"'This is nothing for me,' said Mary Troupe, attending her first convention as the first disabled delegate from the state of Mississippi."

"Troupe is the director of the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens With Disabilities, a nonprofit based in Jackson, where she lives."

"'It's very, very important that the disability community be inclusive with the general population,' she said.  'They need to learn who we are, and we need to do outreach to them and tell them that we want to work.'"

"Troupe, a graduate of the University of Mississippi, also sits on the federal Access Board.  She has also been involved with the Equity and Inclusion Campaign, a policy advocacy group, where she has helped people with disabilities who were affected by Hurricane Katrina."