Action Alert #1 New Resolution Focuses on Community Living for People with Disabilities

A new bipartisan resolution has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

H.Res. 1586 focuses on the right of people with disabilities to live and receive services in their homes and communities.

What’s Happening?

H.Res. 1586 reaffirms the importance of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Olmstead v. L.C. decision.

The Olmstead decision says that unnecessarily separating people with disabilities from their communities can be discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The resolution says people with disabilities should have opportunities to:

• Live and take part in their communities;
• Receive services and supports at home and in the community;
• Work in jobs alongside people without disabilities;
• Access education and build skills; and
• Be as independent as possible.

As of October 2, 2026, H.Res. 1586 has seven cosponsors. None of Louisiana’s U.S. Representatives are currently listed as cosponsors.

Why Does This Matter?

People with disabilities should have the opportunity to live, work and receive services in their communities.

For more than 25 years, the Olmstead decision has helped protect the right of people with disabilities to live and receive services in their communities.

H.Res. 1586 highlights the importance of these protections and of helping people with disabilities live in the community instead of being unnecessarily placed in institutions.

This issue is especially important now because recent federal actions and court cases have raised questions about protections related to community living.

How to Take Action

You can contact your members of Congress and share your thoughts about H.Res. 1586 and community living for people with disabilities.

Your personal experiences can help elected officials understand how these issues affect people with disabilities and their families.

Need Help Contacting Congress?

The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) created an online tool to help people contact their members of Congress.

The tool will:

• Ask for your contact information;
• Find your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators; and
• Provide a message for you to review.

You can change the message before you send it.

You can use your own words, share your personal experiences and explain why community living is important to you or your family.

Contact Your Members of Congress Here: https://nacdd.quorum.us/campaign/qmw12d2h

What Can You Share?

With Your U.S. Representative

H.Res. 1586 is being considered in the U.S. House of Representatives.

You may want to:

• Share how you feel about H.Res. 1586;
• Explain why living and receiving services in the community matters to you;
• Share a personal experience with home- and community-based services;
• Explain how these issues affect you or your family; and
• Ask where your Representative stands on H.Res. 1586.

With Louisiana’s U.S. Senators

H.Res. 1586 is a House resolution, but you can also contact Louisiana’s U.S. Senators about community living for people with disabilities.

You may want to:

• Share your personal story;
• Explain why receiving services in the community matters to you;
• Talk about barriers you or your family have faced; and
• Ask what they are doing about community living for people with disabilities.

Contact your LaCAN Leader if you need help with this alert or would like more information.

Learn More

Read the resolution and follow its progress on Congress.gov.

H.Res. 1586

Confirm Your Action

• Email your LaCAN Leader after you take action
• Why confirm your action? This helps the Council know how effective we are reaching you with important information and engaging members across our state in advocacy for systems change.

Tips & Tools for Advocacy

Looking for tips and tools to help you in your advocacy? Check out the Council’s Advocacy 101 page. You can also find tips for:

• Writing/emailing your legislators
• Calling your legislators
• Writing your story