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Michigan Must Protect Disability Rights
Michigan Must Protect Disability Rights After Texas v. Kennedy
By Jeremy Murphy, Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council chair
On behalf of the Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council (MiDDC), I express our profound concern with the decision in Texas v. Kennedy. The judge’s order removed parts of the 2024 Section 504 regulations that affirmed a fundamental principle: people with disabilities have the right to receive services and supports in the most integrated setting appropriate, not in institutions.
Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision remain firmly in place. However, stripping away these regulations removes vital guidance and enforcement tools that states have relied on. Without them, states may no longer feel compelled to support individuals in community-based settings. Some states will protect these rights, but others will not.
This ruling is a significant setback for disability rights nationwide. Clear regulations that prioritized community‑based supports were removed. As a result, countless individuals and families may see increased pressure toward institutional placement simply to access the services and supports they need. This decision reverses decades of progress toward community living and should serve as a wake up call to policymakers at every level.
In Michigan, we must not allow this rollback to diminish the rights or dignity of people with disabilities. People with disabilities have the same fundamental right to live with dignity, independence, and the choice of community living. Michigan must reaffirm and strengthen its commitment to community integration through strong policy, meaningful investment, and decisive action.
Community integration is a key principle under Title II of the ADA. It was reinforced by the Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision, which affirmed people with disabilities have the right to receive services in their community rather than in institutions.
People with disabilities belong in their communities. Community integration is a civil right. Freedom and independence are essential, not optional. We are ready to partner with state leaders, agencies, and advocates to preserve community integration for all people with disabilities and build a stronger, more inclusive Michigan.