Indiana Disability Alliance Issues Joint Statement Defending Community Living as a Civil Right
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana Disability Alliance, a coalition of Indiana disability rights organizations, including Down Syndrome Indiana, has issued a joint statement reaffirming that community living is a fundamental civil right and expressing concern about a recent legal opinion from the U.S. Department of Justice that seeks to narrow the interpretation of the landmark Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v. L.C..
For more than 25 years, the Olmstead decision has helped ensure that people with disabilities have the opportunity to live, learn, work, and thrive in their communities rather than being unnecessarily segregated in institutional settings. The joint statement emphasizes that community integration is not only good public policy —it is a civil right protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Indiana Disability Alliance warns that weakening federal enforcement of community integration protections could jeopardize decades of progress made by people with disabilities, families, advocates, and service providers working to expand opportunities for community living.
The statement calls on policymakers, advocates, and community members to remain committed to the principle that people with disabilities belong in their communities and should have access to the services and supports needed to live meaningful, self-directed lives.
Read the full joint statement:
About Down Syndrome Indiana
Down Syndrome Indiana is a parent-founded nonprofit organization that has served individuals with Down syndrome and their families for more than 30 years. As the largest and most comprehensive Down syndrome association in Indiana, Down Syndrome Indiana’s mission is to enhance the lives of individuals with Down syndrome and their families. We fulfill this mission through education, resources, programming, advocacy, and community connection, serving as a one-stop shop for all things Down syndrome. From diagnosis through adulthood, we are committed to supporting individuals with Down syndrome and their families every step of the way. We envision an Indiana where every individual with Down syndrome can learn, work, live, and thrive.
About the Indiana Disability Alliance
The Indiana Disability Alliance is a statewide coalition representing people with all disabilities, bringing together organizations to advance public policies that promote independence, community integration, and meaningful opportunity across Indiana. Through coordinated advocacy, the Alliance works to strengthen home and community-based services and other systems that support individuals in living, learning, working, and participating fully in community life, while preventing unnecessary institutionalization and supporting sustained community living.