The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) says people with disabilities should have the same rights as everyone else. They should be able to live, work, learn, and be part of their communities instead of being placed in institutions. The Olmstead court decision says people should get services in regular community settings whenever possible. Minnesota’s Olmstead Plan is supposed to make sure this happens.

The newest draft of the Olmstead Plan, released in April 2026, does not do a good job. The goals in many areas—like crisis services, education, jobs, housing, safety, transportation, and moving people out of institutions—are too small. Many goals aim to improve things by only 1–2% over five years. That means only a very small number of people will see any change. This does not match the serious problems Minnesotans with disabilities face.

Employment is a major issue, but the plan only aims to help 335 more people get jobs over five years. 85 of those would be people on Medicaid waivers receiving Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) and State Services for the Blind (SSB). 

Some goals don’t aim to make things better at all. For example, the number of housing units won’t meet the high need. One program may only help seven more households in four years.  For abuse, neglect, and restrictive procedures, the goals focus on reducing the number of reports—not the amount of actual harm people experience.

Many goals are unclear. For crisis services, it’s not clear whether the targets apply to a few dozen people or a few hundred. Transportation goals allow services to stay the same or get worse. In Greater Minnesota, agencies don’t have to improve their performance at all.  Some goals measure steps or paperwork instead of real results for people. For example, training staff or following laws—without showing how people’s lives will actually improve. 

A major purpose of Olmstead is to help people move from institutions into the community. But many transition goals are too small. They help only a tiny number of people, even though thousands still live in institutions. Some goals don’t include certain types of settings.

Overall, the plan’s goals are too small, unclear, and not focused on real change. They do not reflect the promise of the ADA or the Olmstead decision.

Related story this month: Federal Olmstead retreat shifts pressure across the disability support system