Community Conversations – Olmstead at 25: Visions of Integration

Join us for a live virtual discussion!

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Olmstead decision, which forever changed disability rights in the U.S. In honor of this landmark decision, Disability Rights California is launching Olmstead at 25: Visions of Integration.

Join us on the social media platform of your choice for an engaging live conversation exploring the past, present, and future impacts of the Olmstead decision.

ASL Interpreters Available

When:
Tuesday, June 25, 2024
10:00-11:00 AM
Pacific Time

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About the Public Meeting:

In the landmark Olmstead v L.C. decision, the Supreme Court recognized that the unnecessary institutionalization of people with disabilities is disability discrimination. Join DRC’s Mental Health Practice group as they discuss Olmstead’s impacts with leaders and advocates within the disability community, people living with disabilities, and legal minds focused on disability justice.

We will discuss how Olmstead impacts Californians living with disabilities, barriers to community inclusion that so many of us living with disabilities still face 25 years after the Olmstead decision, and what’s happening now!

During this event you will learn:

More about Disability Rights California and the Olmstead v. L.C. case.
How Olmstead advocacy can be part of a movement for disability justice.
How Olmstead advocacy can be used to stop people from cycling through hospitals, jails, and homelessness.
How disability organizations can utilize a community movement lawyering framework to advocate for community-centered remedies for Olmstead violations.
Visions for the future of Olmstead.

Samuel Jain, Senior Mental Health Policy Attorney, DRC

Samuel has a long history of involvement in California’s mental health system as an advocate, person with lived experience, family member, and former provider. Prior to joining DRC, Samuel was a mental health patients’ rights advocate in Santa Clara County for 5.5 years. He was formerly appointed to the Patients’ Rights Committee of the California Behavioral Health Planning Council and is currently a member of the DHCS Behavioral Health Stakeholder Advisory Committee. He lives in Sacramento with his partner, daughter, and two cats.

Michelle Kotval, Senior Attorney Mental Health Practice Group, DRC

Ms. Kotval has spent her legal career working on issues at the intersection of housing and mental health. At DRC, Ms. Kotval has helped develop and lead a range of complex litigation and advocacy involving constitutional and disability rights on behalf of clients living with mental health disabilities. Prior to joining DRC, Ms. Kotval worked at legal aid organizations in Orange County, where she litigated cases involving homelessness and enforcement of affordable housing laws. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.