Most people have never heard of this DOJ memo. Even fewer know the history that makes so many disability advocates concerned about it. America has a painful history of institutionalizing people with disabilities—one marked by overcrowding, neglect, abuse, and the loss of basic human dignity. That’s why the movement toward community-based living was so important. Whether you agree or disagree with the legal arguments, it’s worth understanding what is at stake and why this conversation matters to

Are Institutions for Disabled Americans Making a Comeback?

After 2 years of being paralyzed and endless hours of work...

Donald Trump Is Going After Disabled Americans

This week, the Department of Justice issued an opinion that threatens the ability of disabled people to live in their own communities. They challenged settled law, Olmstead v. L.C., from 1999, the Supreme Court case that recognized that the institutional isolation of disabled people is discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. And for the last quarter of a century, this law has helped disabled people stay in their communities and out of institutions. So now we're in a weird legal