Valley Association for Independent Living Inc, Press Release DOJ June 26 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dr. Lidia Fonseca , Executive Director
Organization: Valley Association for Independent Living, Inc.
City: Alamo, TX
Email: info@vailrgv.org
Valley Association for Independent Living, Inc. Joins 25 Texas Disability Organizations in Warning DOJ Opinion Could Weaken Community Living Protections
Alamo, Texas — 6/26/2026 — Valley Association for Independent Living (VAIL) has joined a statewide coalition of 25 disability-led and disability-serving organizations in expressing serious concern over a recent opinion issued by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel regarding community integration protections for people with disabilities.
The DOJ opinion does not change current law. The Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. L.C. remain in effect. However, the opinion takes the position that federal disability rights laws do not require states to provide services in the most integrated setting appropriate to a person’s needs.
Disability advocates across Texas and the nation are warning that this interpretation could weaken enforcement, invite harmful policy changes, and threaten decades of progress toward community-based living.
For decades, Olmstead, the ADA, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act have helped establish and reinforce the right of people with disabilities to live, work, receive services, and participate in the most integrated settings appropriate to their needs. These protections have been central to reducing unnecessary institutionalization and expanding access to home and community-based supports.The Texas joint statement urges policymakers, advocates, and stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to community integration and ensure that laws, funding decisions, and implementation practices continue to uphold the rights of people with disabilities to choose where and how they live.
The statement follows a national response from the National Council on Independent Living, which condemned the DOJ opinion and warned that attempts to undermine the integration mandate threaten hard-won disability civil rights protections.
VAIL based in Alamo, Texas, stands with disability advocates across Texas and the nation in affirming that people with disabilities have the right to live in their communities, receive services in integrated settings, and access the support necessary for independence, dignity, equal opportunity, and full participation in society.
About Valley Association for Independent Living
Valley Association for Independent Living (VAIL) is a consumer-controlled, non-profit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities throughout South Texas. Run by and for people with disabilities, the center provides essential services like advocacy, peer support, and independent living skills training to promote self-reliance. Its core mission is to break down barriers to accessibility and ensure that everyone has the right to live independently and participate fully in their community.