U.S. House Bipartisan Resolution Reaffirms Community Integration Rights for Individuals with Disabilities

A newly introduced bipartisan resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives, designated as H.Res. 1586, seeks to strongly affirm the right of individuals with disabilities to live and receive services within their home communities rather than in segregated institutional settings. According to a notice from the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), the resolution underscores that, more than 27 years ago, the Supreme Court ruled in Olmstead v. L.C. that the unjustified institutional segregation of people with disabilities constitutes a form of discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act. By outlining the history of federal disability rights, H.Res. 1586 highlights Congress's longstanding intent that support services should always be delivered in the most integrated setting appropriate.   

Advocacy groups point out that this congressional action comes at a critical juncture. With the integration mandate currently facing new and unprecedented attacks, this resolution delivers a timely and vital bipartisan message that the civil rights protections established decades ago remain essential and non-negotiable. Disabled individuals belong in our communities.