06/23/2026
This week marks the 27th anniversary of the landmark Olmstead v. L.C. Supreme Court decision, a historic ruling that fundamentally guaranteed the right of people with disabilities to live, work, and receive care within their own communities rather than being forced into institutions. This milestone anniversary is meant to be a celebration of freedom, dignity, and decades of hard-won civil rights progress led by tireless advocates.
Instead, the disability community is facing a deeply alarming step backward due to a recent opinion memo issued by the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel. The memo claims that federal civil rights laws do not actually require states to provide services in the most integrated settings, effectively undermining the very core of the Olmstead mandate. Disability advocacy organizations, including The Arc and the American Association of People with Disabilities, warn that this shift in federal enforcement could open the door for states to slash independent-living resources and push vulnerable individuals back into isolation.
True inclusion means moving forward, not turning back the clock on basic human rights. We must stand firmly with the disability community to protect the progress made over the last 27 years and ensure that community living remains a non-negotiable right for everyone.
🔗 Learn more:
DOJ Olmstead Enforcement Statement
https://bit.ly/4vWws8W
Olmstead v. L.C. Supreme Court Decision
https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/527/581/