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Mary Troupe
by Natalie Collier
Photo by Roy Adkins
January 3, 2007
"I told that photographer earlier to ignore my junky office. It's a mess. He said, 'It's a sign of someone who's busy.' I'll take that!" Mary Troupe, a native of Booneville, Miss., who has lived in Jackson for more than 40 years, now explains.
Even if Troupe's office didn't have files and papers littered across her desk, as soon as she begins to talk about her work, it's obvious that she's a busy woman. As the executive director of the Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities, formed in 1989, Troupe is a passionate and vocal advocate for change for disabled citizens. "If you don't give us the opportunity to have education, and jobs, and homes, and transportation, then we can't have (the American dream)," she says.
Troupe's job was particularly demanding immediately following Hurricane Katrina, and even though the storm hit almost 18 months ago, it hasn't slowed down much since then.
"There are provisions made for individuals with disabilities and seniors, but the information isn't getting out to those who work with people one-on-one. When you have a person who can't drive … and you say 'evacuate,' how do they?"
Even when people with disabilities managed to evacuate the Coast, they faced new challenges when they returned.
"As trailers were coming down the interstate," Troupe says, "we asked (FEMA representatives) what percentage of accessible trailers are there." FEMA had not prepared at all for the needs of disabled people, according to Troupe, and might never have addressed the problem without prodding from advocates.
Troupe's coalition also helps individuals with mental-health counseling. "We're seeing a climb in depression, domestic violence, and suicides are up 200 percent," Troupe says. Troupe says the slow pace of recovery has robbed people of a sense of normalcy, which exacerbates mental-health problems.
Troupe and her staff fight every legislative session to get state support for accommodations to the disabled populace. Troupe hopes that policy makers will be more receptive to such efforts and less beholden to special interests. "[B]efore we start cutting services, consider what and who those agencies are there to provide for," Troupe says, noting that when people with disabilities are given an opportunity to contribute to society, they usually respond with unparalleled enthusiasm and dedication.
"The consequences to cutting much-needed services for some of our people in need is a detriment to our state," Troupe says.
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COMMENTS
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Feb 08, 2012 | 01:26 PMWant Medicaid? Ditch the Vanity Plate
Brian C Johnson: The courts will not allow the state to drug test Medicaid recipients, so why waste money and effort on it? How exactly are single mothers--who make up the majority ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 01:19 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Duan C.: Since you guys have turned the thread into a discussion of politics. A while back during one of our meetings we discussed a coming up with a grading system for our elected officials ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 01:06 PM
Want Medicaid? Ditch the Vanity Plate
Ronni_Mott: Republican conservatives are truly confusing. Aren't they the ones who want less government regulation? I suppose that only counts if its regulating things on their ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 12:35 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Walt: Renaldo/Blackwatch you have been simply marvelous in your insight and truth telling on this piece. So glad you're back. I thought we had lost you since I didn't see your posts for so ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 12:22 PM
[Editor's Note] Aloha, Jackson
DonnaLadd: Whoops. On second reference in the above column, I said "Air Force caption" instead of Army captain. I've corrected it above.
Feb 08, 2012 | 12:12 PM
Want Medicaid? Ditch the Vanity Plate
Laurie Bertram Roberts: I will say what I said before how does he even know how someone paid for that $30 tag. It could've been a gift they may have used their tax check because ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 11:43 AM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
DonnaLadd: Of course, people learn at different speeds; I certainly didn't learn what I know now about writing and journalism craft until I was nearly 40 (of course, that had to do as much as ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 09:56 AM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Kamikaze: Kudos to you and to your Prof. Cant take anything from ya. But the "problem" with the craft around here (and a LOT of things) is that eveyone considers themselves an authority. I ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 09:19 AM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
DonnaLadd: I don't want to derail this great thread with journalism lessons, but I'll answer Brad quickly about the problems with yes-or-no questions: Sometimes you can get lucky and get a ...
Feb 08, 2012 | 05:33 AM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Renaldo Bryant: @Duan In my post about corporate America, I noted that social justice and equity must be the only context under which interactions and contestations must take place. Simply ...
Feb 07, 2012 | 04:41 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Kamikaze: Well, Donna, as a "good" journalist. In my day..a DAMN good one. Ive gotten plenty of broader answers by follwing up with a "why" or "why not". and honestly the WHY of Kenny Stokes ...
Feb 07, 2012 | 04:14 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Duan C.: "Also, transforming Jxn has to be a metro concern, not just a Jxn proper concern. White Flight and residential segregation must be addressed......In the Jxn metro area, they don’t ...
Feb 07, 2012 | 03:31 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
DonnaLadd: No, yes-or-no questions draw completely different kinds of answers, and usually empty sound bites, thus derailing the possibility of getting an intelligent answer. Good journalists ...
Feb 07, 2012 | 03:18 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
Kamikaze: Well, a why or why not follow up would take it out of the "yes or no" I think. I dont think Ward 3 needs another councilperson with a "career politician" mentality. The spectre of ...
Feb 07, 2012 | 03:01 PM
[Kamikaze] 'I'm No Token'
DonnaLadd: I'm not interested in term-limit questions, or getting anyone to pledge to them), and I try to never ask a yes-or-no question, but the other ones look good. Thanks to both of you. ...
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