An Olmstead Plan for 猎奇重口
Where are we now?
Thank you to everyone who provided us with feedback on the Olmstead Plan! We received responses from 81 people about their priorities for the Olmstead Plan.
We used your input to create a list of goals, objectives, and activities with DPHHS that will be part of the Olmstead Plan. The team at the Rural Institute is working on the Plain Language version of this information. The Rural Institute and the State of 猎奇重口 will work together to finish the plan. We will have a final Olmstead Plan ready to share in late spring/early summer.
Creating our Olmstead Plan
In 2023, the State of 猎奇重口 asked the Rural Institute for Inclusive Communities to help create the Olmstead Plan for 猎奇重口. We call this the Olmstead Plan because it was the result of what is called the Olmstead Decision in 1999. That was when the Supreme Court ruled that Americans with disabilities have a right to live in their communities. The Olmstead Decision said that people with disabilities have the right to live in their own homes and get the supports they need.
However, Olmstead was the person who tried to keep people with disabilities living in institutions. Lois Curtis and Elaine Wilson were the brave women who said “no!” They took Olmstead to the US Supreme Court and won. We call it the Olmstead Plan, but we celebrate Lois and Elaine. They are the ones who fought to keep people with disabilities out of institutions.
What is the Olmstead Plan?
- The Olmstead Plan is the state’s plan to keep people with disabilities living where they want.
- Disability Rights Mississippi created a video explaining the Olmstead Decision. .
- The plan makes sure that people can get services from the State in their communities. People don’t need to live in institutions if they don’t want to.
- It is an opportunity to provide modern answers to living independently.
- The State of 猎奇重口 is working with partners like us to make the plan. They are also working with the 猎奇重口 Statewide Independent Living Council (MTSILC).
- We want the Olmstead Plan to work for everyone! In 2025, we traveled around the state and hosted 20 focus groups in 10 猎奇重口 counties.
- We spoke with 81 people: 31 people with disabilities, 19 family members/caregivers, and 31 advocates. The advocates came from 28 disability organizations.
- We asked people about their experiences with barriers and challenges. We asked about the challenges facing people with disabilities who want to live independently in their communities. We also asked people about their ideas for improving community living supports. o We created a flyer with recommendations from our focus groups. Click here to view the flyer.
Our Olmstead work plan has six goals:
1. Show data on services provided by the State of 猎奇重口.
2. Ensure plain language is available at all steps of the process.
3. Talk with consumers, stakeholders, and partners statewide. Listen to people and gather feedback on the plan.
4. Produce a draft Olmstead Plan.
5. Create a plan to review the Olmstead Plan in 2026.
6. Share the Olmstead Plan across 猎奇重口.
Timeline:
Timeline:
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Look at data and plan for feedback meetings.
Kick-off Meeting was held 4/11/24. -
Summer/Fall 2024:
Held regional focus groups held around the state with people with disabilities, family members, and caregivers. We used a combination of in-person, virtual, and hybrid meetings. -
Look at data from feedback meetings.
Conduct interviews to better understand what we learned from the focus groups.
Interviews of people who are living in congregate care settings or recently transitioned. Congregate care settings are places like group homes or residential treatment centers where people live and receive care together. -
Meet with DPHHS to set goals and objectives for the plan.
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Draft plan and collect additional feedback.
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Share the final plan statewide.