So, a few days ago I had a conversation with a state representative on the committee to reform our state cirminal justice and correctional systems. During that telephone call I finely had to interrupt him and ask him to stop calling people with disabilities "crazy people." He seems to fail to understand why I was so offended by his choice of words when "crazy people" are words commonly used in society and therefore somehow justifies his using the words too.

Today, he called me and asked me if I believe that there is nobody on the Committee that is not aware of the issues going on. I told him that unless you are a family member, a guardian, a prisoner, probationer or parolee then no - you do not "know" the issues going on. I told him that like everyone on the Committee, we too bring expertise to the table that needs to be listened to because we too "know" things they do not know.

He still maintains that issues dealing with people with disabilities will not be discussed in the Committee meetings but he knows they exist. GGGGGRRRRR!!!!!