 |
Born in Atlanta, GA, Ms. Curtis spent her adolescent and adult life as a resident
in various state-run institutions. After her repeated requests to be allowed to
live in the community were denied, Ms. Curtis sued the state of Georgia.In
1999, her case came before the U.S. Supreme Court. Victorious,the landmark
decision declared, "Unnecessary institutionalization
amounts to segregation and is a violation of individual
civil rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act".
Her case became a national mandate to free tens of
thousands of people with disabilities from unnecessary
and unjust institutionalization.
Lois Curtis' uncommon self-advocacy began a chain of events that has affected
the lives of people with disabilities across the nation. Lois became a civil rights
activist and her actions became a catalyst within
the disability rights movement. Lois' actions have
had a profound affect upon the system of
supports for people with disabilities and many
individuals have been released from institutions
because of Lois and the "Olmstead Decision."
Today, Lois is a successful artist and activist. In addition to several one-woman
shows, Lois' artwork has been displayed in venues across the country and is a
part of the Kilpatrick Stockton Law Firm collection in Atlanta, GA. As an activist,
she travels across the country inspiring people to stand up for themselves and
live their dreams. Most important to this native Georgian is the recognition
she has received by, among others, GA Dept of
Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond who has
invited her to present her story and artwork at
several events and statewide conferences. Dekalb
County CEO Vernon Jones who declared May 2006
"Lois Curtis Month"; and the Director of the GA
Dept of Developmental Disabilities, Dr. Steve Hall
who gave credit to Lois for the passage of the new GA Medicaid Waivers when
he said, "Everyone of us doing good work in GA stands on the shoulders of
this great woman." Most recently, Ms. Curtis was a recipient of the 2007
Harriet Tubman Act of Courage award along with six others including the
well-known hero of theCivil Rights movement US Congressman John Lewis.
|
