Michael Arthur Taylor, Jr.

I  was born in Baltimore Maryland  on September 10^th , 1958. I grew up in a nice neighborhood and attended Hillendale Elementary School.. I lived with my mother and step-father until my mother put me in Rosewood  Center in 1971 when I was  12 years old. I spent 30 years in different institutions in Maryland and Massachusetts. While I was in Rosewood, I didn’t have my freedom. I couldn’t decorate my room the way I wanted. I couldn’t call people on the phone without permission. I worked at the Rosewood School, but they didn’t pay me very much. I was not happy there.

I got out of the  Rosewood  Center  in  May of  1999.  I was with  The Center for  Social  Change for 3years, living in different apartments and houses with roommates. But I didn’t get to choose who I lived with. I had a better life than at Rosewood, but I still didn’t have my freedom.  I worked at the State Office Building in Baltimore in the Cafeteria filling the salad bar. I got this job through The Chimes. I was also was an interviewer with the Ask Me Project from 1998-1999.

In 2000 I was hired by The Living Free Campaign. We are working to help all people in institutions to be free. To live in the community and have real lives. I was also hired as one of the mentors to Stand Up and Speak Out, the self-advocacy group we helped start in the Rosewood Center. I helped people learn about choices. I  am no longer  one of the  Stand Up  &  Speak Out  mentors (2002) because I got a new job with Best Buddies of Maryland.

On  April 16, 2002 I moved to the Towson  area. My new place is called Freedom Pad (1).  It’s my apartment …no one else lives there. I get support from The Arc of Baltimore. Staff drop in on evenings and weekends to help. I love my apartment because I’m in control. I set the rules. I decorate it my way. I know my neighbors and my neighbors know me. I shop in stores near my apartment. I make friends everywhere I go.

I’m a pretty well known person now.  I was part of the  stakeholders Group project ( 1999). I  go to Testify at  the Legislature  &  visiting with  Legislators.  I go to the Civil Rights Coalition for People with Disabilities Meetings. And I’ve won awards like the  Magnificent 7 from the State Independent Living Council,  “Excellence in Community  Integration AWARD” from the Baltimore County Commission on Disabilities, The 2001 Arc of Maryland Outstanding Advocate of the Year Award  and the Roland Johnson Self--Advocacy Award from SABE – the national self--advocacy organization. You may have also seen the article on me in the Owings Mills Times from February  28, 2002. And I was one of Governor Ehrlich’s five stories in the State of the State Speech on January 29, 2003.

In my spare time, I love wrestling (WWE), Monster Truck rallies, Star Trek (I attend the annual conventions when they are in Baltimore), and collecting miniature trucks and cars …some signed by the drivers. And keeping in touch with my family, Uncle Mark and Aunt Corima.

Let Freedom Ring!