Atlanta Journal Constitution
Wednesday, July 12, 2000
Landmark win for mentally disabled

by Bill Osinski

Finally, E.W. and L.C. are home.

At a hearing Tuesday before a federal judge in Atlanta, Elaine Wilson and Lois Curtis --- long identified by their initials in their struggle to stay out of state mental hospitals --- celebrated the end of their legal battle.

Their case has had a significant impact on how care is provided to mentally disabled people nationwide.

Wilson and Curtis confidently stepped up to tell U.S. District Senior Judge Marvin Shoob what their landmark victory means to them.

"Now that I'm in the free world, I love my freedom," said Wilson, 48, institutionalized at least 36 times. "When I was in the hospital, I felt like I was in a little box, and I couldn't get out."

Curtis, 32, said she can now exercise the right to do little things she was never allowed before, like go to her room and listen to her radio.

Three years ago, Shoob ruled that arbitrarily denying them a community-based life amounted to segregation of persons covered by the Americans With Disabilities Act. Last year, the Supreme Court upheld that ruling. On Tuesday, Shoob accepted a settlement that guarantees Wilson and Curtis will be provided community-based housing and training programs for the rest of their lives.