9/29/26 - Community integration, military service, and school

Hello ...

Do I have a cold now? It feels a little like it, but I'm not sure. I hope not. Anyway, here are your three disability-related links for this Tuesday ...

ANCOR Condemns Administration for Efforts to Erode Community Inclusion Following Final Order in Texas v. Kennedy

Sean Luechtefeld, ANCOR - September 24, 2026

"'The fundamental problem here runs far deeper than Texas v. Kennedy.' said Barbara Merrill, ANCOR’s chief executive officer. 'The administration’s continued reliance on its wholly unfounded interpretation of federal law is a dereliction of its duty to uphold the rights of all Americans. This is particularly dangerous at a time when states may look to home- and community-based services to find the cost savings needed to overcome budgetary shortfalls triggered by $1 trillion in cuts to federal Medicaid spending included in last year’s budget reconciliation law.'"

I'm sharing this additional piece about the recent Texas v. Kennedy ruling because I think it does a slightly better job of explaining why it matters. Better explanations are always worth noting, even when the topic starts to feel repetitive.

The military’s stance on disabled Americans no longer makes sense

Kristin Duquette, The Washington Post - September 7, 2026

"History has shown that, when given the opportunity, disabled Americans contribute to military success and answer the call to service. Barring talent from service ultimately weakens the military, especially as conflict becomes increasingly dependent on remote and digital technologies. The armed services must create pathways for recruiting and harnessing the talents of disabled people who want to serve. After all, countries such as Ukraine are deploying the same strategies right now."

Several of the examples Duquette cites here make me uncomfortable, because a lot of things about war and military service make me uncomfortable, But the fundamental argument makes complete sense to me. Having a disability shouldn't always prevent one from serving in the military. Lots of disabled people could contribute without compromising any of the military's missions. And disabled people who want to serve should have a chance to prove that they can. The subject also reminds me of the time when I was a third-year high school student, having taken a standardized test for college admissions. Based on my scores, we got a call at my house from a Navy recruiter asking if I would be interested in serving on nuclear submarines. My father enjoyed asking them if they would take a young man like me with significant physical disabilities, and then pressing them on why they wouldn't, if what had impressed them was my academic aptitude. We laughed about it – partly because I would never think of seeing in the Navy regardless of my physical condition. But the question remains, was it right for me to be totally barred from service if I had wanted it?

I had an amazing experience as a disabled person at school in the 70s. Since then, discrimination has got far worse

Mik Scarlet, The Guardian - September 7, 2026

"Through the course of my childhood ideas around disability had changed from 'if they can, let them try' to 'what can we do to help them succeed?' and even 'what do they want us to do?' ... In the late 90s and early 00s, I found attitudes became twisted towards an angrier, almost jealous view of disabled people. My Motability vehicle was vandalised repeatedly, because local people were upset about my 'free car'. This morphed into 'free car, free house and loads of benefits' as Tony Blair’s government, from 1998 onwards, implemented cuts to the benefits bill that scapegoated disabled people. I was attacked twice, my car was vandalised every week and my wife was beaten to a pulp by three people wearing masks. When they threatened to burn our flat down, we packed up and left our fully adapted home to rent somewhere that was safe from violence but totally unsuitable. The police? Useless."

The most familiar narrative of disability history is progress, from broad, often vicious discrimination and neglect to disability rights, accessibility, support, and respect. When we do talk about more recent negative trends we tend to describe them as current events, as unresolved advocacy and awareness issues, or part of a whole bundle of scary and fast-moving trends towards darker politics. But this is the first article I've seen by a disabled commentator who describes disability history as a parabola rather than a steady path upwards. I think Mik may be right. The increase in discrimination and hostility to disabled people isn't just a momentary, immediate problem. It's a major trend downward and backwards in disability history. We officially have gained a lot, and then lost a lot. That's our story, and we'd better get used to telling it that way.

Disability Thinking Weekday is a Monday-Friday newsletter with links and commentary on disability-related articles and other content. You can help promote Disability Thinking Weekday by forwarding it by email or posting on your social media. You can also comment by sending me an email at: apulrang@icloud.com. Collected comments are shared on the first of each month. A free subscription sends a newsletter to your email each weekday. Benefits of paid subscription include:

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