Susan Walker Goico

Susan Walker Goico is the director of Atlanta Legal Aid Society’s Disability Integration Project.  Her advocacy focusses on the implementation of Olmstead v. L.C. and E.W., the landmark disability rights case brought by lawyers at Atlanta Legal Aid. Susan advocates for people confined in or at risk of institutionalization in state psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutions who seek community-based mental health, developmental disability, or physical disability supports.  Susan also facilitates the Nick Project, a collaboration with the DeKalb County Public Defender’s Office and other partners aimed at connecting inmates in the county jail with community mental health supports and housing upon release.  Susan has worked in the disability rights arena since graduating from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1998.  Aside from her years working on Olmstead implementation at Atlanta Legal Aid, Susan contracted for two years with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR), where she investigated Olmstead violation complaints and monitored an Olmstead-based voluntary compliance agreement between OCR and the State of Georgia.