For more than 25 years, the landmark Supreme Court decision Olmstead v. L.C. has protected the rights of people with disabilities to live in their communities rather than being unnecessarily placed in institutions. In June 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued a concerning memo, changing how the federal government could interpret and enforce Olmstead. While this opinion does not change any laws, it could weaken federal enforcement of the right to community living. Visit thearcofmass.org/olmstead to learn more.
Faces of Olmstead: Jonathan Spiller
I have lived in the Arlington community since April 30, 2018. It is very important to me to continue living independently so I can choose what I want to do every day. I enjoy going for walks, doing consulting work with the Pathways to Friendship program, visiting family members who live in Cambridge, Somerville, and Watertown, and spending time with friends.
I love my apartment in Arlington. The town has so much to offer, including shows at the Regent Theatre, public art exhibitions, music in the parks, and the Arlington Farmers Market, which I often visit.
I worry about my independence being taken away and being told what I have to do every day instead of being able to make my own choices about the people I want to visit and the places I want to go. I am in the Ride Flex program and receive discounted Lyft rides, and I also use The RIDE to get to doctor’s appointments and other places in the community.
Living in the community has given me the freedom to make my own choices and live the life I want. The Olmstead decision has made that possible, and I want to make sure those opportunities remain available for me and for others.
