The value of community living for people with disabilities
Summary
This episode examines the Trump administration’s efforts to challenge the integration mandate, which guarantees community-based care for Americans with disabilities. Host Juana Summers profiles siblings Cody and Kaylee Brendel, highlighting how community programs like Next Steps support Cody’s independence. The story contrasts these benefits against legal threats and Medicaid cuts that risk returning disabled individuals to institutional segregation.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Disability rights and the Olmstead decision
Sponsors: Strawberry.me and Made In Cookware
Meet Cody and Kaylee Brendel: Blind siblings
The integration mandate and current legal threats
Kaylee's fears about enforcement and institutionalization
Cody's progress at the Next Steps community program
Job training and life skills at Jersey Mike's
Friendships, Medicaid cuts, and Kaylee's advocacy
Conclusion: Cody on the boat and episode credits
Sponsors: Thumbtack and NPR Politics Podcast promo
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