15 Year Anniversary of the Olmstead Ruling

Fifteen years ago (June 1999), the United States Supreme Court held in Olmstead v. L.C. that unjustified segregation of persons with disabilities constitutes discrimination in violation of title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In the ruling, it held that public entities must provide community-based services to persons with disabilities when:

• such services are appropriate;
• the affected persons do not oppose community-based treatment; and
• community-based services can be reasonably accommodated, taking into account the resources available to the public entity and the needs of others who are receiving disability services from the entity.

This court decision is now being celebrated by the Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services in a video. The video features interviews from disability rights advocates, including Sue Jamieson, the lead attorney in the Olmstead case, and people with disabilities who live independently and fully participate in their communities. The video also includes statements from Secretary of Labor Tom Perez and Associate Attorney General Tony West.

Contact: Cheryl Udell, cudell@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8871