Rachel in the World: A Memoir

What happens when love is no longer enough? Jane Bernstein thought that learning to accept her daughters disabilities meant her struggles were over. But as Rachel grew up and needed more than a parents devotion, both mother and daughter were confronted with formidable obstacles. Rachel in the World, which begins in Rachels fifth year and ends when she turns twenty-two, tells of their barriers and successes with the same honesty and humor that made Loving Rachel, Bernsteins first memoir, a classic in its field. The linked accounts in part 1 center on family issues, social services, experiences with caregivers, and Rachel herself--difficult, charming, hard to fathom, eager for her own independence. The second part of the book chronicles Bernsteins attempt to find Rachel housing at a time when over 200,000 Americans with mental retardation were on waiting lists for residential services. As Rachel prepares to leave her mothers constant protection, Bernstein invites the reader to share the frustrations and unexpected pleasures of finding a place for her daughter, first in her family, and then in the world.