On September 18, 2020, we lost a true pioneer of justice and equality with the passing of fellow New Yorker, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. RBG, as she had come to affectionately be known, was well known for fighting against sexism, fighting for gender equality, and was a strong ally for disability rights.
As a Supreme Court Justice, Ginsburg authored the majority opinion in the Olmstead v. L. C. (1999) case, affirming the right of individuals with disabilities to live in the community stating:
“Recognition that unjustified institutional isolation of persons with disabilities is a form of discrimination reflects two evident judgments. First, institutional placement of persons who can handle and benefit from community settings perpetuates unwarranted assumptions that persons so isolated are incapable or unworthy of participating in community life… Second, confinement in an institution severely diminishes the everyday life activities of individuals, including family relations, social contacts, work options, economic independence, educational advancement, and cultural enrichment.”
CIDNY along with countless others across the nation and indeed the world mourns the loss of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.