Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a cornerstone of disability rights in the United States. More than 50 years after its passage, it remains a vital protection against discrimination, yet it is also the subject of renewed public attention and legal debate.

This three-part series explores what Section 504 is, why it matters, and what is at stake today. In the first installment, we delved into the history of Section 504 and how it reshaped rights in America. In the second installment, we examined why Section 504 continues to matter today and how its protections shape the daily lives of people with disabilities. This third and final installment in the series focuses on current debates about Section 504 and how disability rights can be protected and strengthened.

Recent Section 504 Changes

In 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) updated its regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance from HHS. The revised regulations addressed a range of issues, including nondiscrimination in healthcare and child welfare services, requirements for services to be provided in the most integrated setting appropriate to an individual’s needs, and accessibility standards for web-based information and services.

The updated rule also included discussion in its preamble regarding gender dysphoria. The preamble explained the department’s interpretation that, in some circumstances, individuals with gender dysphoria may qualify for protection under Section 504 and may be entitled to protections against disability-based discrimination. This interpretation has been the subject of public comment, debate, and legal challenges.

Section 504 Lawsuits

Seventeen states filed a lawsuit on September 26, 2024, challenging HHS’s 2024 Section 504 rule. The lawsuit argued that parts of the rule exceeded HHS’s legal authority and raised constitutional concerns. The original lawsuit focused in part on HHS’s discussion of gender dysphoria in the rule’s preamble, but the case has since shifted. As of June 2026, Texas and five other states are continuing the case, with a renewed focus on the rule’s integration mandate and, which provides that disabled people should receive services in “the most integrated setting appropriate.”

This means that disabled people should be able to receive services in their communities rather than being unnecessarily segregated in institutions. The right to receive services in the community was affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 1999 decision in Olmstead v. L.C., which held that unjustified segregation of disabled people can violate disability civil rights law. This is an important principle because it protects disabled people from unnecessary institutionalization and segregation.

The current lawsuit also seeks to block HHS’s 2024 Section 504 rule. If successful, the lawsuit could weaken protections related to discrimination in medical settings, access to accessible medical equipment such as exam tables and mammography machines, and other requirements included in the updated rule. The states involved in the lawsuit argue that serving disabled people in the most integrated settings and providing necessary accommodations could be too expensive.

Why Defending Disability Civil Rights Still Matters

Disability is a natural part of human life, and disabled people should be included in budgetary decisions, service design, and community life. Accessibility is most effective when it is built into systems from the start, rather than added later. Failing to include disability access needs can create greater costs over time because it is often more expensive to retrofit access than to design for accessibility from the beginning. It can also increase legal risk and make it harder for organizations to recruit and retain disabled employees, participants, patients, students, and community members.

If we do not defend disability civil rights, we risk going backward to a time when disabled people lacked autonomy and inclusion. Given that one in four people in the United States is disabled and that anyone can become disabled at any point in life, disability rights affect far more people than many realize. These are not niche issues. A world that is inclusive and accessible for disabled people is a world that benefits everyone, and that is the kind of world we should all strive to build.

How to Protect Disability Rights

Disability Belongs advances the rights of disabled people through policy advocacy, culture and narrative change, and support for disabled leaders. You can support disability rights by engaging with Disability Belongs and other advocacy organizations that offer public education and advocacy resources. For example, the Disability Belongs Action Center provides guidance on how to respond to current policy discussions related to Section 504.

If you live in one of the states that are part of the active lawsuit, you can reach out to your attorney general’s office and urge them to protect Section 504 and withdraw from the lawsuit. It can be helpful to share your personal stories, provide evidence-based arguments, and keep your statements concise when reaching out to decision-makers.

Disabled people are essential members of every community, and we deserve full and meaningful inclusion, stronger protections, and support. Please use your voice to let decision-makers know that you support Section 504 and want a future where disabled people have full access to programs, services, civic engagement, and social participation free from discrimination.

The post The Importance of Section 504 for the Future of Disability Rights appeared first on Disability Belongs™.

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