Self Advocate Coalition of Kansas

03/04/2026

The Supported Decision-Making Agreements Act (HB 2609) recently passed the Kansas House of Representatives 122-0 and is now headed to the Senate.

This bill creates a clear legal option for adults with disabilities to get decision-making support without losing their rights, offering a less restrictive alternative to guardianship.

More than half of the states in the U.S. already have supported decision-making agreement laws. Kansas families deserve the same person-centered option.

📢Tell your State Senator to support HB 2609. It takes less than a minute to enter your info and send a message to YOUR Senator: https://www.votervoice.net/DRCKa.../Campaigns/134913/Respond

Speak up for self-determination!

The Supported Decision-Making Agreements Act (HB 2609) recently passed the Kansas House of Representatives 122-0 and is now headed to the Senate.

This bill creates a clear legal option for adults with disabilities to get decision-making support without losing their rights, offering a less restrictive alternative to guardianship.

More than half of the states in the U.S. already have supported decision-making agreement laws. Kansas families deserve the same person-centered option.

📢Tell your State Senator to support HB 2609. It takes less than a minute to enter your info and send a message to YOUR Senator: https://www.votervoice.net/DRCKansas/Campaigns/134913/Respond

03/02/2026

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month!

This month and *every month* SACK works to make sure that the voices of people with developmental disabilities in Kansas are heard and the values of self-determination, independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion are acessible to all.



[Image description: Brady Bunch style boxes with SACK staff around a square containing the SACK logo + text: CELEBRATES DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH]

02/27/2026

Can you believe that March is already almost here?

This is your friendly reminder that our monthly statewide check-in call is on Wednesday at 1:30pm!

Log on: https://bit.ly/SACKmarch26

[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Graphic banner with red, yellow and blue butterflies behind a white box with the SACK logo + text that says REMINDER
SACK Statewide Check-In Call
March 4, 2026 1:30PM via Zoom]

02/26/2026

In our final post, we'd liek you to know about Lois Curtis.

Lois Curtis was a disability rights activities who had schizophrenia and developmental disabilities. She is best known for her influence on the Olmstead decision.

Lois was a plaintiff in the Olmstead case in 1999 where the Supreme Court found that the unjustified segregation of people with disabilities is a form of unlawful discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

[Source: https://19thnews.org/2022/12/lois-curtis-advocate-legacy-disability-community/]



[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Black graphic with text on the top CELEBRATING (white) BLACK (red) HISTORY (gold) MONTH (Green) + bottom left, a photo of Lois Curtis + bottom right is the SACK logo]

02/24/2026

Johnnie Lacy was a disability rights activist who contracted polio in her youth, which led her to using a wheelchair.

Johnnie wanted to get a college education at San Francisco State University but faced barriers due to her disability. Enrolling was a battle and the school didn't even let Johnnie participate in graduation ceremonies or officially be a part of the school.

She went on to help found the Berkeley Center for Independent Living in 1981.

[Source: https://www.centerforlearnerequity.org/news/johnnie-lacy-an-advocate-for-independent-living/]



[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Black graphic with text on the top CELEBRATING (white) BLACK (red) HISTORY (gold) MONTH (Green) + bottom left, a photo of Johnnie Lacy + bottom right is the SACK logo]

02/23/2026

Fannie Lou Hamer was a civil rights activists in the 1960s and 1970s. Fannie survived polio as a child, which left her with a permanent limp.

Fannie served as a delegate to the DNC in 1964 where she testified about her brutal arrest and beating in Winona, Mississippi, that worsened her limp and left her with permanent kidney damage and a blood clot behind her eye because she tried to register to vote.

Her advocacy was instrumental in the passage of the Voting Rights Act.

[Source: https://19thnews.org/2023/07/fannie-lou-hamer-disability-voting-rights-activism/]



[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Black graphic with text on the top CELEBRATING (white) BLACK (red) HISTORY (gold) MONTH (Green) + bottom left, a photo of Fannie Lou Hamer + bottom right is the SACK logo]

02/21/2026

Brad Lomex was a disability rights activist who had Multiple Sclerosis and was a wheelchair user.

Brad worked at the George Jackson Clinic in Berkeley, a clinic offering free community medical services funded by the Black Panthers. There he met Ed Roberts, known as the father of the disability rights movement in the United States.

He connected the Black Panther Party (BPP) to the disability rights activists, which resulted in Black Panther support of the 504 sit-in, both support for the protestors as well as news coverage in the BPP newspapers and BPP public endorsement of the protest.

[Source: https://www.disabilityhistorysnapshots.com/post/brad-lomex-the-black-panthers-and-the-disability-rights-movement]



[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Black graphic with text on the top CELEBRATING (white) BLACK (red) HISTORY (gold) MONTH (Green) + bottom left, a photo of Brad Lomex + bottom right is the SACK logo]

02/20/2026

Nine states – Alaska, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, South Dakota, and Texas – have renewed their attack on Section 504 and our right to live in the community.

In Texas v. Kennedy (2026), the states say that the updated Section 504 rules are unlawful and unconstitutional. They want to weaken the "integration mandate," which is the rule that people with disabilities have a right to live in the community with supports and not be forced into nursing homes and hospitals.

Join this webinar on Wednesday at 12:30pm Central Time to learn how to fight this dangerous plan to take away our human rights.
https://dredf-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Q1oN3icfRrCY36saLlwgJA #/registration

[Image description: United States map with 9 states (Alaska, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, South Dakota, and Texas) highlighted, a yellow text box to the right says "9 states are attacking the right of people with disabilities to live in the community". Text below the map says "Texas v. Kennedy (2026) The renewed attack on Section 504 and Olmstead. Wednesday, February 25, 3036 10:30am PT | 1:30pm ET"]

02/20/2026

A new law called H.R. 1 has changed some important rules about Medicaid. Many family caregivers, people who provide unpaid care of a disabled or elderly loved one at home, could lose their Medicaid because of these changes, even though the law is supposed to protect them. Proving that you are a caregiver is hard, and a lot of paperwork is involved.

The National Alliance for Caregiving is hosting a webinar next week to help people understand what these changes mean for caregivers. Experts will talk about the problems states are running into as they try to follow the new rules, like how hard it is to keep track of caregiving hours.

Register here:

02/20/2026

Meet Aggie, honorary member of the SACK team!

She works to support self-advocates by providing emotional support, protecting us from vacuum cleaners, and bringing good vibes.

We’re grateful for her presence and care.



[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Graphic banner with red, yellow and blue butterflies behind a white box with text that says MEET THE SACK TEAM AGGIE - SACK MASCOT AND SECURITY GUARD + the SACK logo and a photo of an English Bulldog]

02/20/2026

For Black History Month, we are introducing you to some of the black voices of the disability rights movement. First, we'd like to share about Dennis Billups.

Dennis Billups is blind disability rights and gentrification activist. He was Chief Morale Officer in the 504 disability rights sit-in of 1977, one of the most important civil rights demonstrations in disability history. Dennis continues to advocate and is focused on bringing meditation to disability activism.

[Source: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/sep/16/dennis-billups-he-helped-lead-a-long-fiery-sit-in-and-changed-disabled-lives]



[IMAGE DESCRIPTION: Black graphic with text on the top CELEBRATING (white) BLACK (red) HISTORY (gold) MONTH (Green) + bottom left, a photo of Dennis Billups + bottom right is the SACK logo]