More Than a Place to Live: Why Community Living Matters Now More Than Ever
This month, we're pausing our usual myth-busting series to talk about something that directly affects the future of Supported Living. July was filled with reasons to celebrate. Communities across the country recognized Disability Pride Month and the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It was a time to reflect on progress, celebrate inclusion, and honor the contributions people with disabilities make every day. Yet beneath these celebrations, an important story has been unfolding, one that deserves our attention.
For me, this conversation is deeply personal. Thirty-one years ago, I was hired to help people with disabilities move out of institutional settings and into homes of their own. Some of the most meaningful moments of my career came from watching individuals discover what was possible when they had the freedom, support, and opportunity to live in their communities.
I remember Susan, who started every morning by making what I can only describe as "creative" breakfast shakes. The combinations weren't anything I would have chosen, but she loved them, and that was the point. They were her choices.
I remember Cindie realizing that her money was truly her money and deciding for herself how she wanted to spend it.
I remember Dorothy becoming an incredible hostess, proudly offering refreshments to every person who walked through her apartment door.
And I remember Val, whose smile seemed to grow brighter every day as she walked to and from work, proud of the life she was building for herself.
These may sound like small moments, but they represented something much bigger. They were milestones of independence, dignity, choice, and belonging. They were examples of what happens when people have the opportunity to direct their own lives.
More than 30 years later, those memories remain some of the most meaningful of my career. They also remind me that the progress we've made cannot be taken for granted.
Why This Matters Now
For more than 25 years, the Supreme Court's Olmstead decision has helped protect the right of people with disabilities to live and receive services in the community rather than being unnecessarily placed in institutional settings. It has served as a foundation for advancing community living and ensuring people have opportunities to live, work, and participate in the communities they choose.
Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice announced changes to how it will enforce the Olmstead decision. As federal oversight shifts, greater responsibility falls to states, service providers, advocates, families, and community members to ensure these protections remain strong.
While policy changes can sometimes feel distant, their impact is very real. They affect whether people have access to the supports they need to remain in their homes, stay connected to their communities, and continue making choices about their own lives.
At Community Living Connections, we believe home is more than a physical space. Home is where people build routines, create relationships, pursue goals, and express who they are. Supported Living is rooted in the belief that every person deserves the opportunity to choose where they live, who shares their space, and how they spend their days.
When protections for community living weaken, it becomes even more important for local communities to step forward and support the services that help people remain independent, connected, and in control of their own futures.
How You Can Help Right Now
Community living has always been strongest when communities come together. Here are two simple but meaningful ways you can help:
Share This Message
Many people are unaware of the policy discussions happening behind the scenes. By sharing this message with friends, family members, and community partners, you help raise awareness about the importance of protecting community living for people with disabilities.
Disability Pride is more than a celebration. It is a reminder that every person deserves the opportunity to live with dignity, make their own choices, and belong in their community.
In the coming months, we'll continue exploring what these changes could mean, why home matters, and how Supported Living remains one of the most effective ways to promote independence, connection, and quality of life.
Thank you for staying informed, standing with us, and helping ensure that people with disabilities continue to have the opportunity to live, thrive, and belong in the communities they call home.
Support Local Home-based care
Donations to Community Living Connections help fund the daily supports that make independent living possible, from personal care and medication assistance to meal preparation, transportation, and community involvement. Every contribution stays local and helps individuals continue living in the homes and communities they have chosen.
Stay tuned for more stories and reflections that highlight CLC’s values around home, belonging, and community. We welcome your thoughts and experiences—and we invite you to keep learning alongside us. Feel free to email me to share your stories of why you love your home, why owning your own front door is important to you, and what you want our community to know about your home and what it means to you.
Here’s to building inclusive communities with you,
Jen Squire, CEO
