Coming up in a month (June 22, 2009) is the 10th anniversary of the Olmstead decision, declaring that people with disabilities have a right to live in the community and not in nursing homes and other institutions. It is a great opportunity for people with disabilities to come together to make sure that the dream of Olmstead becomes a reality! Given the talk of health care reform in Washington DC, and concern about whether or not President Obama and the federal government will make sure that community-based choices are included, publicizing the Olmstead anniversary is more important than ever.

Just like the disability community held events around the country for Obama’s inauguration or for the introduction of the Community Choices Act, we’d like to coordinate events nationwide for the Olmstead anniversary. There are a bunch of events you could do, and we want to help you make it happen!
*** Take Action ***

1) Whether you are a group or an individual, pick one of the following events you think you can do.
2) Email disabilitymovement@gmail.com to tell us what you’d like to do and what kind of materials or other help you need.
3) Pick 1-2 new forms of outreach in the list below, so that you can bring in new people.
4) Hold your event and have fun with it!

Possible events:

• Call or visit your district’s members of Congress, or the local Health & Human Services office; ask what they’re going to do to implement Olmstead
• Hold a press conference in front of a nursing home or other institution
• Get a group of people to go visit a nursing home — tell the nursing home that you’d like to bring cookies and visit with people
• Create a film of people talking about wanting to stay out of nursing homes and other institutions; or if we can find one that exists, show a film!
• Pass out flyers at a grocery store, shopping mall, or other busy site, talking to people about Olmstead and institutions, maybe including some kind of survey about thoughts on living in a nursing home
• * Have a rally at HHS office, state building, or possibly a nursing home (this last can be tricky)
• Have a caravan to different sites above
• Deliver a signed copy of the AAPD petition to local Congressional offices, maybe deliver them with some kind of “Implement Olmstead” cookies.
• Have an event and invite legislators to come and talk about independence for people with disabilities
• Get people together to talk about Olmstead (educate ourselves). Provide snacks, have everyone write a letter and sign the AAPD petition. You could also get people together and then go out before or after for any of these other suggestions.

Ideas for outreach:

• Talk to leadership at churches in your area, and get someone to make an announcement, pass out flyers, etc.
• Go to a health clinic or hospital, and ask people to sign a petition (so you can get contact information) and pass out flyers
• Knock on doors at housing developments for people with disabilities
• Post on facebook and blogs
• Go to Vocational Rehab offices, ask them to talk to clients, pass out flyers
• Go to your local CIL, Developmental Disability Council, etc.

THANK YOU!

Jessica Lehman & the Justice for All Action Network Organizing Workgroup

VIA The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Notice Concerning The Americans With Disabilities Act Amendments Act Of 2008
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Amendments Act of 2008 was signed into law on September 25, 2008 and becomes effective January 1, 2009. Because this law makes several significant changes, including changes to the definition of the term “disability,” the EEOC will be evaluating the impact of these changes on this document and other publications. See the list of specific changes to the ADA made by the ADA Amendments Act.

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) makes it unlawful to discriminate in employment against a qualified individual with a disability. The ADA also outlaws discrimination against individuals with disabilities in State and local government services, public accommodations, transportation and telecommunications. This booklet explains the part of the ADA that prohibits job discrimination. This part of the law is enforced by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and State and local civil rights enforcement agencies that work with the Commission.

Learn more…