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People with disabilities deserve to have the support they need to live in the community, rather than in segregated institutions. Help us advocate with your legislators to make this happen!

All states have been mandated to create an Olmstead Plan to establish how the state is going to provide services to individuals with disabilities living in the community. However, 24 years later, South Carolina still has not developed an Olmstead Plan. Not only is this against the law, but it's also keeping people with disabilities from living independently in the community - and it's potentially putting them in danger.

Additionally, people with disabilities in South Carolina experience a poverty rate of just over 25%. Often affordable housing does not have the accessibility features that people with disabilities require. This means that housing for people with disabilities can be difficult to find.

We need your help to break down barriers for South Carolinians with disabilities. Fill out the quick form below and get connected directly to your state officials to ask them to do their part to make sure that people with disabilities can live in the community with the supports they need!

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SC Department of Health and Human Services

Subject: CONSTITUENT: It's time to follow the law and help people with disabilities live independently

Message:

I am a resident of South Carolina, and I am writing you today to remind you of the state's responsibility to create an Olmstead Plan, which would help people with disabilities live in the community with the supports they need rather than being forced into segregated settings. All states are mandated to create an Olmstead Plan, which would establish how the state will provide services to individuals with disabilities living in the community in accordance with The U.S. Supreme Court Olmstead Decision of 1999 (https://www.ada.gov/olmstead/olmstead_about.htm). 24 years later, South Carolina still has not developed an Olmstead Plan and continues to force people to live in institutions- potentially putting people in danger. The failure of the state to develop a plan in compliance with the 1999 ruling has resulted in a lack of support and services that would enable individuals with disabilities to live in the community. Institutional bias results in significantly higher costs to taxpayers as it has frequently been demonstrated that supporting community living is far less expensive. I am writing to you today because: 1) South Carolina needs to create an Olmstead Plan, as required by law. The state plan must show how the state will provide services to individuals with disabilities living in the community as the preferred option, per the law. Lawmakers should consider an Olmstead Coordinator to oversee the requirements and monitoring of the plan. The Olmstead Coordinator could be housed under the recommended State’s ADA Coordinator Office. 2) South Carolina lawmakers must immediately prioritize funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) to prevent individuals from getting stuck in costly institutional placements. South Carolina is in true crisis resulting in abuse and neglect at the hands of our state. In 2022, South Carolina had 24,190 people on the waiting list for HCBS waivers (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2023). I hope you'll agree to support the 1 out of 3 South Carolinians who have a disability.

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South Carolina Governor's Office

Subject: CONSTITUENT: Follow the law and help people with disabilities live in the community

Message:

I am a resident of South Carolina, and I am writing you today to remind you that states are mandated to create an Olmstead Plan, which would establish how the state will provide services to individuals with disabilities living in the community in accordance with The U.S. Supreme Court Olmstead Decision of 1999 (https://www.ada.gov/olmstead/olmstead_about.htm). Olmstead plans help people with disabilities live in the community with the supports they need instead of being forced into segregated settings. 24 years later, South Carolina still has not developed an Olmstead Plan and continues to force people to live in institutions- potentially putting people in danger. This results in significantly higher costs to taxpayers as it has frequently been demonstrated that supporting community living is far less expensive. I am writing to you today to ask that you relay the following information to the DHHS director with urgency: 1) South Carolina needs to create an Olmstead Plan, as required by law. The state plan must show how the state will provide services to individuals with disabilities living in the community as the preferred option, per the law. Lawmakers should consider an Olmstead Coordinator housed under a State ADA Coordinator Office to oversee the requirements and monitoring of the plan. 2) South Carolina lawmakers must immediately prioritize funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) to prevent individuals from getting stuck in costly institutional placements. South Carolina is in true crisis resulting in abuse and neglect at the hands of our state. In 2022, South Carolina had 24,190 people on the waiting list for HCBS waivers (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2023). With an Olmstead Plan, people with disabilities can be included in the community. However, South Carolina must prepare housing to meet this need. People with disabilities in South Carolina experience a poverty rate of just over 25%. Lack of affordable, accessible housing leaves people with disabilities at risk of losing their independence, being forced into institutions, or becoming homeless. I am writing to you today to ask that you relay the following information to state lawmakers: 1) South Carolina should increase efforts to protect housing rights while creating initiatives to develop affordable and accessible housing. Federal nondiscrimination laws, including the ADA, Fair Housing Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, provide housing protections for people with disabilities. State laws regarding housing should reflect the federal legal protections for people with disabilities. 2) Lawmakers should develop tax credits or incentives for building housing that is affordable and developed using the universal design concept. Universal design creates usable housing, meaning people with or without disabilities can use it without the need for adaptation. I hope you'll agree to support the 1 out of 3 South Carolinians who have a disability.

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SC Legislature

Subject: CONSTITUENT: Follow the law and help people with disabilities live in the community

Message:

I am a resident of South Carolina, and I am writing you today to remind you that states are mandated to create an Olmstead Plan, which would establish how the state will provide services to individuals with disabilities living in the community in accordance with The U.S. Supreme Court Olmstead Decision of 1999 (https://www.ada.gov/olmstead/olmstead_about.htm). Olmstead plans help people with disabilities live in the community with the supports they need instead of being forced into segregated settings. 24 years later, South Carolina still has not developed an Olmstead Plan and continues to force people to live in institutions- potentially putting people in danger. This results in significantly higher costs to taxpayers as it has frequently been demonstrated that supporting community living is far less expensive. With an Olmstead Plan, people with disabilities can be included in the community. However, South Carolina must prepare housing to meet this need. People with disabilities in South Carolina experience a poverty rate of just over 25%. Lack of affordable, accessible housing leaves people with disabilities at risk of losing their independence, being forced into institutions, or becoming homeless. I am writing to you today to ask that you support these needs: 1) South Carolina needs to create an Olmstead Plan, as required by law. The state plan must show how the state will provide services to individuals with disabilities living in the community as the preferred option, per the law. Lawmakers should consider an Olmstead Coordinator housed under a State ADA Coordinator Office to oversee the requirements and monitoring of the plan. 2) South Carolina lawmakers must immediately prioritize funding for home and community-based services (HCBS) to prevent individuals from getting stuck in costly institutional placements. South Carolina is in true crisis resulting in abuse and neglect at the hands of our state. In 2022, South Carolina had 24,190 people on the waiting list for HCBS waivers (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2023). 3) South Carolina should increase efforts to protect housing rights while creating initiatives to develop affordable and accessible housing. Federal nondiscrimination laws, including the ADA, Fair Housing Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, provide housing protections for people with disabilities. State laws regarding housing should reflect the federal legal protections for people with disabilities. 4) Lawmakers should develop tax credits or incentives for building housing that is affordable and developed using the universal design concept. Universal design creates usable housing, meaning people with or without disabilities can use it without the need for adaptation. I hope you'll agree to support the 1 out of 3 South Carolinians with a disability, and work to introduce legislation to meet these needs and legal requirements.

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Take Action!

We've found your representatives!

It looks like you don't live in South Carolina, so you aren't able to send a message to our officials. However, we encourage you to still speak up!

Share on social media to encourage your friends in SC to take action, and visit the Unlocking Barriers website to find more ways to get involved!

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It looks like you don't live in South Carolina, so you aren't able to send a message to our officials.
However, we encourage you to still speak up!