News Release

Public Hearings on Interim Olmstead Plan

November 13, 2001

Four public hearings are being held around the state to get the public's input on the finalization of the Interim Olmstead Plan. The NC Department of Health and Human Services is working to ensure compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court's Olmstead decision. In that case, the court decided that inappropriate institutionalization of a person with a mental disability may be discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. An Interim Plan for North Carolina's compliance with Olmstead has been developed and is available for comment.

For more details see http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/docs/olmstead.htm
A copy of the Interim Olmstead Plan is available at
http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/docs/draftolmsteadplan-toc.htm

Tuesday December 4, 2001
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
McKimmon Center at NC State University
Gorman Street, Raleigh, NC

Directions:
From I-40 traveling east from airport. Take Gorman Street exit #295. Turn left onto Gorman Street. Go approximately 1 mile. McKimmon Center is on the right past Avent Ferry Road and before Western Boulevard.

From I-40 traveling west. Take Gorman Street exit #295. Turn right onto Gorman Street. Go approximately 1 mile. McKimmon Center is on the right past Avent Ferry Road and before Western Boulevard.

Thursday, December 13, 2001
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center, room 267
600 East 4th Street, Charlotte, NC

Directions:
From Raleigh: Take I-85 South to exit 36. Turn left onto the Brookshire Freeway Southbound (toward Uptown). Turn off at the Fourth Street exit. Make a left at the light onto Fourth Street. The Government Center is two blocks up on the left. Parking: turn left onto Davidson Street (just past the building) and the deck will be immediately on your right.

Tuesday, December 18, 2001
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Mendenhall on ECU campus, Greenville, NC

Directions: As soon as directions are received, they will be posted at:
http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/docs/olmstead.htm

Tuesday, January 8, 2002
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC); Lecture Hall room
501 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC

Directions:
From I-40 Eastbound: Exit #50. Left on Hwy 25 (Biltmore Avenue). Continue straight ahead. At 7th traffic light, turn left into the ER entrance of Memorial Mission Hospital. First drive on right.

From I-40 Westbound: Exit #50-B onto Hwy 25 (Biltmore Avenue). Continue straight ahead. At 7th traffic light, turn left into the ER entrance of Memorial Mission Hospital. First drive on right.