For decades, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has guaranteed people with disabilities the right to live in integrated settings—including their own homes and communities—which was affirmed by the Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Olmstead v. L.C.
A recent legal opinion issued by the U.S. Department of Justice departs from decades of disability law and longstanding federal interpretations of Olmstead. While the opinion does not itself change the law or eliminate the rights established by the ADA and the courts, it signals a troubling shift in the federal government’s approach—one that has raised serious concerns across the disability community about the future of community living and the supports that make it possible.
The Disability Economic Policy Research Consortium, convened in partnership with the Roosevelt Institute, held a conversation exploring what this opinion does and does not mean for disabled people; why community living remains a cornerstone of disability rights; and how the ability to live, work, learn, and participate in our communities is foundational not only to individual dignity and autonomy, but also to economic opportunity and full participation in society.
Speakers included:
- Panelists included:
- Alison Barkoff, George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health; National Academy of Social Insurance
- Henry Claypool, Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, Brandeis University
- David Goldfarb, Jewish Federations of North America
- Elena Hung, Little Lobbyists
- Jawanda Mast, National Down Syndrome Congress