History Note: What Is the Olmstead Decision?
[SARN Memo for April 22, 2009]
Ten years ago, the Supreme Court supported community living—big time.
Two women in Georgia wanted to move out of the nursing home. They wanted to live on their own. The state would not let them. The women filed suit. They won—and they changed the lives of thousands of persons with disabilities who are stuck living in inappropriate settings.
The Supreme Court said services to people with disabilities must be provided “in the most integrated setting possible.” Bottom line: It is our right to live in the community.
Respond to this memo!1. More about the Olmstead Decision
The Bazelon Web site has a good summary of the Olmstead Decision.
2. Group Activity: Plain Language
Here’s how the U.S. solicitor general explained the Olmstead ruling: “The unjustified segregation of people in institutions, when community placement is appropriate, constitutes a form of discrimination prohibited by Title II [of the ADA].”
Talk in your group and come up with your own easy, plain-language way to explain the ruling. Then write it on large paper and post it in your meeting space. Finally, do a responsive reading of your sentence, where one person says a few words and all echo back, then continue. (e.g. We have the right (we have the right) to live (to live)…etc.)
3. Resources
We are more powerful when we know history. Find out more about disability history in this three-part series of self-led workshops:
Today’s Trivia Question:
True or false: The Great Sand Dunes National Park has two “sand wheelchairs”—chairs especially designed for over-sand travel—which are available for loan at their visitor center.
(The answer will be published in the next Memo.)
Answer to April 15 Trivia Question:c. Geraldo Rivera
Question was: What talk-show host was involved in the movement to close the institutions in the 1970s?
- Phil Donahue
- Oprah Winfrey
- Geraldo Rivera
- Dr. Laura
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