Why Community Inclusion Matters More Than Ever

A recent memo from the U.S. Department of Justice has sparked new debate about disability rights and what community inclusion means in America.

On June 18, 2026, the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel released a memorandum that questions the legal basis for what is known as the "integration mandate." The memo argues that neither the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) nor Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requires states to provide services in the most integrated setting possible.

The memo does not change the ADA, and it does not overturn the Supreme Court's 1999 decision in Olmstead v. L.C. But it has raised concerns among disability advocates, service providers, and families. Many worry about what it could mean for the future of community-based supports and opportunities.
At its heart, this discussion is about something bigger than laws and court decisions. It is about whether people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to live, work, and take part in their communities.

Why Community Inclusion Matters
The ADA became law in 1990. Nine years later, the Supreme Court ruled in Olmstead v. L.C. that unnecessary segregation of people with disabilities can be a form of discrimination. Together, these milestones helped move the country toward greater independence and more opportunities for people with disabilities to live, learn, and work in their communities.

Community inclusion does not mean that everyone should receive services in the same way. People have different needs, goals, and preferences.
But everyone should have the chance to make choices about their own lives.

Everyone should have the opportunity to build relationships, participate in community life, and pursue meaningful work.

Inclusion is about dignity. It is about belonging. And it is about making sure people have opportunities instead of barriers.

Massachusetts Continues to Lead
As these conversations continue at the national level, Massachusetts is continuing to move forward.

Earlier this year, Governor Maura Healey signed legislation that updates state law and removes outdated and offensive language used to describe people with disabilities. The new law reflects a simple but important idea: words matter.

Language shapes attitudes. It affects expectations. It helps define whether people are seen for their limitations or for their abilities. 

Massachusetts has long been a leader in promoting employment, independence, and community-based supports. By modernizing state law, the Commonwealth has shown that respect and dignity are not just ideals.

They are values that should be reflected in the words we use and the opportunities we create.

How neba Puts Inclusion into Action
At neba, we see every day what community inclusion looks like. For more than 40 years, we have worked alongside people with disabilities and others facing barriers to employment. Through employment services, transition programs, benefit counseling, assistive technology, and individualized supports, we help people build pathways toward meaningful work and greater independence.

Our mission is based on a simple belief: everyone deserves the opportunity to work, contribute, and thrive.

Employment is about more than earning a paycheck. A job can build confidence, create friendships, and strengthen connections to the community. It gives people the chance to use their talents and pursue their goals.

Community inclusion is not just a policy discussion. It is a young person getting their first job. It is an employer discovering the value of a diverse workforce. It is someone gaining confidence and becoming more independent.

These are the outcomes we work toward every day.

Looking Ahead

July is Disability Pride Month, and July 26 marks the 36th anniversary of the signing of the ADA.

As we approach those milestones, it is worth remembering that progress is not measured only by laws and court decisions. Progress is measured by whether people have opportunities to live the lives they choose and to be active members of their communities.

Conversations about disability rights will continue. Policies may change. But the values behind those rights remain the same.

​People with disabilities deserve dignity. They deserve respect. And they deserve the opportunity to live, work, and thrive in their communities.

At neba, those beliefs have guided our work for more than four decades, and they continue to guide us today.

​Because stronger communities are built when everyone has the opportunity to belong, contribute, and thrive.