NC Olmstead
The 2024-2025 Olmstead Plan purpose is to improve community inclusion for people with disabilities. Designed in partnership with key stakeholders and people with lived-experience across the state, the plan advances the work to ensure people with disabilities have the resources they need to live and thrive in the communities of their choice. The 2024-2025 Olmstead plan is the current plan. The 2026-2031 Olmstead plan has not yet been finalized.
2024-2025 North Carolina Olmstead Plan (English)
2024-2025 North Carolina Olmstead Plan (Spanish)
Background
Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999), is a U.S. Supreme Court case that laid the groundwork for people with disabilities to live their lives as fully included members of the community. The case addressed the Americans with Disabilities Act’s (ADA) “integration mandate.” The integration mandate requires that all public entities, including the State of North Carolina, “administer services, programs, and activities” for people with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate to the person’s needs.
“Most integrated setting” has been defined as one that enables people with disabilities to interact “to the fullest extent possible” with individuals who don’t have a disability. Specifically, the case requires states to provide services in the community for eligible persons with a disability when (a) such services are appropriate; (b) the affected persons do not oppose community-based treatment; and (c) community-based services can be “reasonably accommodated.”
In Olmstead, the Supreme Court also urged states to develop a “comprehensive, effectively working plan” for transitioning people to the community. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has initiated the development of its Olmstead Plan under the leadership of the Office of the Senior Advisor on the ADA.
Strategic Priorities of the Olmstead Plan
- Transformative
- Achievable
- Results-Driven
The Olmstead Plan Stakeholder Advisory group is diverse group of stakeholders from the disability community, including:
- Individuals with lived experience and their families;
- Service providers;
- Managed care organizations;
- NCDHHS staff; and
- State legislators
The OPSA meets on a quarterly basis to review Olmstead Plan activities and progress.
We have partners
Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC), in partnership with the Human Services Research Institute (HSRI), is working with NCDHHS in developing the Olmstead Plan. TAC/HSRI will:
- Access relevant data sources
- Identify gaps in data
OPSA Quarterly Meeting Minutes
- OPSA Minutes 9-16-26, Presentation
- OPSA Minutes 6-15-26
- OPSA Minutes 3-18-26, Spanish
- OPSA Minutes 12-18-25, Spanish
- OPSA Minutes 09-30-25, Spanish
Olmstead Plan Reports
- Fourth Quarter Summary Report: October 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025
- Third Quarter Summary Report: July 1, 2025 - September 30, 2025, Spanish
Resources
- Rethinking Guardianship Initiative
- Interpreter Services Information
- Inclusion Connects
- Inclusion Works
- Money Follows the Person
- Transitions to Community Living
Contact Us
Deb Goda
Director, Olmstead
Health Equity Portfolio/Office of the Secretary
NC Department of Health and Human Services
deborah.goda@dhhs.nc.gov