To the editor:

“This made me so angry that it made me cry.” That was Kathy’s response to the rude sign displayed by the going out of business seller of cheap furniture — “Even (r-word) want to be free” — accompanied by a photo chosen to degrade and insult people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Yes, people with developmental disabilities want to be free, free not to be insulted and bullied and free not be an object of pity or contempt. We want to be free to be included as full members of our community, free to have jobs, free to rent an apartment or own a home, free to have friends and free to be treated with dignity and respect.

Having a disability is our normal; this is just part of who we are. Our disability does not define us; we define our disability. Like everyone else we are good at some things and not so good at others. Each one of us is different, just like everyone else. We sometimes need additional support to accomplish what we need to do. Our wonderful families and service providers work with us to give us what we need and let us be ourselves.

Too often people like that furniture seller think that we are less worthy of being part of their community. We are not; we are the community. We are part of Lawrence and proud of it. And, most of all, we are proud that we remain part of Lawrence and he will not.