Happy 27th Anniversary of the US Supreme Court’s decision on the landmark decision in Olmstead v. L.C. (Lois Curtis) and E.W. (Elaine Wilson) found that individuals with disabilities have the right to live in the most integrated setting. This decision fundamentally protects and expands the rights of individuals with disabilities and serves as the cornerstone of disability civil rights. Public entities must provide community-based services to individuals with disabilities. This is the integration mandate that protects us by law. Not only is this the legal precedent for full community participation for people with disabilities, but it is also the intent following the Americans with Disabilities Act signed by President Bush as passed by both houses of Congress. Those who were present at the time of the signing of the ADA know that this was and is the original intent of the law and the Olmstead Decision of 1999.
Right now people with disabilities are under attack. We can see the attempt to weaken the disability laws starting with the 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton along with 19 other states filed a lawsuit in 2024, Texas v. Becerra now known as Texas v. Kennedy lawsuit. The Slip Opinion/Memorandum of the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel:
1. Undermines the independence and freedom of people with disabilities across the United States.
2. By removing the right to integration, the result is,
a. higher death rate of people with disabilities that would be institutionalized
b. Institutionalization of people with disabilities will cost more money for taxpayers v. paying for community care which has already been shown to be more cost effective for all involved.
We who believe in FREEDOM must act at the local, state and federal level to denounce the Slip Opinion. Do something. Organize a protest or a rally. Contact your state and federal Congresspersons and tell them to publicly denounce the DOJ’s memorandum/Slip Opinion. Take action to celebrate the Olmstead Decision and our legal rights as intended by the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
Don’t Mourn, Organize!
The ADAPT of Texas and Personal Attendant Coalition of Texas Community