Pete Earley

And actually, autism and Down syndrome, those folks really led the whole effort to deinstitutionalize. That has been fantastic for those who can be helped in those community settings and dangerous for those who cannot, who end up homeless on the street. I must say this, within our own communities, though, we have of prejudice.

And actually, autism and Down syndrome, those folks really led the whole effort to deinstitutionalize. That has been fantastic for those who can be helped in those community settings and dangerous for those who cannot, who end up homeless on the street. I must say this, within our own communities, though, we have of prejudice.

It's interesting to me that if you look at the Virginia Department of Mental Health, the highest funding priorities are not mental illness. They are developmental disabilities. I don't want to pit us against each other. But one of the reasons is because those folks in the developmental disabilities have been fighting for their kids from day one. They have an empathetic audience.

It's interesting to me that if you look at the Virginia Department of Mental Health, the highest funding priorities are not mental illness. They are developmental disabilities. I don't want to pit us against each other. But one of the reasons is because those folks in the developmental disabilities have been fighting for their kids from day one. They have an empathetic audience.

It's interesting to me that if you look at the Virginia Department of Mental Health, the highest funding priorities are not mental illness. They are developmental disabilities. I don't want to pit us against each other. But one of the reasons is because those folks in the developmental disabilities have been fighting for their kids from day one. They have an empathetic audience.

It's difficult to compete with that when you have somebody who has bipolar who are schizophrenic who just got in a movie theater and shot people.

It's difficult to compete with that when you have somebody who has bipolar who are schizophrenic who just got in a movie theater and shot people.

It's difficult to compete with that when you have somebody who has bipolar who are schizophrenic who just got in a movie theater and shot people.

Exactly. Well, and also, you know, it's daunting. And I don't, I mean, in my own neighborhood, we have someone who's very highly functioning and then someone who's not. And the parents, you know, it's just rough on the parents either way. But it's rough on a parent when you have someone who has a mental illness. Now, my son's doing fantastic now.

Exactly. Well, and also, you know, it's daunting. And I don't, I mean, in my own neighborhood, we have someone who's very highly functioning and then someone who's not. And the parents, you know, it's just rough on the parents either way. But it's rough on a parent when you have someone who has a mental illness. Now, my son's doing fantastic now.

Exactly. Well, and also, you know, it's daunting. And I don't, I mean, in my own neighborhood, we have someone who's very highly functioning and then someone who's not. And the parents, you know, it's just rough on the parents either way. But it's rough on a parent when you have someone who has a mental illness. Now, my son's doing fantastic now.

But you have that fear, what happens if his meds quit working or what happens when I'm gone? And I mean, you go through similar things. It's interesting because when he first got sick, we spent a little while going like, oh, I just wish it was the way it used to be. And that was a waste of time. But you have to go through those levels. It's almost like the levels of grief to get to the point.

But you have that fear, what happens if his meds quit working or what happens when I'm gone? And I mean, you go through similar things. It's interesting because when he first got sick, we spent a little while going like, oh, I just wish it was the way it used to be. And that was a waste of time. But you have to go through those levels. It's almost like the levels of grief to get to the point.

But you have that fear, what happens if his meds quit working or what happens when I'm gone? And I mean, you go through similar things. It's interesting because when he first got sick, we spent a little while going like, oh, I just wish it was the way it used to be. And that was a waste of time. But you have to go through those levels. It's almost like the levels of grief to get to the point.

But I do think, and I still have struggles with this, even though my son's doing so well, I can't imagine it being too much different for any other parent, is that That's your job as a parent, is to save this person. And you have to realize that cruel illnesses, you may not be able to save someone, and accepting that is really, really tough.

But I do think, and I still have struggles with this, even though my son's doing so well, I can't imagine it being too much different for any other parent, is that That's your job as a parent, is to save this person. And you have to realize that cruel illnesses, you may not be able to save someone, and accepting that is really, really tough.

But I do think, and I still have struggles with this, even though my son's doing so well, I can't imagine it being too much different for any other parent, is that That's your job as a parent, is to save this person. And you have to realize that cruel illnesses, you may not be able to save someone, and accepting that is really, really tough.

Right, exactly. In my book, a couple of deputies came to me and they said, you should look and see why this girl, I call her April Hernandez in the book, why she's in jail. And the reason she was in jail is her parents and relatives had framed her. They'd accused her of stealing a car. Now, why would you do that?

Right, exactly. In my book, a couple of deputies came to me and they said, you should look and see why this girl, I call her April Hernandez in the book, why she's in jail. And the reason she was in jail is her parents and relatives had framed her. They'd accused her of stealing a car. Now, why would you do that?

Right, exactly. In my book, a couple of deputies came to me and they said, you should look and see why this girl, I call her April Hernandez in the book, why she's in jail. And the reason she was in jail is her parents and relatives had framed her. They'd accused her of stealing a car. Now, why would you do that?