film industry’s need to glamorize people with developmental disabilities. The human population has become enchanted with war movies, never really knowing the true devistation of war unless having first hand experience, so could happen to the field of educating and caring for the disabled. Their lives are often frought with struggles beyond the average person’s imagination.
Sounds like a great film. Wish that HBO, a company that continues to make films with a social conscience, would talk to Bill Maher and convince him to stop mocking children with special needs and disabilities. It would be the right thing to do.
I am anxious to see this movie, I live with a man that has CP & I have MS…we actually make a great team. I love human interest stories of overcoming challenges! My problem is that I don’t subscribe to HBO. :-( yeah Melissa, those of us with physical, mental or developmental challenges don’t need the added glamorization to the prejudiced opinions of those without the benefit of learning “how to overcome much more than everyday trials.
We don’t talk about this transition enough. We might put together a plan, a special needs trust but we don’t talk about the transition in caregiving much at all. For those of us who have been advocates and caregivers, we know the instability in a system largely in deterioration or more optimistically in its own transition.
As parents, we have spent decades understanding the ins and outs of medical, insurance, Medicaid and state waiver programs, but what of our families. Too often, they are thrown into the chaos without support, a compass or the powerful network we need to get things done for our loved ones.
In addition to a will, a special needs trust and whatever financial planning you may do, consider adding to the team of professionals people who will help your/our children in learning this chaotic, complex and often confusing system of support available to our family members with disabilities. Talk with them, get their commitment to mentor the new caregiver.