17th Anniversary of the Olmstead Decision – Community Integration for Everyone

On June 22, 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. (The photo above shows two people who have been positively impacted by the Olmstead decision.) The Court held that people with disabilities have a qualified right to receive state-funded supports and services in the community rather than institutions when the following three-part test is met:

  1. the person’s treatment professionals determine that community supports are appropriate;
  2. the person does not object to living in the community; and
  3. the provision of services in the community would be a reasonable accommodation when balanced with other similarly situated individuals with disabilities.

Learn more about the Olmstead Decision and its impact here.