Reject the Olmstead Memo and Support Disability Rights

I am writing to express my concern regarding the Department of Justice’s recent memorandum reinterpreting the Supreme Court’s 1999 Olmstead decision. For nearly three decades, Olmstead has served as a cornerstone of disability rights in America. The decision affirmed that people with disabilities should receive services in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs and helped move our country away from unnecessary segregation and institutionalization. The new DOJ memo adopts a much narrower interpretation of Olmstead. While the memo does not change the law, it signals a significant shift in how the federal government may approach disability rights enforcement going forward. As a constituent, I am concerned about what this could mean for individuals with disabilities who rely on community-based services, supported living arrangements, integrated employment opportunities, and other programs that make full participation in society possible. People with disabilities should not have to fight to remain part of their communities. They should not have to fear losing access to services that allow them to live, work, learn, and participate alongside their nondisabled peers. I urge you to: • Publicly affirm your support for the principles established in Olmstead. • Oppose efforts that weaken community integration protections for people with disabilities. • Support policies and funding that expand access to home- and community-based services. • Ensure that disability rights remain a priority in federal and state enforcement efforts. The disability community has made tremendous progress since 1999. We cannot afford to move backward. Thank you for your time and attention to this important issue.