On June 22nd, 1999, the US Supreme Court issued a ruling in Olmstead v. L.C. that institutionalization of people with disabilities who wish to live in their community instead is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The majority opinion for Olmstead recognized that “unjustified institutional isolation of persons with disabilities is a form of discrimination” and that services must be provided in integrated, community-based settings whenever possible.
We have learned much in the intervening years about the importance of community living and participation, about the benefits to physical and mental health, and about the economic benefits of participation. We turned to our Research In Focus series to explore some of the recent studies from the NIDILRR community.
Moving Out and Finding Supports
- Starting to Live a Life – Moving from Institutions to Community Living Can Be Both Challenging and Rewarding.
- For People with TBI. Access to State-Level Supports May Contribute to Better Participation, Life Satisfaction, and Cognitive Function.
- Support Services Teams May Help People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Conditions Receive Support in Their Communities and Reduce Medicaid Costs.
- Older Adults Share What Helps Them Trust a Home Care Provider.
- Home and Community Based Waivers May Make Family Life Easier for Families of Children with Autism.
- For People with Psychiatric Disabilities, Neighborhood Factors May Affect Acceptance and Community Involvement.
Access Leads to Participation
- Survey Shows the Majority of People with Mobility Disabilities May Not Be Living in Accessible Homes.
- Many Fitness Facilities May Not Be Fully Accessible to People with Disabilities.
Supporting Care Professionals
- Improving Working Conditions and Benefits for Direct Support Professionals May Reduce Turnover and Improve Services for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
- With Clear Goals and a Holistic Approach, Organizations Can Move from Sheltered to Integrated Services to Benefit Clients with IDD.
- Independent Transportation Can Lead to More Opportunity for People with Disabilities.
Many Ways to Participate
- Staying Healthy and Connecting with Neighbors May Help People with Mobility Disabilities Stay Involved in Their Communities.
- Organizational Partnerships May Improve Access to Independent Living Services for People With Disabilities.
- Community Participation Can Boost Self-Determination for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness.
- People with Disabilities May Offer an Untapped Volunteer Pool for Organizations
- Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities May Face Challenges to Staying Physically Active.
Managing One’s Own Care
- Community Mental Health Center Visits May Increase Community Participation for People with Serious Mental Illness.
- Self-Directed Care: A Promising Path to Enhance Recovery for People with Serious Mental Illness.
- Along with Their Care Teams, People with Psychiatric Conditions Can Make Their Treatment Needs Known Before a Crisis Hits.
Connecting to Community
- Can Social Media Help People with Serious Mental Illness Feel More Connected to Their Community?
- Urban and Rural Residents with Disabilities May Need Different Supports to Stay Socially Connected to Their Communities.
This area of research is important, as it shows that many people with disabilities are benefiting from living in independently in the community. It also highlights some of the barriers to community living and participation and how they may be addressed.
It’s also important to hear directly from the people who have fought to move out of institutions and into their communities, about what it means to live in a home they choose, participate in activities they choose, and direct their life as they choose:
- Olmstead Story Project, stories collected by the NIDILRR-funded ADA Participation Action Research Consortium along with writer Mike Ervin. These stories highlight action taken by people with disabilities and the community supports they used to move out of nursing homes and live independently.
- Faces of Olmstead, personal stories collected by the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice from their Olmstead enforcement work.
- Community Living for All: Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Olmstead Decision was a live event hosted by the Administration for Community Living and the Office for Civil Rights. Guests heard about the importance of Olmstead from people with disabilities who shared some of their own experiences.