The Defend Community Integration Coalition is a coalition of national, state, and local organizations, allies, and individual advocates working together to protect the right of disabled people to live in our own homes and communities. Today, disabled people are part of community life. That was not always true. For decades, we were placed in institutions and cut out of family and community life. It changed because disabled people and our allies fought for it, winning laws like the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act that establish our right to be included in our communities. Community integration means having the supports to fully participate at home, at work, and in the activities we enjoy, alongside our family, friends, and peers. It means no one is segregated or forced into an institution to get their needs met.
That right is under direct attack. On August 31, 2026, the Department of Justice, on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services, joined Alaska, Florida, Louisiana, Montana, and Texas in filing a proposed resolution of Texas v. Kennedy that asks the court to vacate the community integration provisions of the Section 504 regulations. The Coalition came together for exactly this moment, and we can fight for the future of community living together. The statement below is the Coalition’s response:
The Defend Community Integration Coalition strongly condemns the recent proposed joint resolution filed August 31 in the ongoing case Texas v. Kennedy. The proposed resolution aims to strike down the 2024 community integration regulations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This action flies in the face of decades of judicial precedent and Congressional intent to ensure that community integration remains a civil right for all people with disabilities.
As national disability rights leaders and allies, we have worked hard for decades to advance community integration as a foundational civil right for people with disabilities. We condemn any attacks aimed at undoing this work led by and for people with disabilities.
For people with disabilities, there is no right more foundational than the right to make our own choices. Far too often, we find ourselves in the position where others decide our lives for us. It takes a lot to ensure that the choices we have are real choices. It has taken years to build the supports we need to go to school, work, eat, stay housed, and raise our children.
As humans, we deserve the security of knowing that we have what we need to live our lives.
Life is not just about getting three square meals a day and getting our meds on time. It is about growing, working, loving, dreaming, failing and reaching our potential. It is about deciding when to get up, when to go out, what to eat, and with whom to live. It is hard to do these things when we are forced to stay in congregate settings where we have no say over most aspects of our lives.
Disabled people are survivors. We are spouses, parents, siblings, classmates, colleagues, and neighbors. Most of all, we are Americans determined to fight back against ideas and actions that take away our dignity and roll back years of hard-fought progress and rights.
As a coalition we will continue to work together and fight for the full realization of the community integration mandate. Community integration of people with disabilities is non-negotiable.
This is a monumental fight. In a moment like this we need to join forces and work collectively. We are stronger together.
To join the Defend Community Integration Coalition, sign up here. Below are additional resources and calls to action:
- We also encourage our community members and allies to check out the webinar “Understanding and Protecting Your Disability Rights Under Olmstead, the ADA, and Section 504” and review the action steps linked here.
- For more information on the recent “Texas v. Kennedy” filing see the additional resource here
- Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund’s Resource Page on Texas v. Kennedy
- Red Line for Civil Rights also provides an excellent summary at this link
Defend Community Integration Coalition’s membership is comprised of Access Living, American Association of People with Disabilities, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Caring Across Generations, Center for Public Representation, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, National Council on Independent Living, National Disability Rights Network, and United Spinal Association. Organizations that wish to join this coalition can sign up at ncil.org/community.
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