News Release

NCD #03-395
January 23, 2003
Contact: Mark S. Quigley
202-272-2004
202-272-2074 TTY
mquigley@ncd.gov

National Council on Disability Supports President's New Proposal to Assist Americans with Disabilities

WASHINGTON--The National Council on Disability (NCD) supports today's announcement that President Bush is proposing a $1.75 billion, five-year program to help Americans with Disabilities transition from nursing homes or other institutions to community living settings.

According to NCD chairperson Lex Frieden, "NCD applauds the President's new proposal, which is to be included in the FY 2004 budget for his New Freedom Initiative. When enacted, this new proposal will help eliminate many barriers to full participation in community life for people with disabilities. NCD supports the President's commitment to changing policies that unnecessarily confine people with disabilities to living in institutions. This is a significant step in the right direction."

"Nearly 13 years ago Congress passed and President George H. W. Bush signed one of the most significant civil rights laws since the Civil Rights Act of 1964-the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). In so doing, the nation opened its doors to a new age for people with disabilities. Today's announcement is consistent with ADA ' s promise of ensuring equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency, especially for people living in institutions," Frieden added.

On June 22, 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision in Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581. The Court recognized that unjustified isolation and segregation of people with disabilities in institutional settings is a form of discrimination prohibited by the ADA. On June 18, 2001, President George W. Bush signed an executive order promoting community-based alternatives-rather than institutions-for people with disabilities.

NCD believes that implementation of the Olmstead decision is of paramount importance to the nation, and is one of the top priorities of the disability community.

In its January 2001 report, Investing in Independence: Transition Recommendations for President George W. Bush (http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/bush.html), NCD made several recommendations to the President. Among them were recommendations on how to achieve the most integrated community-based setting for people with disabilities, pursuant to the Supreme Court decision in Olmstead.

In its 2002 Congressionally mandated Progress Report (http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/progressreport_07-26-02.html) NCD recommended that people with disabilities have appropriate input into the allocation of funds in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid ' s budget to assist with demonstration projects and a range of community-based activities throughout the life of the initiative.