News and Events
Posted
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Access Living milestone
a dream come true
for Anton Taylor
“It’s like a breath of
fresh air,” said Anton Taylor, letting out a small sigh,
thinking about his new apartment.
Back in early 2004, Taylor moved into a southside
nursing home for what he believed to be a short stay.
Years later, Taylor was still in the nursing
home. Like
many other people with disabilities throughout Illinois,
Taylor wanted out of the nursing home, but couldn’t get
out because of limited community-based options.
In 2007, Taylor heard from a friend
about Access Living’s Deinstitutionalization Program,
through which people with disabilities in institutions
can try to find a place of their own in the community.
The project helps people secure an apartment and
support services, and also provides money for the
security deposit and first month’s rent.
On March 5, after months of hard
work and persistance, Taylor moved into a two bedroom
apartment of his own on the northwest side of Chicago.
While Access Living celebrates each
person who transitions into the community, Taylor’s
independence has extra significance.
He is the 200th person to successfully
complete the Deinstitutionalization Program.
Now that he is in the community again, Taylor hopes to
pursue some goals that had been put on hold, including a
career in computer graphics.
“I always wanted to be in that field,” Taylor
said. “I’ve
dreamed about it.
Now I can make it happen.
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