NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO: They grew up with disability rights. Now, they're fighting to keep them
A brother and sister who grew up with visual impairments navigating life under federal accessibility protections are facing an uncertain future as legal and policy challenges threaten the enforcement of the integration mandate. This long-standing civil rights policy requires states to provide community-based support services for disabled individuals rather than placing them in institutional settings. Community-integrated programs allow individuals to gain independence through social activities, life-skills practice, and job training—such as food preparation—at a fraction of the cost of institutional care. However, recent legal challenges, shifting Department of Justice enforcement policies, and federal funding cuts to Medicaid are threatening the availability of these programs, raising fears among disability rights advocates and families about a potential return to institutionalization and segregated care.
