It’s been 10 years since my friend Charlie Smith passed away. Those of us who knew Charlie know we lost a strong advocate. Without Charlie Access Press would probably not exist. Legislatively, much of what we’re fighting for today, Charlie was involved in authoring the legislation or was there fighting to improve many of those supports already in place.

Many of us knew him as a legislative leader—and many politicians knew him as a tenacious fighter or their strong ally.

The amazing thing about Charlie was that he was a different friend to all of us; many knew him as a card playing, concert going, partier, and a man that wouldn’t allow his disability to stop him from anything.

I knew him as a teacher, mentor, a cheerleader, and someone who wouldn’t let me down.

I know all of you who knew him, miss him, as I do!