Hello, hello! How’s everyone doing this wonderful Wednesday? Still waiting for the wheelchair. Dad’s keeping busy. Things are usual. Mostly, I’m just here with your yearly reminder that while Pride may be over, July is Disability Pride Month! It’s time to stop hating people for existing as LGBTQ+ and start hating those of us who exist as disabled. But but but… disabled people are soooooooo inspirational! We would never (overtly) hate “special needs” people! The government would never come after people who are “actually” disabled! Have I got some news for you…

The DOJ recently (June 18th, 2026) released a memorandum trying to convince people that the Olmstead Decision of 1999 doesn’t mean what it means. Basically, it’s one of the legal pillars (along with section 504 of the rehabilitation act of 1973 and title II of the ADA) that prevents discrimination against disabled people. The Olmstead Decision makes it clear that disabled people deserve to live in and be cared for within their communities whenever possible. In other words, they can’t be forcibly institutionalized simply because they are disabled. Home and Community Based Services have expanded exponentially because of this ruling. And you know what? It’s far cheaper for the government to provide in-home care for people with disabilities because they don’t pay for 24/7 care or anything extra like a building/food/drinks/etc. But institutions can be made by for-profit organizations, just like prisons. So, while they cost the state more money, the backhanders to politicians are more lucrative for the individual. But I digress.

My dad is paid to take care of me because of this ruling. So many people rely on home health services, including me. Granted, the memorandum doesn’t technically mean anything right now. It’s just an opinion piece. But it gives states the basis they need to start questioning the decision and provides grounds for trying to fight it. And the fact that Texas (where I live) is still trying to get section 504 removed, makes everything all the more terrifying because they’ll keep going until disabled people have no rights. But I have nothing to worry about. I’m overreacting. Right? Right?!

So, yeah. This kind of stuff is why Disability Pride Month exists. As long as our rights are threatened, this will continue to be a thing. And please know that the administration is currently also messing with disabled people’s access to a proper education, but I’m only vaguely aware of what’s happening there, so I’m not expanding on it in my rant. Happy Disability Pride Month!