Olmstead and Community: A Three Course Series on Community Integration for Persons with Disabilities will be held on-line in February, March, and April for Centers for Independent Living (CIL) and State Indpendent Living Council (SILC) staff, managers, and executives, as well as board members. Presented by IL NET: ILRU/NCIL National Training & Technical Assistance Project, the three courses cover the following information:

In course one: Disability Policy and the Olmstead Decision, participants will learn about the background and significance of the U.S. Supreme Court Olmstead decision. They will examine a framework for analyzing disability policy that may be used to determine if state and federal laws and programs really support the rights of persons with disabilities. They will also better understand how the ADA formed the basis for the Olmstead Decision and the importance of that decision for people with disabilities.

In course two: Consumer Direction and Living in the Community, participants will better understand how and why individuals with disabilities can plan and direct their own services. Additionally, the participants will focus on using the concept of "consumer direction" to support the choices of those who want to leave institutional settings (such as nursing homes) and live in the community with the supports that they need.

In course three: Medicaid and Community Support, participants will be able to discuss the basic constructs of the Medicaid program including eligibility, state plan services, and waivers. At the conclusion of the Medicaid portion of the course, participants will use the knowledge gained from all three courses in the series, to advocate more effectively.