(Photo courtesy of Robin Rayne/ZUMA)
As we approach the end of Black History Month, we celebrate the enormous contribution of Black Americans in advancing rights and improving the lives of individuals with disabilities across the country. One such hero was Lois Curtis.
Lois Curtis was born with cognitive and developmental disabilities in 1967 in Atlanta, Georgia. She spent much of her early life in hospitals and institutions, but believed she could live in the community with the right support. She challenged the system, and her fight went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
At 27 years old, Curtis was the lead plaintiff in Olmstead v. L.C., a lawsuit against the State of Georgia. The case argued that unnecessarily forcing people with disabilities to live in institutions violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). On June 22, 1999, the court decided in her favor and declared that people with disabilities have the right to live in the least restrictive setting possible—a major victory for disability rights.
After she gained her independence, Lois Curtis turned to art to express herself and used her talents and personal story to inspire others. Her artwork has been featured in several galleries in Georgia, and in 2011, she visited the White House and gifted one of her paintings to President Barack Obama.
Lois Curtis died on November 3, 2022, at age 55, due to pancreatic cancer. Her advocacy helped shape laws that continue to protect and support people today to live the lives they choose.
