Governor Stein Joins 17 Other Governors in Standing with People with Disabilities

Today Governor Josh Stein is urging United States Attorney General Todd Blanche to protect the long-established rights of people with disabilities. Governor Stein and 17 other governors responded to the United States Department of Justice's declaration that it will not rely on its own longstanding Olmstead guidance. That guidance provides that people with disabilities should have the opportunity to live, work, receive services and supports, and participate in their communities when appropriate, desired, and reasonable.

"People with disabilities should have every opportunity to thrive within their communities. That's what our law requires, and it's the right thing to do," said Governor Josh Stein. "The Department of Justice is creating uncertainty for people with disabilities and their families by withdrawing its support for the right to community-based services and supports. I am calling on Attorney General Blanche to follow longstanding precedent and the DOJ's own Olmstead guidance."

For nearly four decades, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has embodied a fundamental national commitment that disability should not be a basis for exclusion or diminished opportunity. States have worked with local and federal government partners since 1990 to implement this bipartisan law. The Supreme Court's landmark 1999 decision in Olmstead v. L.C. built on the commitment of the ADA and reinforced the principle of providing services and supports to people with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs. Governor Stein is committed to protecting all people's rights to receive the care they need and the opportunity to succeed within their communities.

Click here to read the multi-state letter.