11/02/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/1KhzxhnHhD/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Surely you've heard "Olmstead?"
The Olmstead v. L.C. case was decided by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 22, 1999.
This landmark case ruled that unnecessarily institutionalizing disabled people is discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It affirmed that people with disabilities have the right to live in their communities with proper support, rather than being forced into institutions.
The case was brought by Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson, two Black women with disabilities who were institutionalized in Georgia despite being medically cleared to live in the community.
Lois Curtis didn’t set out to be an activist—she became one out of necessity.
Born with intellectual and developmental disabilities, she was institutionalized in Georgia at age 13. Even when doctors agreed she could live in the community with proper supports, the state refused to release her. She spent most of her young life locked away, deprived of freedom.
But Lois didn’t accept that. She repeatedly called lawyers from inside the institution, asking for help. Her persistence led to the landmark Olmstead v. L.C. Supreme Court case (1999), which ruled that unnecessary institutionalization is disability discrimination under the ADA.
After winning her case, Lois became an advocate for others, speaking publicly about the right to live independently and even meeting President Obama at the White House. She also found joy in painting, using art as a way to express herself and share her journey.
Lois Curtis proved that one voice—no matter how silenced society tries to make it—can change the world. 💜
Lois Curtis is our Black Disabled History Month highlight today. She passed away from cancer just a few years ago at the age of 55.
