Living free is all about choice. Everyone, regardless of their ability, has the right to live in the community.

My name is James Devore. I am a self-advocate. I’m the President of BAG (Baltimore Self-Advocates Group) and a member of People on the Go of Maryland.

I live in my own apartment. I take Baltimore transit everywhere. I’m an interviewer for the Ask Me Project and have been for six years.

I used to live at the Rosewood State Hospital. I lived there for over 20 years. You did not have your own freedom. You couldn’t walk off the grounds. You couldn’t talk to the girls. If they caught you talking to the girls, you had to wear girl’s clothes for 2 weeks. The cottages didn’t have names then, just numbers.

I used to work on the food truck and on the farm at Rosewood. I milked cows and killed pigs in the butcher shop. I also did some janitorial work. We didn’t get paid for all of our hard work!

I love my life now. And I get help when I need it. I do stuff like go to church, bowl and shopping. And I do it where I want, not where someone else tells you to go. I’ve got friends who live all over. I’m a person with responsibility. I was married for over 20 years. I get respect! Now when I go to Rosewood it’s because I’m the mentor for Stand Up and Speak Out-  the self-advocacy group at Rosewood. I’m helping people there learn about their rights.

I would never move back to Rosewood. Close it! I want to see everyone in the community. I want people to live like I’m living now.