Based in a small town in the South, Rise and Shine depicts the relationship between Terri, a teen with a developmental disability, and her protective mother, Janice.

The tension arises between them when for the first time, Terri attends high school her senior year, determined to graduate and experience a “normal” teen life. Janice struggles to balance Terri’s growing need for independence while rediscovering her own needs when she falls in love with a local man.

Rise and Shine is about the strong bond between mother and daughter and the difficulties of letting go. It captures what it’s like to be a person with a disability as well as to be a caretaker.

This coming-of-age story explores themes of relationships, the value of empathy, and all people's paths to becoming independent.

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