Ethan Saylor was a young man who admired law enforcement and first responders. He loved animals, music, and movies. He also had Down Syndrome, a developmental disability.

In 2013, Ethan went to the movies with a member of his support staff. When he didn’t leave the theater after the movie, off-duty police officers working as mall security used excessive force to remove him and Ethan lost his life. Ethan's tragic death revealed an urgent need to train law enforcement and other first responders to improve their interactions with people who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). 

To honor Ethan’s memory and prevent future harm to people with I/DD, Ethan’s family and community advocated for change and gained the support of legislators, policy makers, law enforcement, and other first responders. In 2015, the Ethan Saylor Alliance (ESA) of people with I/DD and their families, disability professionals, and members of law enforcement was established within the Maryland Department of Disabilities to create the training and engagement needed to reduce stigma, increase safety, and inspire relationships of acceptance and support.

A lot of progress has been made in Maryland since Ethan's passing, but much more work needs to be done to reduce harmful stigmas and improve members of law enforcement and other first responders' interactions with people who have I/DD.