National Disability Rights Network

Isolation in institutions used to be the only option for people with disabilities. The Olmstead decision changed that.

Olmstead v. Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson was a U.S. Supreme Court case. Lois and Elaine had been inappropriately placed into hospitals and institutions since they were teenagers. On June 22, 1999, the Court ruled that the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits the unnecessary institutionalization of individuals with disabilities.

This decision laid the foundation for people with disabilities to live in the community instead of institutions. Home and community-based services make community living possible. That’s why Protection and Advocacy (P&A) agencies from California to Connecticut fight every day to protect these services.

What is Olmstead? THIS is Olmstead: upheld and defended every day by the P&A network.

Here's to deinstitutionalization and community living.

Disability Rights Ohio
Disability Rights Center - NH
AARP Foundation
Disability Rights North Carolina
North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities
Disability Rights California
Disability Rights Connecticut

On June 18, 2026, the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel issued a slip opinion that directly attacks decades of progress toward equality, inclusion, and community living for people with disabilities. We strongly condemn this attempt to undermine the fundamental principle that people with disabilities have the right to live, work, learn, and receive services in their communities rather than be segregated in institutions. For generations, advocates, families, and people with disabilities have fought to dismantle systems of isolation and exclusion. This opinion rejects that hard-won progress and disregards the experiences of millions of Americans whose lives have been transformed by community-based services and supports.

Although this opinion does not overturn Olmstead v. L.C., repeal the Americans with Disabilities Act, or invalidate decades of federal court precedent, it sends a deeply troubling message about the Administration's intentions. The opinion is inconsistent with longstanding interpretations of federal disability rights law embraced by courts and administrations of both parties. By questioning the legal foundations of the Integration Mandate, it threatens the protections that help people avoid unnecessary institutionalization, remain connected to their families, secure stable housing, access education and employment, and participate fully in civic life. At a time when community-based supports are already under strain, this effort risks reversing decades of bipartisan progress and weakening one of the most successful civil rights movements in our nation's history.

“Our vision is rooted in hope and in the belief that people with disabilities belong in their communities, with the supports, opportunities, and dignity they deserve—and we will not go back,” said Marlene Sallo, Executive Director. We reject any effort to return to systems that separate people with disabilities from their communities or limit their choices and independence. We will continue to defend the protections and promises of Olmstead, the ADA, and Section 504; protect the services that make community living possible; and stand with people with disabilities and their families in the fight for equality, dignity, and self-determination. The work of community integration is not over, and our commitment to keeping people in their communities and homes remains as strong as ever.

June 19, 1865 was the day that enslaved people in Texas learned they were free. Black disabled people like Harriet Tubman were crucial to abolishing chattel slavery in the United States.

But the need for abolition didn't end in 1865.

After abolition, formerly enslaved people immediately had to work to support themselves. Because many formerly enslaved disabled people couldn’t work or travel, they couldn’t leave behind slaveholders.

Today, the 13th Amendment still permits forced, unpaid labor when someone has been convicted of a crime. Black people with disabilities are disproportionately subjected to the criminal justice system, incarceration, and unpaid labor.

Juneteenth reminds us that no one is free until we're all free. Across the country, abusive prisons and institutions strip rights and humanity away from Black people with disabilities. Let’s keep moving toward liberation for Black communities, people with disabilities, and everyone in the U.S.

The federal government has proposed big changes to programs that support students with disabilities.

This is not a niche issue. Disability affects communities across the US: 1 in 6 children, or 17% of the population, has a disability of some kind. This decision will impact your friends, neighbors, and the future of our nation.

The federal government’s plan would move special education programs and civil rights enforcement out of the Department of Education and into different agencies.

NDRN, and disability advocates across the US, are concerned because these systems are supposed to work together to support individuals with disabilities.

When these programs are split across agencies, it can:
- Make it harder for families to get help
- Slow down responses to discrimination cases
- Create confusion about where to go for support

Advocates also warn this decision moves us away from treating disability as a civil rights issue, and back toward seeing it as a medical issue.

Federal law has required a coordinated approach to education and disability rights. For nearly half a century, Congress has intentionally aligned educational access, transition services, workforce preparation, vocational rehabilitation, and civil rights enforcement within a single agency, recognizing that educational achievement and employment outcomes for individuals with disabilities are deeply interconnected.

Students with disabilities have the right to learn, belong, and succeed in school. Without strong, coordinated protections, these rights are at risk.

The National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) is working on two short documentary-style Medicaid videos that will showcase:

🏥 Medicaid recipients in rural communities,
👩‍⚕️ Medicaid policy impacts on rural hospitals and healthcare workers, and
♿ Medicaid’s function as a key support advancing comprehensive and inclusive healthcare for adults with disabilities.

As part of this project, we will highlight the real-life impact of Medicaid on individuals, families, and communities who rely on Medicaid for independence, healthcare, education, and employment.

We need your help finding people who may be willing to share their experiences. Participants are offered an honorarium. Filming date will take place in July.

We are looking for:

Individuals who are members of the intellectual or developmental disability community.
Individuals located in and outside of Roanoke Virginia.

(NOTE: For our purposes, intellectual or developmental disabilities can include, but are not limited to: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Developmental Delays, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, Fragile X Syndrome, Learning Disorders, ADHD, Tourette Syndrome, Epilepsy, Communication Disorders, Motor Disorders, Intellectual Disability and other Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Want to learn more about definitions for intellectual and developmental disabilities? Check out this resource from the Arc of South Carolina: https://www.arcsc.org/i-dd)

For more details: https://forms.office.com/r/0vNN2sWzaM

Good news: rights to Medicaid are being protected. Su***de crisis lines are better supporting autistic people. And history museums are becoming more accessible.

Why do these things matter? Because wins matter. With growing attacks on disability rights, joy is more important than ever. So we’re dedicated to bringing you disability joy every month.

This month, joy showed up as Medicaid rights, more inclusive care, and increasing disabled people’s access to history.

What good news have you learned recently?

🗞️ Read the stories:
1. Medicaid rights protected in Wisconsin: https://www.wispolitics.com/2026/disability-rights-wisconsin-lauds-ruling-on-rights-of-medicaid-recipients/ (Disability Rights Wisconsin)
2. 988 is changing to better support autistic people: https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2026-04-01/autistic-people-are-more-likely-to-experience-suicidal-crisis-988-is-changing-to-serve-them-better
3. Aariana Rose Philip, the first wheelchair user to attend the Met Gala: https://www.vogue.com/article/aariana-rose-philip-2026-met-gala
4. High schoolers fighting the bullying crisis against disabled students: https://www.masslive.com/westernmass/2026/05/how-13-high-schoolers-are-fighting-the-bullying-crisis-facing-students-with-disabilities.html
5. New tactile history tour for blind and low-vision visitors: https://constitutioncenter.org/about/press-room/in-the-news/alexander-hamilton-is-cocky-george-washington-owns-the-room-blind-and-low-vision-visitors-decode-1776-using-their-hands-in-a-new-tactile-tour

Foster care can provide connection, care, and emotional well-being for some children. But other children can experience trauma, neglect, and abuse in the foster care system. This is the case for many children with disabilities.

Protection and Advocacy agencies (P&As) hold child welfare systems accountable by:

☑️ challenging bias,
☑️ improving oversight, and
☑️ pushing for community living policies.

We’re grateful for the P&As working to protect some of the nation’s most vulnerable children:

Disability Rights Oregon
Disability Rights New Mexico
Native American Disability Law Center
Disability Rights Florida
Disability Rights Tennessee
Georgia Advocacy Office
Disability Rights North Carolina

Connect with your P&A to learn more: https://www.ndrn.org/about/ndrn-member-agencies/

P&As defend the rights of people with a wide range of disabilities—including Celiac Disease.

Celiac Disease is a very serious chronic condition. When people with Celiac Disease eat gluten, their intestines and digestive system are damaged. They may feel pain or tiredness and they may lose weight. If a person with Celiac Disease gets too much damage from gluten, their body might stop digesting important nutrients, leading to lifelong problems.

In 2025, the disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV) defended accommodations for people with gluten-related disorders. dLCV offered their expertise through an amicus curiae, or "friend of the court," brief in a lawsuit titled McGinn v. Broadmead. dLCV argued that:

1. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities.
2. Gluten-related disorders are disabilities under the ADA.
3. Care facilities must provide safe and nutritious gluten-free food for residents.

P&As make sure people with Celiac disease can access gluten-free food, no matter where they are. Read more in the full brief from dLCV:https://www.dlcv.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025.03.10-DKT.-19-1-Brief-for-Amici-Curiae-Natl-Celiac-Assoc.-Disability-Law-Center-of-Virginia-ISO-Plaintiff-Appellant-Rebecca-Herbig.pdf

Check out NDRN's very own Manager for Voter Access and Engagement, Michelle Bishop, on Disability Rights California's recent podcast episode.

They discuss what California does well to make voting more accessible and how listeners can prepare for the June 2, 2026 primary election.

With practical tips, candid insights, and a bit of humor, the conversation encourages voters to feel informed and empowered.

(ASL) The Game Plan - Episode 112: I Love This About Voters As a grassroots production, we greatly value your support. Please subscribe, comment, rate, review, and share The Game Plan. It’s a special election episode ...

Access isn't a checklist. It's a practice.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a good start for making digital content accessible. But color contrast, image descriptions, and captions are just the beginning.

True access can look like:
- Asking people with disabilities for feedback.
- Meeting the needs of your specific community.
- Learning how to share information in new ways.

Access is more than legal requirements. It’s a journey to make sure everyone with and without disabilities can stay connected.

What would make the world more accessible for you?