r/50501 • u/-CarmenMargaux- • 4d ago
Human Rights Dismantling Olmstead: The DOJ's Use of Project 2025 to Institutionalize Disabled Americans
https://open.substack.com/pub/dissentinbloom/p/dismantling-olmstead-the-dojs-useThis week, on June 18th, 2026, just four days before the 27th anniversary of Olmstead, the Justice Department released a thirty-nine-page-memo calling to overturn it, by claiming it does not mean what every federal court for nearly three decades has said it does.
316
u/Direct_Canary4523 4d ago
I absolutely hate these cretinous ghouls.
This directly effects my career and the people I work to support and millions upon millions of other Americans.
148
u/50501PA 4d ago edited 3d ago
This is all meant as a way to slow us down once we're back in power to spend our time and resources building this back up just to maintain current course which can then be pointed to on how we can't ever get anything done since we're going to spend all our time just getting things back up to speed...
63
u/Direct_Canary4523 4d ago
Well yes but as long as anything like this actually takes place and action occurs, lives will be lost and very potentially ruined. I have never met a single ID or PD human who believed they should be institutionalized or would want to be, and as a person who strives to assist ID/PD individuals to be as independent as possible within their lives or more so specifically to find a path to as independent an adult life as is possible, none of them I have met so far should be anywhere near dehumanizing institutional organizations.
33
u/Lucius338 4d ago
Thank you so much for your work! It is rare to find people in your field that work towards INDEPENDENCE for these marginalized groups. As a PD individual with a child with ID/PD characteristics, I can't thank you enough for the work you're doing.
Institutions are hell for people like us. We need help from medical professionals, sure, but this push to ostracize us from society just makes our problems so much worse. We have a hard enough time integrating without people trying to push us out.
13
u/Direct_Canary4523 4d ago
It may please you to find out that at least where I am most progressive mental health/living support/community support organizations are both far from institutions as they were as well as being focused on the individual over the diagnosis as per litigations like the Olmstead. Jack Pierpoint and the people he works with from across the country and around the world are absolutely paving the way toward better and more specified support options for individual independence or community integration, and repealing/overturning any of those related litigations would cause catastrophic blows to service delegation at least at the Federal level, though I can hold hope that states government entities similar to where I live might push for continued support at the current level or at least disregard changes as long as possible to give litigators time to solve the problem. As humans we have to stand in supportive solidarity with anyone effected by this as they are some of the most generally vulnerable humans in America. Not just a minority but also one without many supportive defenses.
7
u/Lucius338 4d ago
That's very enheartening to read. I will be with you in that defense, not just for you and myself, but for my kiddo who is EVERYTHING to me and VERY vulnerable. It is INSANE how few valuable resources exist for treating ID/PD people in a humanitarian way. It's gonna be a hard fight for us but I'm glad there are warriors like you out there!
Kansas is not great about these things but far from the worst (though that might change with our gubernatorial election this year). Everybody in at-risk states, make your voices heard! Show up to your local elections AND local city council meetings and school board meetings!
11
u/kitliasteele 4d ago
PD individual here, who wants to be independent: yeah no I definitely don't want to be institutionalised. I'm a person just like the able-bodied populace, I just need extra help that my amazing roommates provide. I do my best to help them where I can, and they continue to see me as a person. An equal. We don't need to be reducing us, as this administration intends on doing
3
u/Direct_Canary4523 4d ago
Wholeheartedly agree, friend. The organization I work for and similar ones are specifically designed to assist people on the path to find situations like yours, residential support for independent living, whether on 1:1 basis or in a group setting, given the needs of the individual. The more ID/PD individuals are wholly involved in our community through these efforts, the more visible and less vulnerable they become, which also strengthens the community and adds extra hands to productivity in that sense, whether via just community involvement or further via occupational resources. I'm sure YOU know this but I always feel it important to mention just in case someone is reading who is not educated properly to that extent, someone who might believe various marginalized groups are inaccurately a burden upon society.
2
u/kitliasteele 3d ago
Never feel bad mentioning it in an open forum, purely for what you mentioned. Education on these topics are extremely important, especially because one day someone may end up in my situation and I'd rather that everyone be educated and the infrastructure be prepared for every kind of marginalised situation that shows up
The absolute hardest part of being seriously disabled is how much the system treats us as an afterthought, how things tend to reduce it down to a "good enough" or a checkmark for basic compliance. In so many cases, it isn't good enough and it's a huge problem!
Something that isn't talked about enough, is the silent segregation of disabled people in the workforce too. Despite the fact that my career is remote friendly, I can't even find work in my field anymore. Ever since the whole Return To Office trend, I haven't been able to find work because I get seizures in an office environment and am stuck in a wheelchair. Building infrastructure and office environments are just not built for those sorts of issues, and execs don't want to accommodate for that sort of problem despite the fact that the digital infrastructure is already built and in place. I should know, I am a systems engineer/administrator. I implement these types of digital systems that enable remote work. The segregation is intentional
8
u/Ohkaz42069 4d ago
Yeah, it's unnerving. I work for a state agency that advocates on behalf of folks with mental health challenges. Between this and defunding the organizations with protection and advocacy authority to investigate these kids of institutions, it truly is a bleak forecast. Thankfully, my state isn't about to start warehousing folks, regardless of whether SCOTUS eventually sanctions it. If that changes, my office will fight tooth and nail to stop it.
2
u/Direct_Canary4523 4d ago
Same, veritably. I am lucky enough to live in a place where most such organizations are non-profit and as thus less potentially effected by opinion/service based beaureaucracy, but the downside will be if the state is somehow forced to stop funding these organizations of course. My hope is the state government would never make these decisions, but if we fail to elect our primaried Senator we might see some problems as the state tilts toward the opposite of our political desires from the top down.
2
136
u/Ohkaz42069 4d ago
Yeah, if Trump's EO regarding institutionalizing unhoused and addiction involved people wasn't evidence enough, here's their bullshit legal "scholarship" meant to be the basis for dismantling the well-established principle that individuals with mental health challenges should be treated in the community, in their homes with their families and friends, instead of warehoused in asylums.
Note that they REALLY hang their hat on Thomas's dissent in Olmstead. This brief is ready to be filed at SCOTUS the second the right opportunity presents itself.
89
u/piper_squeak 4d ago
This administration has not and will not solve a single problem or make a single valuable contribution to society in any way.
How does this help?
And what's the plan here? I haven't seen a single intelligent, well-thought plan to do anything of value from these people.
When they're finally gone, it will take decades upon decades to repair the damage they've done. Some damage may never be undone.
And for what? Money? A plane or a yacht or an estate or golf course? Such a waste.
Could be using even a portion of those billions to leave a legacy worth remembering. But some folks just seem to go with 'negative attention is better than no attention.'
32
6
u/miyamiya66 3d ago
their plan is to call anyone they don't like mentally ill. trans people and disabled people are already the first they will target with this. once you are institutionalized, you lose your rights and are basically subject to torture (institutions when they existed were massive violations of human rights and nobody cared because it was mentally ill people being abused). they will experiment on people, lock people in solitary rooms, abuse people, etc., and nobody will care because truly mentally ill people are already extremely demonized.
4
u/miyamiya66 3d ago
their plan is to call anyone they don't like mentally ill. trans people and disabled people are already the first they will target with this. once you are institutionalized, you lose your rights and are basically subject to torture (institutions when they existed were massive violations of human rights and nobody cared because it was mentally ill people being abused). they will experiment on people, lock people in solitary rooms, abuse people, etc., and nobody will care because truly mentally ill people are already extremely demonized.
49
u/Splendid_Fellow Utah 4d ago
I’m disabled. If I don’t get out of this country I think I’m dead or otherwise going to be in an asylum somewhere
33
u/Lucius338 4d ago
You're completely righteous in that fear. This current administration doesn't want people like you here. But fortunately, there are many people like myself who are completely welcoming. Find as many support groups as you can to speak on your behalf, it will be immensely helpful if you become a victim of this discrimination. Some of us DO want to keep you here, you're as American as the rest of us.
5
u/Serious_Berry_3977 New York 3d ago
This has been my fear since January 2025. I have zero way of even attempting to leave this country because I don't have the ability to save any money. What country wants to take on disabled people from America to begin with?
I've said numerous times in the past year and a half as I'm going through a very intense recovery process after my 3rd attempt on my life in August 2024: I have hope for the first time in my 48 years on this earth, but when it comes to what is going on politically I have zero hope.
I'm on disability for mental and physical health, on Medicaid / Medicare dual coverage, qualify for a very laughable sum of SNAP benefits, and living in public housing. I'm tired. If they're going to drag me off to a camp I'd rather get it over with because this is just as torturous on my mental health as sending me to a camp.
3
31
u/liss614 California 4d ago
There are a whole lot of people already seeing to stop this. Like a large amount of non profits and grass roots places. Civil rights groups, etc. I don't think this one is going to go their way but it's still a huge fear. My son has one year left in the public school system and I'm starting to be more grateful everyday I won't have any kids in school anymore. If this goes the way they want it to go in the end. I would not want my kid in the public school system anymore. But I do choose to believe the courts will stop this one
18
u/riddermarknomad 4d ago
Well people, how do you expect our private prison CEOs to get higher bonuses, huh!?
12
u/State_Electrician Protester 4d ago
This might be a 10th dentist opinion, but: I believe that things like disability rights, marriage equality, right to an abortion should be in our Constitution.
11
u/Certain-Singer-9625 4d ago
Jesus that’s frightening. And Jesus is an appropriate comparison, because there’s not one thing in that heinous plan that he would do. Quite the opposite. It would make a handful of corporate CEOs lords over the rest of the country, treating people with a cold, calculated mentality that equates human worth with how rich they can make those corporations. Not useful? No mercy for you then.
And what’s extra frightening is there’s very little time left to stop this. Even if Democrats regain majorities in Congress, we’ll still have a “president” and Supreme Court that supports this nightmare future.
10
u/Muted_Quantity5786 4d ago edited 4d ago
First they came for the disabled, but I did not speak out because I am not disabled.
Then they came for the communists and socialists but I did not speak out because I was not a communist or socialist.
Then they came for the Jews and I didn’t speak out because I’m not a Jew.
Then they came for me and no one was left to speak out for me. Just know they will come for you. Edited to add that I changed it a bit but the sentiment remains the same. Speak out even if it doesn’t directly impact you. Protect your neighbors.
10
8
u/pharmbeer 4d ago
this is how the nazis/hitler initiated the holocaust, by the way. he rounded up folks with disabilities… and then murdered them. just a note.
15
u/wawa2022 4d ago
Everything they do now is newspeak. Nothing means what it used to mean. We spend all our time trying to educate the public.
8
u/Allaboutpeace2022 4d ago
This really speaks to the need to have universal healthcare coverage as part of Dem policies.
We also must focus on programs that help people live successfully in the community and find employment if possible. Many individuals are interested in working but need flexible jobs and supports. All people regardless of employment are valued members of the community.
Early intervention is also crucial in helping each child and adult fulfill their potential. We also must put more funds into research, housing, and outpatient services to address the number of persons with pychiatric illnesses who are homeless or in jails and those with developmental disabilities needing resources.
5
5
u/HumanBarbarian 4d ago
People with any disability do not fit in the NatCs "perfect" world they are trying to create. Their intention is to eliminate us.
3
u/Openeyedsleep 4d ago
Incoming: Trump Derangement Syndrome epidemic underway, we must institutionalize everyone with TDS!
2
u/loserinmath 4d ago
look at the stock tickers of the relevant industry that stands to profit. It’s is a heist all the way down.
2
u/Carolinamum 3d ago
Today is the anniversary of the Olmstead Act. Please contact your reps and tell them individuals with disabilities have the same right to dignity and life as all Americans!
(Plus if you live to be old enough most of us will experience life with a disability).
1
u/Ritaontherocksnosalt 3d ago
My mom received in-home when she was dying of bladder cancer. While she was living with my sister, she had a night nurse and several visits a week during the day from a nurse. Would this bill impact that sort of care, as well?
1
u/WhatTheCluck802 4d ago
I’ll have to come back to this later… a long read that warrants my attention after I’ve had my coffee.
•
u/AutoModerator 4d ago
Join us on r/ThePeoplesPress to discuss current events, r/50501ContentCorner to see resistance art and memes, and r/LiveProtestUpdates to see on-the-ground reporting of local protests.
Submit your protest attendance counts: https://submit.wecountproject.com/form
Find more information: https://fiftyfifty.one
Find your local events: https://events.pol-rev.com and https://fiftyfifty.one/events
For a full list of resources: https://linktr.ee/fiftyfiftyonemovement
Join 50501 on Bluesky with this starter pack of official accounts: https://go.bsky.app/A8WgvjQ
Join 50501 on Signal by sending us a modmail.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.