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 were living in an institution.
Their names were Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson.
They didn’t want to live in an institution.
They wanted to live in the community.
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.
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.
The Supreme Court 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 not a law. It is a court case.
That means you have to go to court to get your Olmstead rights.
Lots of people are still fighting for their Olmstead rights.