Celebrating 20 Years of the Olmstead Decision

ANCOR is thrilled to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Olmstead decision [Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999)] this month. This epic U.S. Supreme Court decision solidified the rights established in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) that individuals with disabilities have the right to live their lives in the community and in the most integrated setting possible. We are proud of ANCOR members who every day work hard to make the ADA and Olmstead a reality. “The most incredible thing about June 22 and the Olmstead anniversary is that it is not just one day a year that we celebrate,” said Esmé Grewal, ANCOR Vice President of Government Relations, “The Olmstead decision is embedded in everything we do, it comes up every day in our work here in Washington, DC. We think deeply about the implications of our position in each policy decision we make on behalf of our members and how we can ensure that at the end of the day, what we do at the federal level provides more access to high quality services in the community and gets us that much closer to realizing the vision of the ADA.”

ANCOR salutes the two plaintiffs of the Olmstead case, Elaine Wilson and Lois Curtis, for their bravery, courage, and determination and we wish everyone a Happy Olmstead Anniversary!

Read more from the U.S. Department of Justice here on 20 years since Olmstead and the 50,000 lives of individuals with disabilities that Olmstead settlements have impacted.

On June 25 from 1-2:30pm ET: Watch a livestream of celebrations hosted by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) – registration is required and available here. As written by the ACL: Guests will hear about the importance of Olmstead from people with disabilities who will share some of their own experiences. The event also will feature remarks from HHS leaders and national experts who will discuss the impact of Olmstead for individuals with disabilities and the future of inclusive communities – including universal design, livable communities, and strategies for planning for and adapting to changing individual needs. Visit the ACL website for more details and the event materials.