The Fight Continues

Local View from 4'2, Lake County Press, February 6, 2026

As I begin my fifth year of writing Local View from 4 foot 2, I really never thought I would be talking about the fight for keeping Section 504, IDEA and ugly laws.

Ugly laws are city ordinances in the late 19th century to late 20th century in US cities that prohibited people with “visible disabilities, diseases, or deformities” from being in public spaces. Violators were fined, imprisoned or involuntarily sterilized. “These people” were seen to be unsightly and made others feel guilty or uncomfortable so it was “better” to put them away no matter the cost to them or others. 

This timeframe of nearly one hundred years is a dark and horrific time in American history and these laws were on some cities' books as recently as 1974. And yet in 2026 we have some cities talking about re-enacting these laws or creating them anew. 

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that provides support for students with disabilities to get appropriate, free education and services just like their non-disabled peers. This is overseen by the U.S. Department of Education and includes things like Special Education services, interventions for birth through higher education and other services.

Section 504 is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination and lack of access to places and programming that receives federal funding. Section 504 is a part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. There are currently nine states fighting, saying that this law which keeps folks with disabilities in community, in least restrictive environments,  and out of institutions is unconstitutional and exceeds federal authority. In short, they want people like me uneducated, thrown away to not be seen again, or euthanized. These words aren’t dramatic, they are historical and trying to be current.

Each day it is hard to wake up and stay informed on all the changes and to hear over and over again how “leaders” are wanting to stop the work that so many disability advocates have fought hard for. It is exhausting to fight the fight against ignorance and silent hostility. In five years of writing and sharing life, I hope these words have changed your opinion of the life disabled folks should get to choose to live and thrive in our community. I hope that what is currently happening blatantly and secretly in our nation appalls you and leads you to action. This fight isn’t just for disability advocates like me to do, it is for ALL of US to do.