The Georgia Olmstead Plan: 

The 1999 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the landmark case of Olmstead v. L.C. held that unnecessary institutionalization of individuals with disabilities violates the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). 

The continued institutionalization of people “who can handle and benefit from community settings perpetuates unwarranted assumptions that persons so isolated are incapable or unworthy of participating in community life.” 

To meet their obligations under the ADA, states must demonstrate they have an effective plan to transition eligible individuals with disabilities to integrated community settings and a waiting list that moves at a “reasonable pace.” 

The Georgia Olmstead Plan focuses on providing home and community based services (HCBS) which allow people with mental illness, developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, brain injury, and addiction to receive services and supports necessary to live      independent, productive, healthy, and safe lives.  

To sustain Georgia’s Olmstead Plan over time, it is critical that we build a comprehensive, responsive system of services and supports in the community that is the strategic center of gravity for the Plan. 

The Georgia Olmstead Plan has several guiding principles. Every individual has the right to live in the most integrated setting of his or her informed choice in the community with the services and supports necessary to be an independent and productive citizen and will: 

Be served in the most integrated and inclusive environment allowing for full participation in all aspects of the life of the community, including work. 

Have opportunities to exercise meaningful, informed choices of services, providers, and staff. Service systems are timely, consistent, dependable, and appropriate. 

Have opportunities to choose the level of family involvement in decisions concerning his or her services and supports. Eligible individuals are the focus and their choice of the level of involvement with their family and significant others in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of their services is respected. 

Receive the highest quality of services, provided by people who are competent and skilled to meet his or her need. 

Be provided services at the appropriate level of intensity, based on individual strengths, needs, and choices, and will be designed and delivered with sensitivity to individual and cultural differences. 

Be a partner with their family and the State in establishing policy and priorities for the use of public resources related to their support, taking into account the needs of persons already being served and those waiting for services.  

The Olmstead Plan, which sets forth objectives in a comprehensively working plan for establishing a good community-based system of services and supports has been sent to the Governor, but it has not been approved. Twenty-two advocacy organizations submitted a letter to Governor Deal asking him to approve the plan, keep the Olmstead Coordinator and Olmstead Planning Committee in place to implement the plan, and to implement a multi-year strategic and funding plan as urged by HR 1713.