The Arc of Illinois Statement on the U.S. Department of Justice Rescission of Olmstead Enforcement Guidance

July 21, 2026

On July 20, the U.S. Department of Justice published a notice in the Federal Register stating that its long-standing guidance on enforcement of the integration mandate of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Olmstead v. L.C. is "not enforceable," and that the Department will no longer rely on it. That guidance, first issued in 2011, explained what counts as the most integrated setting under the ADA, who should be able to access services in the community, and how states could meet their obligations. The Department also stated it plans to revisit the guidance entirely.

This follows a legal opinion released by the Department of Justice in June, arguing that the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Supreme Court's 1999 Olmstead decision do not require states to serve people with disabilities in the community.

Here is what has not changed: the law. Olmstead is still the law of the land. The ADA is still the law of the land. People with intellectual and developmental disabilities still have the right to live, work, and belong in their communities, and no memo or notice can take that away.

Here is what has changed: the message this sends. These actions tell federal agencies and states that the Department of Justice does not intend to enforce these rights the way it has for decades. In Illinois, where thousands of people are still waiting for community services and where our state operates under the Ligas consent decree, that message matters. Enforcement is how rights become real in people's daily lives.

But the real reason I'm writing to you today is to speak to you as a parent, a neighbor, and a human, because I think that's what this moment asks of us.

This is painful. There is no other honest word for it. When the systems built to protect our loved ones become the ones arguing that our families should not be able to challenge discrimination, it lands somewhere deeper than policy. Because if our families have learned anything, it is that we dare not put limits on our children. They have spent their lives outgrowing every expectation placed on them, surprising us again and again with what is possible when a door is opened instead of closed. No notice in the Federal Register gets to decide what our children are capable of, and no notice gets to decide where they belong.

And that is exactly why I want us to remember where this movement came from.

The Arc of Illinois did not begin in Springfield or Washington D.C. It began at kitchen tables, in 1950, when parent groups from across Illinois came together to form one of the founding chapters of what would become the national Arc movement. At that time, public schools routinely turned children with disabilities away, and large state institutions like the ones in Lincoln and Dixon housed thousands of people in conditions no family should ever have been asked to accept. 

It began with parents who said no. Remember... No, is a full sentence. Parents who were told by doctors, by experts, by the accepted wisdom of the day, to place their children in institutions, some as young as six months old. Parents who were told their children didn't have a place in this world, didn't have a place in their community. And they believed otherwise. They believed past the doctors. They believed past the recommendations. They believed in their children.

We are reviewing these actions closely with our national partners and trusted organizations. We are keeping families informed about what this does and does not mean for their loved ones' services. And we are asking everyone who cares about community living to share their experiences with their members of Congress, because nothing is more powerful than hearing directly from the people these decisions affect.

Community is not a policy preference. It is where our family members live their lives. 76 years ago, a small group of parents believed their children belonged, and that belief built everything we have. We still believe it. And together, in all 102 counties, we will keep making it true.

In Solidarity,

Samantha M. Alloway
Executive Director, The Arc of Illinois 

Illinois Showed Up on the National Stage this Past Week!

Our Executive Director, Samantha Alloway, presented at the NCE Summer Leadership Institute in Palm Springs on parent leadership pathways and building the next generation of leaders in the IDD movement. Her session made the case that the future of this work depends on finding leadership in unconventional places, creating real pathways for parents and family members to step into leadership roles, and strengthening the provider and family alignment that gets us further faster.

Samantha also represented Illinois on the national panel "Making the Call: Advocacy Strategy Across State & Local Chapters," bringing our state's advocacy story to executives from across the country.

We are grateful for the strong support of The Arc of the United States, and proud that Illinois has a voice in shaping where this movement goes next.

Pictured L-R: Ben Stortz, President/CEO, Kim Hudgens, VP, COO, Kristen Schram, Team Members

 

Thank You, Cornerstone Services!

Yesterday, our Executive Director, Samantha Alloway, and Director of Operations and Development, Rebecca Schroeder, had the opportunity to tour Cornerstone Services in Joliet. Thank you to Ben Stortz and the entire Cornerstone team for the warm welcome and a wonderful conversation!

Since 1969, Cornerstone has been helping people with disabilities live and work in the community across Will, Kendall, and Kankakee counties. Their impact is remarkable: 625 job placements over the past five years, more than $8.7 million in wages earned, homes that promote independence and dignity, and behavioral health services reaching more than 620 people.

At the heart of everything they do is a simple but powerful belief: every person deserves choice, dignity, and the opportunity to live and work in the community.

The Arc of Illinois is proud to partner with Cornerstone through our assistive technology grant funded by the Will County Community Mental Health Board, bringing assistive technology and personalized support to families throughout Will County.

We're proud to work alongside providers like Cornerstone, whose commitment creates more opportunities for people with disabilities and strengthens our communities every day.

Register by July 24 to Guarantee Your Summit Shirt!

2026 Speak Up and Speak Out Summit

August 31 - September 2, 2026

Normal, IL or Hybrid

The Speak Up and Speak Out Summit brings together self-advocates, families, professionals, and supporters from across Illinois for three days of learning, advocacy, and connection. It's an opportunity to build your advocacy skills, connect with others, and help shape a more inclusive future.

Be part of the conversation. Click here for more information on the SUSO website.

Register by Friday, July 24, 2026, to guarantee your summit T-shirt in your preferred size.

Registration is available by form only.
Click here to download the registration form or use the button below.

 

Join Us for the Disability Pride Parade this Saturday!

Saturday, July 25, 2026

11:00 AM (Line-Up at 10:30 AM)

Celebrate Disability Pride with The Arc of Illinois at the 23rd Annual Disability Pride Parade!

Whether you walk, roll, or cheer from the sidelines, we'd love to celebrate with you as we recognize the strength, pride, and contributions of the disability community.

Wear your Disability Pride gear or your favorite Disability Pride colors and join us!

Want to join us? Email Becca@thearcofil.org to register and for more details.

We hope to see you there!

The Arc of Illinois Featured Event

There's Still Time to Register!

Join Us for the Next Week's Family Support Group

Tuesday, July 28, 2026
4:30 – 6:00 PM

Our Family Support Group is a welcoming space where families can connect, share experiences, ask questions, and learn from one another.

This month, we're excited to welcome Russ Soloman, Founder of Intune Parents, for a special presentation focused on supporting the supporter.

Supporting the Supporter

Parents and caregivers of loved ones with disabilities often receive plenty of advice but not enough support for themselves. During this interactive session, Russ will share simple practices that can help you feel more steady, present, and able to choose how you respond during difficult moments. It's an opportunity to step away for a bit, connect with other families, and focus on yourself for a change.

We look forward to seeing you on July 28.

B I O 

Russell Soloman

Russell Solomon is the founder of InTune Parents, where he helps parents of neurodivergent children and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities feel more steady, present, and in control in their everyday lives. His work is rooted in a simple but powerful idea: when parents feel less weighed down and more like themselves again, it changes what becomes possible for the whole family. Through InTune Parents, Russell helps caregivers experience more ease and joy and show up for the people they love in the way they most want to. Russell has presented at The Arc National Convention. He lives on Long Island, New York, with his wife, Cori, and their son, Max, who has ADHD. He has been a board-certified music therapist for more than 25 years.