Supreme Court Cases (e.g., Olmstead v. L.C.)

Olmstead v. L.C. (1999) was a Supreme Court case that addressed whether cutting funding for community-based mental health services, forcing individuals into institutions, violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Court ruled that if individuals could live in less restrictive community settings with proper support, they should not be confined in institutions simply because of cost or policy. The decision emphasized that accessible community services are essential to fulfill the ADA’s promise of equal opportunity and integration for people with disabilities.