The US DOJ has recently attacked disability rights--specifically the Supreme Court ruling that ensures that disabled people aren't institutionalized by default. Obviously due to lack of accessibility many disabled people are not integrated into larger society as much as they should be, but this Supreme Court ruling was instrumental in making progress towards this. The first link goes into more detail about both the ruling and the DOJ attack. Please be aware that it quotes a federal official's usage of the r slur at the end of the article.
If you live in the US, please call you senators to express your displeasure for this. Perhaps they won't listen, but this way, they can't say they didn't know. The second link should make this very easy to do.
The Office of Legal Counsel opinion released Thursday said states aren't required by law to integrate mentally disabled patients with their
For nearly 27 years, the Supreme Court’s landmark 1999 decision in Olmstead v. L.C. has protected Americans with disabilities from being for
the US is signaling that it seeks to undo home care based services and roll back integration in favor of returning to institutionalizing disabled people. we saw this recently with the 2025 executive order permitting the institutionalization of those “who pose risks to themselves” or “cannot care for themselves”, and we are seeing it again now.
I would highly recommend reading this “opinion piece” from June 18, 2026 (even just the first few overview paragraphs spell it out):
while the ADA and Section 504 remain intact, this piece is a harrowing glimpse into the future they have planned for disabled people.
IT'S JULY, so you KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS. It's time for DISABILITY PRIDE MONTH.
WE are here and WE ARE PROUD of who we are.
Unfortunately the FUCKING UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT literally wants to reverse decades of progress.
The main issue I am bringing up is the Trump's administration's quiet removal and denial of Olmstead vs. L.C. This landmark 1999 decision essentially said that disabled people who are otherwise able to live in their communities should not be forcefully segregated and institutionalized. It mandates for government services to be used in order to create the most integrated environment possible.
A June memo said that the ADA and section 504 does not require this integrated environment to be upheld. Additionally, the page on the Olmstead decision has been removed from the HHS website.
Although this memo is not a legal decision, it sets a precedent for further reversal of progress and discrimination. It needs to be cut at the bud.
One of the easiest ways that you can help prevent this is by calling your congresspeople. Everyone, including minors (as they are constituents and are represented by your congresspeople) can call. How it works is they take a tally of what your stance is and present it the the congressperson as a statistic. Go to 5calls.org, and search 'disability' in the search bar.
Normally, it will go to voicemail. If you want to ensure that it will, call early in the morning, late at night, or on weekends.
Under the cut, I have the script that I use. Its similar to the 5calls one but with a couple modifications.
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [Town]. My phone number is [Phone number] and my street address is [street address]
I’m calling to ask [Congressperson's name] to stand up for disability rights and support a resolution to reaffirm the promise of the Olmstead Supreme Court ruling. Millions of Americans depend on those protections to live independently in their communities, and Congress shouldn't allow the Trump administration to reverse nearly three decades of progress.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Don't say your phone number or street address if you make contact with a real person, unless they ask.
Street address is necessary during voicemail because it is how they confirm your constituency.
(b) Undue institutionalization qualifies as discrimination “by reason of … disability.”
Content Note: Opinion uses the r-slur as the official legal language of the time.
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OLMSTEAD V. L. C. (98-536) 527 U.S. 581 (1999)
Justice Ginsburg delivered the opinion of the Court … concluding that, under Title II of the ADA, States are required to place persons with mental disabilities in community settings rather than in institutions when the State’s treatment professionals have determined that community placement is appropriate, the transfer from institutional care to a less restrictive setting is not opposed by the affected individual, and the placement can be reasonably accommodated...
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Center for Public Representation Statement on the Passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
In 1999, as the author of the majority opinion in Olmstead v. L.C., Justice Ginsburg affirmed that people with disabilities have a civil right to live, work and participate in their communities and found that unjustified segregation of people with disabilities is a type of discrimination prohibited by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
She aptly described the harms caused by segregating people with disabilities from their communities: it “perpetuates unwarranted assumptions that persons so isolated are incapable or unworthy of participating in community life.”
Turns out English and French castles had the first “lawns”. Trees had to be cut down from around them in order for soldiers to be able to see approaching enemies. In the 16th century these lawns were deliberately cultivated, and by the late 17th century they were being displayed by the wealthy and elite. The average person getting lawns has to with a couple of things. First the lawnmower - available to all by the late 19th century. Second, Frederick Olmstead - not only did he design Central Park in NYC, he designed suburbs with each house having a lawn. Finally, Abraham Levitt - creator of Levittown, suburban homes had lawns already in place for the buyer - this also started the “cookie-cutter” suburb.
Location | Central Park, New York, USA Central Park opened to the public for the first time in 1858 as a 778 acre or 3sq.km park (later on expanded to 843 acres or 3.41sq.km). The park is 4 km long and 1 km in width. To walk across the entire park it would take you approximately 45 minutes. Many think Central Park is one of the largest city parks in the USA, however even San Fransisco’s Golden Gate Park is 20% bigger in size. #centralpark #newyork #nyc #manhattan #usa #america #worldurbanplanning #urbanplanning #cityplanning #olmstead #landscapearchitecture #architecture #city #aerialaerialview #dronephotography #뉴욕 #센트럴파크 #미국 #도시계획 #symmetry #geometric #green (at Central Park, Manhattan, New York City) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Sc1GQg7R6/?igshid=18o46g14c2x8p
“I hope they live long lives and have their own place. I hope they make money. I hope they learn every day...I hope they have a good breakfast every day, call people on the phone, feel safe.”
