This year marks 27 years since the Supreme Court affirmed something that should have been self-evident: people with disabilities have the right to live, learn, work, and participate in their communities rather than be unnecessarily separated from them.
The ruling was called Olmstead v. L.C. For countless families in the Quad Cities, it has shaped what life looks like for more than a generation. It helped establish disability services that support people where they live: in their homes, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and communities. It’s also been crucial to our work at Hand in Hand.
In June, the Department of Justice issued updated guidance that raises questions about how these protections may be interpreted and enforced moving forward. Legal experts, advocates, and disability organizations across the country are closely watching what comes next.
We are, too.
For more than 25 years, Hand in Hand has watched what happens when the right support shows up in the right place. Kids who learn alongside their neighbors in inclusive classrooms grow up knowing they belong here. Teenagers discover what they’re good at, build real friendships, and carry that confidence into adulthood. Adults move into their own homes, pursue work that matters to them, and contribute to the Quad Cities.
Last week, a group of our adults volunteered at the John Deere Classic. They were there as contributors, welcoming people and being part of something bigger than themselves.
Our inclusive childcare and preschool programs exist because belonging starts early. People with Purpose and Teens with Purpose create opportunities for meaningful engagement, friendships, and growth. Our Evening and Weekend Enrichment programs and Summer Program recognize that life does not stop at 5 p.m. Our employment resources help individuals pursue independence, purpose, and meaningful work.
This happens in large part because our community shows up. Every year, local donors help bridge the gap between what services cost and what funding covers — nearly $1 million annually. They do it because they believe all lives are richer when we live, learn, and love alongside people of all abilities.
That belief is deeply rooted in the Quad Cities.
And let’s be clear: this is not a partisan issue. For decades, leaders, policymakers, advocates, providers, and families across the political spectrum have recognized that communities are stronger when people with disabilities are included.
That could now be in jeopardy.
Community-based services are what make independent living, employment, and participation possible. Weakening that foundation would impact families, employers, and our workforce.
We are speaking up because the people we support are affected by decisions made far beyond our walls. We are here because our mission has always been about advocating for a community where people of all abilities can learn, belong, and thrive.
Hand in Hand will keep doing this work. We will keep supporting children, teens, and adults. We will keep helping families navigate systems that are often complicated and difficult, and advocating for a future where inclusion is the default.
But we need you. We need your support in the community. We need your voice to let representatives know how much this matters. And, if it’s within your means, we need your contributions to empower our services.
Because after more than 25 years, we know something that no policy memo can change: inclusion is for everyone. And this community is stronger when everyone has the opportunity to belong.
Angie Kendall is the CEO of Hand in Hand.
