eSpecially Ben

Disability Night Out is Saturday, October 10, 2026 It's a community night out, a collective action, and a real-world access check, all at once. People with disabilities, their families, and allies dine out together nationwide. Aim to be at the table between 6 and 9 p.m., your local time. Pick a restaurant, show up and tell us what happened.  Send us the details at here.  Learn more and get the details: Disability Night Out. 🠞Where are you headed for Disability Night Out?

If you’ve been following the news, you may have heard about a recent court case in Texas that threatens a law that protects people like Ben from entering institutional facilities such as nursing homes instead of living at home or in a group home. Community integration and community-based services have been at the core of Ben's life – these program are the reason why he thrives now as a 23-year-old man. A  threat to these services is a threat to so many individuals with disabilities. SUMMARY Texas v. Kennedy changes how disability care rules are handled.  What the rules were: In 2024, the federal government made rules requiring states to help people with disabilities live in their own homes and local communities instead of forcing them into nursing homes or institutions. What the court decided:  Alaska, Florida and Texas sued to get rid of these rules. Many more states were involved in the beginning but withdrew due to advocacy pressure . The federal government agreed to...