In 1999 two women with developmental disabilities spoke up for themselves and said that was not alright for them to be institutionalized when they could live in the community. The Supreme Court agreed. In Omlstead v. L.C., 527 U. S. 581, or the Olmstead decision, the Supreme Court held that Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits the unjustified segregation of individuals with disabilities, providing Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson a chance to exercise their right to live in a community-based setting with supports. In 2012, advocates working on behalf of more than 2,000 adults in sheltered workshops filed a class action lawsuit against the state of Oregon, stating that the services they received in those workshops unnecessarily segregated them. The United States Court agreed. Read More ›
Author Archives: Billie Jo David
It’s All About Kids preschool welcomes all kids, regardless of disability
When you walk into It’s All About Kids Preschool it appears to be just like any other preschool. You can hear the sweet sound of children’s giggles, preschoolers sitting in brightly colored classrooms listening to their favorite stories, teachers patiently working with their students preparing them for the years of school that lie ahead of them. What makes It’s All About Kids Preschool different is that it IS all about kids, whether they have special needs or not. In the two-year old classroom you will find Joey, laughing and playing with his friends, and though he can’t talk or walk yet he gains new skills every day and his classmates know him as their friend. Read More ›