Last Wednesday, several hundred people gathered at the Missouri State Capitol for Disability Rights Legislative Day, and the energy was unforgettable. At one point, hundreds of voices joined together, chanting, “We are not optional,” a powerful reminder that Home and Community-Based Services, the supports people with disabilities rely on to live in the community, pursue independence, and thrive, are technically considered optional under Medicaid. States can choose not to provide them. For the people who depend on these services, however, they are essential. Without them, daily life, independence, and participation in the world would not be possible.
Disability Rights Legislative Day is more than a gathering. It is a reminder of decades of advocacy that shaped the rights of people with disabilities. From early fights for accessibility and inclusion to the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, these victories came from persistent voices demanding recognition, opportunity, and dignity. Thise work is far from over. Seeing hundreds of advocates, including our clients and Direct Support Professionals, standing together at the Capitol reminded me that each voice matters. Today’s advocacy continues that history and carries it forward.
For those of us at Emmaus, the day was deeply personal. I saw our clients advocating for themselves and our Direct Support Professionals beside them, supporting, predicting needs, and creating opportunities for inclusion. I saw acts of advocacy in both large and small ways. Some DSPs brought straws so clients could drink from a can of soda, something I had not considered as an able-bodied person, yet it made the experience fully accessible. Others brought blenders to prepare food or sensory objects to help clients engage. Many helped navigate spaces that were not designed with accessibility in mind, including rooms accessible only by steps and the challenge of safely boarding and exiting buses.
These were not simply acts of support. They were acts of advocacy. Every thoughtful adjustment and every moment of foresight allowed our clients to show up fully, be seen, and exercise their rights. Direct Support Professionals do not only support daily routines, they make self-advocacy possible and inclusion tangible. The thoughtfulness, creativity, and care they bring to their work leave me in awe. We are profoundly grateful not only for what they do for our clients, but for the example they set, standing alongside someone in pursuit of justice and dignity.
Reflecting on the day also reminded me that the fight for disability rights does not exist in isolation. True liberation, the freedom to live fully, safely, and with dignity, cannot exist for some while others are still excluded or oppressed. Disability advocacy is intertwined with movements for racial justice, gender equity, economic equity, and the dismantling of systems that limit opportunity and access. Our Direct Support Professionals, who carry immense responsibility for client support and self-advocacy, often for the lowest pay, are central to making independence and inclusion possible. It means strengthening the systems that sustain them. Advocacy for disability rights is a world where every person’s freedom and dignity are protected, and no one is left behind.
Standing in the Capitol among hundreds of advocates and witnessing the support and thoughtfulness of our Direct Support Professionals brought the importance of this work into sharp focus. Change is not abstract. It is built into daily acts of support, advocacy, and solidarity. Every barrier navigated and every opportunity created for self-advocacy contribute to the larger fight for inclusion and human dignity. Disability rights are not only about policy. They are lived experiences made possible by people who refuse to accept barriers as permanent.
Thank you to our Direct Support Professionals, our clients, and every advocate who raised their voices last week. Your work matters. Your presence matters. Your commitment makes inclusion, independence, and liberation possible every day.