06/22/2026
Today marks the 27th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark decision in Olmstead v. L.C., which affirmed that the unjustified segregation of people with disabilities is discrimination under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The ruling reinforced the right of people with disabilities to live, work, and participate fully in their communities rather than in institutions. Twenty-seven years later, Olmstead remains one of the most important disability rights decisions in our nation’s history and continues to advance inclusion, independence, and equal opportunity.
This anniversary comes just days after the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel issued a memo challenging longstanding interpretations of the integration mandate and the Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision. ACB is deeply troubled by the memo’s conclusions and its potential implications for the rights of people with disabilities to live in their communities without fear of unnecessary institutionalization.
Despite this recent challenge, we remain committed to defending the rights and freedoms recognized in the Olmstead ruling, and will continue to advocate for policies that promote full participation, independence, and social and economic opportunity for all people with disabilities.
