A backward cut

Lately, I’ve been reminded of the phrase “two steps forward and one step back.”

In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law. This act prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities. This was a joyous step forward.

In 1999, the Supreme Court upheld the law’s “integration mandate.” This ruling reminds states of their obligation to administer services and programs in the most integrated and non-restrictive setting possible. People with disabilities need not remain invisible behind the locked doors of institutions. States must provide services in the community, which would be another step forward.

In 2009, Kansas cut $7 million from the budget, which supports services for people with disabilities. Individuals lost funding for crucial services while 4,000 Kansans still wait for critical community-based services.

Talk about one massive and precarious step back.

Lurena Mead

Overland Park