The Arc released the following statement on the passing of
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg:
“Often lost in the day to day of life are the big moments in
history that make today possible. Today, a life in the community for millions
of people with disabilities is possible because of the actions of those who
came before them, that led to justice. We mourn the loss of one of those
champions, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who wrote the
opinion in the landmark ruling affirming that unjustified segregation of people
with disabilities is discrimination.
“Thirty years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act transformed
the country in important ways, changing expectations for the lives of people
with disabilities. Thanks to the work of countless committed advocates, we have
taken meaningful steps toward the elimination of discrimination against
individuals with disabilities. Two advocates that carried the promise of the law
all the way to the Supreme Court were Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson. Their
bravery and refusal to live behind the dark walls of institutions led to the
landmark U.S. Supreme Court Olmstead v. L.C. decision in 1999. The case
established that unjustified segregation of people with disabilities is
discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act – and that people with
disabilities have a right to live in the community rather than institutions.
“In the opinion, Justice Ginsburg focused on the fact that ‘institutional
placement of persons who can handle and benefit from community settings
perpetuates unwarranted assumptions that persons so isolated are incapable of
or unworthy of participating in community life.’
“This big moment, and her staunch affirmation of the human
dignity of people with disabilities and their rightful place in the community
of their choice, fundamentally changed the course of the lives of hundreds of
thousands of people with disabilities. With this history in our hearts, we will
carry on our fight for inclusion and justice for all people with disabilities,”
said Peter Berns, CEO, The Arc.
The post The Arc on Passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Her Mark on the Disability Rights Movement appeared first on The Arc.