Honor the ADA by Protecting Community-Based Services

posted by Maghan Bowman on Wednesday, July 22, 2026

On July 26, we celebrate the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights law that helped open doors to greater inclusion, independence, and opportunity for people with disabilities. The ADA was signed into law on July 26, 1990, affirming that people with disabilities have the right to participate fully in community life.

Thirty-six years later, that promise is still worth protecting.

At EPI, we witness every day what community-based services make possible. These supports help people build independence, prepare meals, stay connected to friends and family, find and keep meaningful employment, and live fulfilling lives in their communities. They also provide critical support to family caregivers when they need it most.

As we honor the ADA this month, we must also recognize that access to these services cannot be taken for granted. Ongoing discussions around Medicaid funding could impact the supports that many people with disabilities rely on to live, work, and grow in their communities.

Advocacy organizations, including the American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), are encouraging disability advocates across the country to push Congress to protect Medicaid and the community-based care people with disabilities depend on every day.

This ADA anniversary is more than a time to celebrate progress. It's a reminder that community living, choice, and independence are only possible when people have access to the services and supports they need.

How You Can Help

• Take Action: Join ANCOR's advocacy campaign and tell your members of Congress to defend Medicaid funding and the community-based services that people with disabilities and their families count on every day. Click here to complete a scripted, easy-to-use action tool.
• Share Our Mission: Help spread awareness about the value of community-based supports by sharing EPI's stories and advocacy efforts.
• Support EPI: Your gift helps ensure people have opportunities to build independence, develop skills, and remain connected to the communities they call home. Click here to make a gift today in honor of the ADA.

Together, we can honor the ADA not only by celebrating its legacy, but by protecting the services that help make its promise a reality.