Monday, June 20, 2011

Atlanta Legal Aid Lawyer Sue Jamieson and Olmstead Plaintiff Lois Curtis Travel to White House to meet President Obama


In celebration of the 12th anniversary of the landmark Olmstead v. LC & EW decision by the United States Supreme Court, President Barack Obama met with lead attorney Sue Jamieson and surviving client Lois Curtis today in the Oval Office. The Olmstead case, widely described as the Brown v. Board of Education of disability rights cases, established the right of people with mental disabilities to live in community with proper supports as a civil right.   

Since leaving a revolving door of institutions in the wake of Olmstead, Lois has reinvented herself as a folk artist, and she presented the President a self-portrait from her collection.  Lois' story will be featured today on the  White House Disability Blog.

Sue, a pioneering legal advocate for the disabled, brought Olmstead before the Court in 1999 after witnessing the plights of countless people like Lois. Sue, Lois and late co-plaintiff,  Elaine Wilson, stand as symbols of freedom and the power of the law to serve as the agent for change  for disability advocates across the nation.

Sue

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

LONG ROAD HOME 2011 EVENTS



The events scheduled to celebrate the Landmark Supreme Court Olmstead Decision. The events are intended to bring public awareness to the meaning and spirit of the decision and to the many people with disabilities still waiting for that decision to be implemented so they can be freed from institutions across the state so they can live a meaningful quality of life in their community of choice.

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, June 15 -Decatur, GA
Featuring music, art, food, informational discussion, and freedom stories.
Location and time: Holy Trinity Church, 515 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, GA 30030; 11 am to 2 PM
Contact: Josh Cusick- jbcusick@gmail.comor Jenny Puestow -404-885-1234

Thursday, June 16 -Dalton, GA
Featuring refreshments until 4:30 and speakers Lois Curtis, Andy Wade, and Tammy Ruggles Location and time: Dalton City Hall, 300 W. Waugh St., Dalton, GA 30720; 4 PM to 6 PM
Contact: Faith Reed -423-902-5896 or 706-278-8143

Saturday, June 18 -Gainesville, GA
Featuring a free hot-dog lunch, music from the Lefty Williams Band, and other talents.
Location and time: Roosevelt Square in downtown Gainesville; 11 am to 2:30 PM
Contact: The Disability Resource Center -770-534-6656

Monday, June 20 -Savannah, GA
Featuring guest speaker Willie Bivins.
Location and time: Living Independence for Everyone (LIFE), Inc.,12020 Abercorn St., Savannah, GA 31419; 11 am to noon
Contact: Mark Swift - mswift@lifecil.comor 912-920-2414

Tuesday, June 21 -North Augusta, SC
Featuring a showing of the First Long Road Home video, inducted into the Civil Rights Hall of Fame in 2005.
Location and time: Walton Options, 325 Georgia Ave., N. Augusta, SC 29841;
Time: To be announced
Contact: Carla Cook -803-279-9611

Wednesday, June 22 -Main Celebration at the Georgia Capitol Building in Atlanta Featuring speakers, a DJ, and an art display featuring the work of artists with disabilities.
Location and time: Georgia State Capitol, South Wing rotunda, downtown Atlanta
Contact: Jenny Puestow -404-885-1234 or jpuestow@thegao.org 

Wednesday, June 22 -Bainbridge, GA
This event will feature refreshments.
Location and time: Decatur County Senior Center, 402 W. Water St., Bainbridge, GA 39817; 2 PM to 4 PM
Contact: BAIN, Inc., Center for Independent Living -229-246-0150 or bain@surfsouth.com. RSVP required.

Wednesday, June 22 -Fitzgerald, GA
Featuring a march and rally.
Location and time: The Jessamine Place, 402 S. Main St., Fitzgerald, GA 31750; 9 am to noon
Contact: Constance Foster -229-426-5298

Wednesday, June 22 -Rome, GA
This event will feature a Lunch-and-Learn.
Location and time: Sara Hightower Regional Library, Oostanaula and Etowah Rooms, 205 RiverSidePkwy., NE, Rome, GA 30161; 9 am to 1 PM
Contact: Andy Wade -706-314-0008 or 866-888-7845

Long Road Home thanks the following organizations for making these events
possible:
Atlanta Legal Aid's Disability Rights and Mental Health Unit BAIN, Inc.
Center for Leadership on Disability
Cross Plains Community Partner
disABILITYLINK Northwest
Disability Resource Center
Georgia Advocacy Office
Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network Friends of l'ArcheAtlanta Holy Trinity Church Jessamine Place Living Independence for Everyone (LIFE), Inc.
People First of Atlanta
People First of Fitzgerald
People First of Georgia
People First Northeast GA Chapter
People First Northwest GA Chapter
People First of Thomasville
Walton Options
Clearinghouse Website for Home and Community Based Services