The Other Sister is about a family where a sibling has a developmental disability also known as mild mental retardation (MMR), mild developmental disability or disorder light intellectual (MID). Carla Tate is our main character who has MMR as a disability. She is a young woman of twenty-four years old, slender but beautiful in appearance. Carla has just finished her studies at a specialized boarding school and is returning home to her family. Carla's mother (Elizabeth Tate) is extremely protective and does not appreciate all of the abilities Carla has acquired. Her father (Bradley Tate) is a recovering alcoholic who sympathizes and supports Carla, who at the same time must deal with his domineering wife. Carla has two sisters Heather (who happens to be a lesbian) and Caroline (who is planning a wedding). Carla's sister quickly bonds again upon Carla's return. They support Carla and her abilities. Carla's mother, Elizabeth, throughout the film, shows her dominance and protectiveness towards Carla. Elizabeth, a wealthy upperclasswoman, embarrassed at having an intellectually disabled child and ashamed that she and Carla's father sent her to a boarding school, now wants to shelter her. Elizabeth pushes Carla toward tennis, changing the appearance of her room, wants to change Carla's clothing style to something more appropriate for a disabled person, and pushes Carla into high society. Elizabeth doesn't listen to what Carla wants and desires. As Carla strives to achieve independence by acquiring her own apartment, attending a mainstream school, choosing her own style of decoration and clothing, she meets Daniel McMahon. Daniel is also an MMR/MID. Daniel goes to school with Carla. Carla and Daniel quickly become ...... middle of paper ...... comes her disability and gains most of her independence through her family. Carla gets her own apartment, learns to take care of herself in the apartment, and learns to stand up for herself, especially from her mother. We see Carla stand up for herself in the country club lawn scene when Carla tells her mother how she feels and expresses her desires. Carla tells her mother that she doesn't care about her mother's opinion on what Carla wants to do. Carla tells her mother, “Daniel and I can take care of each other. » Daniel is determined to stay with Carla. He hitchhikes from Florida to Carla. He shows his resourcefulness and independence on the return journey. Daniel proves himself worthy of Carla. Both main characters are excellent positive role models of MMR/MID. Their disabilities did not prevent them from living their lives to the fullest in a world without disabilities..