Biography
Richard Taylor (deceased July 25 , 2015) was 58 years when he was diagnosed with dementia, probably of the Alzheimer’s type. He was a University Faculty Member, a Psychologist, a Director of Human Resources; he also swept up the floors and delivered orders for a drug (legal of course) store, was a High School English/Speech teacher, a debate coach, and several times was a director of training in various industries. He was a page in the Chicago Public Library, a coach/counselor of unemployed folks over 40, a night watch person on several construction sites, and held several other positions, which he just can’t recall right now. His goals for advocacy or personal goals for the future are to continue to stand up and speak out based on his experiences living the disabilities of dementia, and to design and promote use of web-based technology to allow folks living with dementia to form enabling support networks with their kindred spirits. His voice lives on, and we are honouring him by starting the Richard Taylor Lecture, to be given by a person with dementia annually, commencing at the ADI Budapest conference in 2016.