Kansas’ decision to withdraw from Texas v. Kennedy was a milestone in a battle that has gotten national attention from disability advocates, lawmakers, and families. The lawsuit challenges a federal regulation that carries out Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a civil rights law prohibiting discrimination against disabled people in any program funded by the federal government. The case affects millions of Americans. It could impact their access to education, healthcare, transportation, and community services.
Initially, Kansas was one of a few states that backed the lawsuit. Disability advocates warned that its participation could threaten the protections that disabled people have enjoyed for decades in their communities and gains made on equality and independence.
The debate was unfolding when Kansas ended its participation in the federal program Money Follows the Person (MFP). MFP helps people leave institutions and live in their communities, once considered a cornerstone of independence.
While there was no direct connection between the two decisions, the timing of the decisions raised questions about where disability policy in Kansas is headed. While advocates were enthusiastic about the decision to withdraw from Texas v. Kennedy, the lawsuit continues in other states. The shrinking of the coalition and the deep division over the goals and potential implications of the case will continue to fuel the national conversation on issues of autonomy, community living, and the role of the government in providing equal opportunity.
But withdrawing from Texas v. Kennedy is only one step in a continuing legal battle. Kansas’s recent actions bring into focus how uncertain the future is for disabled people.
The impact of the lawsuit will continue to play out elsewhere. Kansas’s recent choices have brought great concern about what comes next for community living, autonomy, and equal access, both in Kansas and far beyond.
Sources:
Grabauskas, Bryan. “Disability Advocates Cheer Kansas Withdrawal from Lawsuit Challenging Federal Protections.” KCTV5, 11 June 2026, https://www.kctv5.com/2026/06/12/disability-advocates-cheer-kansas-withdrawal-lawsuit-challenging-federal-protections/
Schnelle, Rachel. “Kansans with Disabilities Got More Independence Through a Federal Program. Then the Money Dried Up.” KCUR, 5 June 2026, https://www.kcur.org/2026-06-05/kansans-with-disabilities-got-more-independence-through-a-federal-program-until-the-money-dried-up