NICK SCHIFRIN: A recently released# Justice Department memo questions## decades of protections for Americans with# disabilities.

It's the latest effort by the## Trump administration to shift longstanding# practices for the disability community.

Ali Rogin has more on# potentially landmark changes.

ALI ROGIN: Nick, the new memo is one of# several attempts to change services and## policies dedicated to people with disabilities.## The DOJ says states aren't required to provide# home and community-based services that have long## kept disabled Americans out of institutions if# they would benefit from these other services.

And as the administration seeks to shutter# the Department of Education, it's moving key## responsibilities to agencies which disability# advocates say are less equipped to handle them.

For perspective on what these actions mean for the# disability community, I'm joined by Maria Town.## She's president and CEO of the American# Association of People With Disabilities.

Maria, you are on the move today.

Thank you# so much for taking the time to speak with us.

I first want to ask about this DOJ memo# which really provides a new interpretation## of these existing laws and# a Supreme Court decision## that reaffirmed what we have understood# to this point to be the rights afforded## to people with disabilities.

Can you just walk# us through what those existing statutes are?

MARIA TOWN, President and CEO, American# Association of People with Disabilities: So,## in the Americans With Disabilities# .. there is an integration mandate.

And the Olmstead decision is a Supreme# Court decision that turns 27 years old today## that affirmed the integration mandate# in the Americans With Disabilities Act.## The Olmstead decision stated that# people with disabilities had to be## served in the most integrated# setting whenever possible.

What this means in practice is that# states cannot forcibly institutionalize## people with disabilities, whether that be in# nursing homes, state psychiatric facilities,## or in other institutional settings.

And so this memo from the Department of Justice,# which says that Olmstead is not enforceable,## completely goes against all previous# legal precedent.

And it also goes## against the will of Congress and# the will of the Supreme Court.

ALI ROGIN: So if states no longer feel obligated# because of this DOJ legal opinion, which we should## mention is not a law, but could have far-reaching# implications anyway, if states don't feel## obligated to provide these services to people who# would benefit from them, rather than go into an## institution, what does that mean for the people# who rely on home and community-based services?

MARIA TOWN: This means that people's# ability to live in their homes and in## their communities and with their families# and friends that they love is in jeopardy.

If states decide not to follow decades of# legal precedent and existing civil rights,## it means that people with disabilities# may be forced into institutions,## instead of being provided with services that# allow them to thrive in their communities.

It may also mean that people's health# suffers.

And in the worst-case scenario,## it means people will die.

We know that people# with disabilities and older adults have better## outcomes and live longer lives when they are# served in the community and not in institutions.## So this could have extremely dire consequences for# many people and their families across the country.

ALI ROGIN: Separately, Maria, the# administration is taking steps to## move oversight with special education# from the Department of Education to HHS.

Here is what Education Secretary Linda McMahon# said recently about these changes -- quote -- "By## closely partnering with HHS, we will align# federal services to improve academic outcomes,## strengthen access to programs and information,## and support people with disabilities# so they can gain self-sufficiency,## life tools and meaningful employment that# they need to succeed in their lives."

How does your group see it?

MARIA TOWN: This move basically re-medicalizes# the educatio.. Putting special education in education# asserts that students with disabilities## have a chance at mainstream curriculum, at# developing critical thinking skills, and## in participating in the classroom, mainstream# classrooms with their non-disabled peers.

We see this as a resegregation of# students with disabilities, when,## literally for the past 50# years, the standard has been## to serve students with disabilities in the# least restrictive environment and to ensure## that students with disabilities have a# free and appropriate public education.

We are concerned that the public education# students with disabilities will receive## will no longer be appropriate because it# will no longer be a meaningful education.

ALI ROGIN: When we see the government focusing# on changes to policies and services that affect## children and adults with disabilities,## what are the stakes for the# wider disability community here?

MARIA TOWN: These changes, both the change# in education coupled with the DOJ memo,## basically put our nation back# at least 50 years, if not more.

We are worried that we will see# the progress that's been made on## disability rights and on the quality# of life of disabled people, whether## they're young or old, erode very, very quickly,# and that hard-fought progress will be lost.

ALI ROGIN: Maria Town, president and CEO of the## American Association of People With# Disabilities, thank you so much.

MARIA TOWN: Thank you.