Speaking out for People with
 Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Response to Senate Committee on Aging "Celebrating Olmstead" Panel

By Carole Sherman
On June 20, 2023, the Senate Special Committee on Aging, chaired by Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) convened a panel to "Celebrate Olmstead". The panel clearly misrepresented the Olmstead Decision, and joyfully celebrated their own re-interpretation of the decision.
In response, long-time member of VOR and Arkansas advocate Carole Sherman sent a letter reprimanding the Senate Special Committee for putting on such a presentation that disregards the needs of so many people they are responsible for protecting.

The panel was moderated by Marlene Sallo, the Executive Director of the National Disability Rights Network (the organization that directs policy for Protection and Advocacy Agencies) and included Alison Barkoff (Acting Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging and Principal Deputy Administrator of the Administration for Community Living), Ruby Moore (Executive of Georgia's P&A), Melissa Chang (a self-advocate who is currently a junior at Harvard), and Ricardo Thornton (a self-advocate who works at the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial Library at the DOJ, and is a frequent presenter at these events). Senator Casey himself made a brief appearance.

The video of the Committee's presentation may be viewed here.