Celebrate the 19th anniversary of Olmstead Decision helped get disabled get released from Psychiatric centers

Rights - June 22 Marks 19th Anniversary of Olmstead Decision

June 22 will be the 19th Anniversary of the Supreme Court's ruling in Olmstead v. LC. The case involved Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson, two women intellectual disability and psychiatric disabilities who were living at the Georgia state psychiatric hospital. Despite clinical assessments determining that a community setting would be appropriate, the state of Georgia refused to allow them to receive services outside of the institution. The Court ruled that placement in an institutional setting against one's will against clinical recommendations violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Celebrate that thousands of disabled that shouldn't have been living in psychiatric hospitals were released and got services to live in the community.

 Dan Close was instrumental in getting Fairview hospital clients brought out to live in group homes or Semi-independent living in apartments in Eugene and Springfield Oregon. Now the agency that he started "Oregon Supported Living program is celebrating their 40th anniversary this August. Dan can tell you the history of each individual that he helped move into the community. He's a professor at the U of O and teaches abnormal psychology.