Rachel Is

RACHEL IS many things to many people. She's the sister of Pittsburgh film director Charlotte Glynn. She's the daughter of writer and Carnegie Mellon professor Jane Bernstein. She's a developmentally disabled 21-year-old with a mischievous spirit and a contrary nature. And after a long struggle, Rachel is finally living on her own. In this beautifully crafted and highly personal film, Charlotte and her film crew trail along behind Rachel and her mom as they work with counselors, bureaucrats, and caregivers to find a place for Rachel to live — and a means of supporting herself — once she graduates from school. Like anyone her age, Rachel wants to move out; her constant arguments with her mom are draining for both of them. But she can't live without support, and Jane wants to find her a group home with other disabled young people. Rachel is one of the lucky ones; she has a mom with the stamina and resources to work the system. – B.B.