Olmstead v. L.C. was a big court case about living in the community. People just call it “OlmsteadA court case about people with disabilities in institutions. It says people with disabilities have a right to live in the community.” for short.
In 1999, two women named Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson were living in an institution. They wanted to live in the community instead of an institution. They said the ADAA law that gives people with disabilities lots of different rights. People say it is the biggest disability rights law in the United States. gave them the right to live in the community, and they went to the Supreme CourtThe U.S. court that has the final say on how laws work. to fight for their rights. The Supreme Court has the final say on how laws work, and they said that Lois and Elaine were right.
Olmstead means that you have a right to live in the community. If the government says you can only get services in an institution, they are wrong. You can get services in the community.
But Olmstead is a court case not a law. That means you have to go to court to get your Olmstead rights. Lots of people are still fighting for their Olmstead rights.