The Olmstead Decision, in conjunction with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), significantly improved services for people with disabilities. Yet, some believe greater flexibility in the choice of services for individuals with I/DD is necessary to provide the dignity and freedom intended by those laws. In this post, we take a look at why flexibility matters and share some examples of how organizations are working together to increase the choice of services for where – and how – individuals with I/DD live.
Why Flexibility Matters
While the ADA did much to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities, including those with I/DD, the Olmstead Decision went even further to protect individuals by ensuring that no one with a disability should be forced into segregated living circumstances. States were mandated to provide community-based services, and individuals with I/DD began to enjoy greater rights in determining how they wished to live, work, and spend their time.
Community integration continues to have the support of most lawmakers, advocates, and families; however, some suggest certain restrictions and rules remain in place that prevent people with I/DD from experiencing true freedom of choice with regard to where they want to live and work. Some examples include:
- Restrictions on how many individuals with I/DD are able to live within the same area, be it a building or community.
- Defunding of sheltered workshop programs, despite the fact that many individuals are established in these settings and would need support to move to a new setting.
- State-mandated “outside” hours or rules on who an individual with I/DD can spend time with during their week.
Innovative Solutions
Flexibility is often key in providing as much freedom of choice possible to clients in any industry. Innovative partnerships, creative solutions, and outside-the-box thinking has expanded the range of options available to people with I/DD across the country. Here are just a few of the ways organizations and providers have expanded choice of services:
- A New Jersey supportive housing facility provides one- and two-bedroom units for 40 residents with I/DD. The community requires no set schedule for residents, and ensures each individual has self-directed supports, as well as access to common areas such as an arts studio, gym, and gaming room.
- An online roommate matching service that operates in Seattle, Phoenix, and Washington state has been developed to pair individuals with autism and developmental disabilities so they can share housing, living, and caregiver expenses. In Minnesota, individuals with I/DD can use an online matching service to find a roommate without I/DD who can provide support and assistance if needed.
- A partnership between human services and local nonprofit housing organizations in Philadelphia has enabled more people with I/DD to apply for affordable housing by providing assistance with the application process, which has to include the applicants’ housing and support service needs.
With the I/DD population expected to continue to increase in the next decade, and the diversity of that population likely to expand as well, keeping choice of services flexible – and exploring successful innovations – may enable providers to meet the needs of their clients in an ever-evolving marketplace.