Welcome to your
"Olmstead in Iowa" Headquarters!

In the Olmstead Decision (1999), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it is illegal to force individuals with disabilities to live in institutions to receive services they would be able to receive in community settings with the appropriate supports. This means individuals with disabilities have the right to receive services in settings of their choice.

This website provides information and resources to assure the ability of Iowans with disabilities to choose where, and with whom, they live.

The Olmstead Decision

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Archives

About us

UPDATES

The next meeting of the Olmstead Consumer Task Force will take place on March 9, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Urbandale Public Library.

Redesign of Mental Health and Disability Services

Iowa SF525 mandates review and redesign of the state's mental health and disability services system. This process began August 2011. During the summer and fall, five work groups met to develop recommendations for core services, workforce needs, regional service areas, children's services, methods for funding the system and providing services more equitably, co-occurring disabilities, court commitments for persons with mental health issues and best practices for services to persons with brain injuries.

Preliminary reports were due by October 2011, and final recommendations by December 9. A committee of legislators will review them and develop legislation to be taken up in the 2012 legislative session.

To follow the progress of the redesign process, go to Mental Health and Disability Redesign.

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DHS Olmstead State Plan

The Iowa Department of Human Services and the Olmstead Consumer Task Force sponsored several public forums on mental health and disability services in cooperation with Iowa legislators. These community conversations provided an opportunity to share opinions and experiences, and learn about the DHS Olmstead Plan for Mental Health and Disability Services, "A Life in the Community for Everyone." For more information on the Plan and its development, visit the website at:

www.IowaMHDSPlan.org

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Obama Administration Seeks Olmstead Compliance

The Obama Administration continues to push for states to comply with the Olmstead Decision regarding where services for persons with disabilities are delivered. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is vigorously filing suits against those states with complaints. To learn more, visit the DOJ-sponsored website "Community Integration for Everyone."

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New National Olmstead Resources

The Department of Justice now offers a guide to states about Olmstead compliance. The compliance guide was issued June of 2011.

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Consumer Choices Option

The Iowa Medicaid Enterprise has announced that friends and some family members can be hired as caregivers under Iowa's Consumer Choices Option, a Medicaid program that went into effect statewide September 2007.

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Iowans with Disabilities in Action

The Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council has launched Iowans with Disabilities in Action (ID Action), a non-partisan organization through which Iowans with disabilities can have a stronger voice in Iowa politics.