What the Texas v. Kennedy Ruling Means for Missourians with Disabilities

A new federal court ruling has removed rules designed to help people with disabilities get the services and support they need to live at home and in their communities instead of being unnecessarily placed in institutions.

The ruling affects people with disabilities in Missouri and across the country. But it does not mean that Missourians with disabilities are suddenly losing their services or their right to live in the community.

On September 23, a federal court removed newer rules that spelled out how health care and human service programs receiving federal funding should protect the right of people with disabilities to receive services in their communities. Those rules were part of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a federal civil rights law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination.

This ruling removed the newer rules nationwide. Even though Missouri withdrew from the lawsuit earlier this year, this decision still impacts people with disabilities living in Missouri.

For many people with disabilities, living independently depends on having services and support available in the community. This can mean help getting dressed and preparing meals, support managing medications, help finding accessible housing, or other services that allow someone to live in their own home rather than a nursing facility or other institution. Living independently also means being able to access the places and services that are part of everyday life, including health care, transportation, housing, education, and government services.

The rules removed by the court were intended to make the responsibilities of federally funded health care and human service programs clearer when it comes to helping people with disabilities receive services in the community.

“Independent living is about having the same choices as everyone else — where you live, who you live with, and how you spend your day,” said Dave Haessig, Paraquad’s Independent Living Manager. “People with disabilities should not have to live in an institution simply because the services and supports they need are not available in their community. That's why protections like these matter.”

The protections under Section 504 are the result of decades of advocacy by people with disabilities. “Section 504 changed what was possible for people with disabilities,” said Colleen Kelly Starkloff, longtime disability rights advocate, co-founder of Paraquad, and member of Paraquad’s Legacy Council. “For decades, it has helped open doors to health care, education, transportation, housing, and community life. Accessibility and protection from discrimination are essential to independence. We cannot go backward.”

People with disabilities in Missouri still have the right to live and receive services in their communities. The ruling does not repeal Section 504. It does not repeal the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). And it does not overturn the U.S. Supreme Court's Olmstead decision, which established that unnecessarily separating people with disabilities from their communities can be discrimination.

If you currently receive services that help you live independently, this ruling does not mean those services automatically stop. You do not need to reapply for services or take any immediate action simply because of this court decision.

What has changed is that some of the newer federal rules designed to strengthen and clarify protections for community living are no longer in place.

“I want the same things everyone wants — to decide where I live, how I spend my time, and what my life looks like,” said Andrew Lackey, Chair of Paraquad’s Board of Directors. “As a person with a disability, having the right services and supports in the community helps make those choices possible. Needing support should never mean giving up control over your own life.”

“People with disabilities have fought for decades for something most people take for granted: the ability to decide where and how they live,” said Latosha R. Fowlkes, LCSW, President and CEO of Paraquad. “This ruling removes some important tools that helped protect that choice, but it does not erase the rights of people with disabilities. Paraquad will continue fighting for those rights here in Missouri.”

Texas v. Kennedy began in 2024 with 17 states, including Missouri, challenging updated federal protections for people with disabilities. Paraquad worked alongside people with disabilities and advocacy organizations for more than a year to urge Missouri to leave the lawsuit. Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway withdrew the state from the case in July 2026.

Missouri's withdrawal was important, but the court's final order applies nationwide. That means the ruling still affects Missourians.

“We cannot stop speaking up,” Fowlkes said. “Missourians with disabilities made their voices heard, and our state left this lawsuit. Now, we must continue working together to ensure people with disabilities understand their rights and have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. Paraquad will continue working with disability advocates across the country to center the voices of people with lived experience and protect the right to live independently.”

If you currently receive services that help you live independently, this ruling does not mean those services automatically stop. Continue using the services and supports you currently receive.

There is, however, an opportunity to make your voice heard. A bipartisan group of members of Congress has introduced House Resolution 1586, which reaffirms the right of people with disabilities to live and receive services in their communities. Paraquad encourages Missourians to learn more about the resolution and contact their members of Congress to share their views on community living and disability rights.

People with disabilities, families, caregivers, and allies can also share their experiences with Paraquad, particularly if they encounter new barriers to receiving the services and supports they need to live independently.

Paraquad will continue monitoring what this ruling means for people with disabilities in Missouri and will share information and advocacy opportunities as they develop.