Common Coalition

10/06/2026

On September 28, 2026, a bipartisan House resolution was introduced to reaffirm the Olmstead decision, recognizing its 27th anniversary.

This resolution was introduced by Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6) and has 7 co-sponsors by the time this post is being written.

What needs to happen now? Contact your representative and ask them to co-sponsor H.Res.1586. Tell them the disabled community has the right to live, learn, work, and receive services in their communities. The community deserves and has the right to be with everyone else and not institutionalized, and to not have their rights and needs taken away.

To take a look at H.Res.1586, go to this link: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/1586

Image Description:
Graphic with three megaphones and large text about an announcement. The background is solid dark purple with wavy patterns. At the top left there is a square logo that says:

Common
Coalition

“Common” is in white text on a dark purple rectangle, and “Coalition” is in lime green text on a slightly smaller rectangle below it. A white arrow extends to the right from the word “Common.”

Across the middle in very large lime green letters it says:

IMPORTANT
ANNOUNCEMENT

Below that, inside a white rounded rectangle, the text reads:

H.Res 1586, a bipartisan House resolution reaffirming the Olmstead decision, has been introduced.

—

Nebraska Congressional Contacts

Senator Deb Fischer
202-224-6551

Senator Pete Ricketts
202-224-4224

Representative Mike Flood
202-225-4806

Representative Don Bacon
202-225-4155

Representative Adrian Smith
202-225-6435

—

Iowa Congressional Contacts

Senator Chuck Grassley
202-224-3744

Senator Joni Ernst
202-224-3254

Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks
202-225-6576

Representative Ashley Hinson
202-225-2911

Representative Zach Nunn
202-225-5476

Representative Randy Feenstra
202-225-4426

09/30/2026

A quick recap of everything that happened in Common Conversations at Common Senses Festival! We learned so much from organizations, and attendees had a great time learning about their peers and having conversations as well.

Thank you so much to everyone who spent the day with us. We can’t wait to see you for the next festival!

Video Description:
Various clips of public speakers, PowerPoints, casual conversations, and more.

09/28/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to Common Conversations at the Common Senses Festival! It’s Monday, we are rested, and we have lots of content to share from that day. We learned about history, personal stories, and more about the advocacy we’re doing, and we can’t wait to share them with you.

Image Description:
Two women standing together, smiling. They are standing in front of banners that show multiple photos of various disabled people.

09/25/2026

Common Coalition recently went to the Nebraska Olmstead Plan hearing. It was a great hearing, and so much was learned, but one fact remained: the accessibility at a disability related hearing was lacking.

Accessibility is vital, especially at a disability related hearing. People who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids should be able to get in, out, and around freely. Deaf people who use ASL should be able to have ASL interpreters available for them.

The community has a right to know what is going on in a setting that is about them, their rights, and their health.

If you would like to join Common Coalition and the efforts to bring awareness to this matter, and to make sure things become more accessible, be sure to reach out.

09/25/2026

Common Coalition recently went to the Nebraska Olmstead Plan hearing. It was a great hearing, and so much was learned, but one fact remained: the accessibility at a disability related hearing was lacking.

Accessibility is vital, especially at a disability related hearing. People who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids should be able to get in, out, and around freely. Deaf people who use ASL should be able to have ASL interpreters available for them.

The community has a right to know what is going on in a setting that is about them, their rights, and their health.

If you would like to join Common Coalition and the efforts to bring awareness to this matter, and to make sure things become more accessible, be sure to reach out.

Video Description:
A white woman with shoulder length blonde hair, standing in front of the Nebraska State Capitol.

Transcript:
Hey, it’s Wendy, Executive Director of the Common Coalition here at the Nebraska Capitol. I just sat in on a two hour meeting on the update of Nebraska’s Olmstead plan. Very insightful. I have a lot of notes. I have a lot of things going on in my head, but probably the thing that is most challenging for me is that over a week ago, we put in a request with the Senator for ASL interpretation and I followed up last night and I had gotten an email that that had been secured.

And so I get here this morning. You probably couldn’t have picked a smaller room for a hearing that involves the disability community. That’s not very accessible. Extremely hard to get wheelchairs around in here and no ASL interpreter. So I sent an email back to the individual who had confirmed it. I talked with an individual in the room and about, I don’t know, 30 to 45 minutes into the hearing, I get a message that those needing ASL interpretation are welcome to go around the corner into another room and see the live captioning and I couldn’t say anything.

My jaw probably hit the floor, and that, this is not right. And for me to then have to write on a notepad to the individual that was sitting next to me that if she really wants to, she can leave the room and go see live captioning. Thankfully, she had her own device and she was doing the captioning there.

But I mean, even then, some of the words weren’t right and so we’re going to be gathering, having some meetings with the NeAD*, some of the senators, like we’re gathering the plan because this is not right.

When the state is having a meeting that involves the disability community, it needs to be accessible to all. Physically… We need to have ASL interpreters there. For the requests to be put in on time.

So, this isn’t, this isn’t right. I’m very frustrated, but I guess this is our call out to do better, to do better by our community, to do better by the individuals that are showing up.

So stay tuned. If you’re interested, if you want in on something, let us know. Comment, reach out, send me an email. But this is not okay by any means. And so we’re hoping that when you know more, you do more and you do better. So we’ll give more updates as we come along.

09/25/2026

A very disappointing update for the Texas vs. Kennedy lawsuit. More work to be done.

Disabled people have the right to live in our own homes and communities. That right has not gone away. But the federal rules that spelled out that right in Health and Human Services programs have been struck down, with the government’s help.

Yesterday, in the Texas v. Kennedy case, a federal court approved an agreement jointly proposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and five states to remove the parts of Section 504 regulations that specify that disabled people should receive services and supports in the community rather than being forced into institutions.

This is yet another attack by this administration on the freedom and rights of disabled people. DREDF joins a coalition of disability rights organizations to strongly condemn this action. Read more here: https://dredf.org/texas-v-kennedy-final-september-2026/

What this ruling does not do is repeal Section 504 or the Americans with Disabilities Act, or overturn the Olmstead v. Lois Curtis ruling. These laws and legal authority continue to provide a right for for people with disabilities to live, work, and learn in community settings.

And if the federal government won't enforce our rights, then we will. We will push states to write Olmstead's protections into state law. We will support strong local and state enforcement. And we will fight cases that reinforce the ADA and Section 504.

Generations of disabled people fought for and won the freedom to make decisions about our lives and be a part of our communities. Together, we continue that fight.

09/19/2026

Join Common Coalition and Common Senses for two Common Conversations at Common Senses Festival!

The Art of Inclusion: Education, Movement, and Creative Practice
Thursday, September 24, 2026, 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM
KANEKO 1111 Jones Street, Omaha, NE 68102

To read more about the day and register, go to this link: https://www.commonsensesfestival.org/events/the-art-of-inclusion-education-movement-and-creative-practice

Common Coalition will be speaking at:
Shaping Change: Disability History, Policy, & Cultural Change
Friday, September 25, 2026 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
KANEKO 1111 Jones Street, Omaha, NE 68102

To read more about the day and register, go to this link: https://www.commonsensesfestival.org/events/shaping-change-disability-history-policy-cultural-change

Image Description:
Rectangular event graphic over a photo of a panel discussion. Text on the graphic reads: Thursday, 24. Common Conversations 8:00am-12:30pm

Rectangular event graphic over a photo of a panel discussion. Text on the graphic reads: Friday, 25. Common Conversations 8:00am-3:00pm

09/19/2026

Thank you to everyone who testified at the hearing for the Olmstead Report. It was great to hear updates from Olmstead working committees and organizations on what’s going well, and challenges they are experiencing.

Image Description:
A sunny day, the Nebraska State Capitol building standing tall. Green grass, trees, and cars parked on the side.

09/14/2026

Common Senses Festival is still looking for volunteers!

You can sign up here:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A44A5A92EAAFDC43-65088079-2026?fbclid=IwY2xjawUVPn1wZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMVM3UkM5d0J2bWZwVzExU3VzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeiF-XZjpTBjaaERbNkc68uHDRDweN85ZopDLMJ_exrNp-mkNQOv_rfP_QlGw_aem_1wz6bPV9eLVk1Z_uWckF8Q #/

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out!

Image Description:
The poster has a white background with purple abstract design/lines. The Common Senses Festival logo (text and abstract graphics) at the top center. The text is as followed:

Call for Volunteers

Kick-Off Celebration

September 13
Shuttle Host
Ride shuttle and assist participants in getting to and from each location.

Train Host
Support participants and help ensure accessibility.

General Volunteer
Duties to be assigned the day of.

Train Talks Showcase
September 17
Welcome Conductors
Greet guests, provide direction and help everyone feel welcome.

Sign up here! (with a QR code shown)

Sensory Yard
September 13-27
Sensory Yard Hosts
Greet guests, monitory safety and help keep the Sensory Yard clean and ready.

Chill Zone Host
Greet guests and help keep the Chill Zone ready to use.

New Works Showcase
September 22
Guest Welcome Team
Checking out sensory kits and making everyone feel welcome.

Common Conversations
September 24-25
Conversation Connectors
Check participants in, assist speakers, support participants, and ensure accessibility.

09/14/2026

Over the summer, Common Coalition met with the Little Lobbyists , the only national family-led organization advocating for kids with every type of disability. We look forward to working with them some more in the future!

Image Description:
Four adults standing close together and smiling outdoors at a casual gathering space.
They are in the foreground, posing for a selfie from slightly above. From left to right:

Person 1 has light skin and straight brown hair, worn loose to about shoulder length. They are wearing a blue T-shirt that reads “LITTLE LOBBYISTS” with a heart-shaped American flag graphic and additional smaller text below, along with light denim shorts.

Person 2 has light skin and straight light brown hair, cut to about shoulder length. They are wearing dark-framed glasses and a long black button-up shirt or dress. Their shoes are white with a black checkered pattern.

Person 3 has medium skin and straight dark hair, worn down just past the shoulders. They are wearing a black T-shirt with white text that says “THE FUTURE IS ACCESSIBLE” (the word “IS” is partially obscured by a necklace). They are smiling broadly.

Person 4 has light skin and light brown or auburn hair pulled back. They are wearing a blue “LITTLE LOBBYISTS” T-shirt similar to Person 1’s, plus a patterned strap across the front, likely from a bag or lanyard. They are also smiling.

In the background is an outdoor patio with artificial green turf, wooden Adirondack chairs arranged around low tables and a fire pit, some tree-stump stools, and a wooden bench. There are yellow metal chairs and tables under a large dark blue patio umbrella, string lights overhead, and a grassy hill with trees beyond the patio area. A white car is parked off to the left on a road behind the seating area.