Olmstead Decision

A landmark 1999 United States Supreme Court ruling that held requiring disabled people to live in institutional settings when they could live in the community constitutes unlawful discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. The decision mandated that states provide community-based services to people with disabilities when treatment professionals determine community placement is appropriate, the individual does not object, and placement can be reasonably accommodated. The Olmstead Decision is a cornerstone of disability rights law and a key legal foundation for the ongoing transition from institutional to community-based living.