06/19/2026
Today, we recognize Juneteenth.
It is a day to honor liberation, remember the Black Americans who endured and resisted slavery, and celebrate the strength, resilience, culture, and joy of a community that survived the unimaginable.
June 19, 1865, marked the day when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. That history reminds us that freedom promised is not always freedom fully experienced.
At Springs, Inc., our work is grounded in the belief that every person deserves dignity, opportunity, belonging, and the freedom to shape their own life. For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, those principles are especially meaningful. Too often, people with disabilities have faced exclusion, segregation, limited choices, and decisions being made for them rather than with them.
We also recognize that identities and experiences overlap. Black people with disabilities have often encountered barriers related to both race and disability. Honoring Juneteenth means making room for those stories and acknowledging that the work of building truly welcoming and accessible communities belongs to all of us.
Freedom is more than the absence of restraint. It is having a voice. It is being included. It is having meaningful choices, access to opportunity, and the support needed to pursue a full and self-directed life.
Juneteenth reminds us of where we have been, how far we have come, and why we must continue working toward communities in which every person is respected, valued, and empowered.
We deeply appreciate everyone who joins Springs, Inc. in this important work. Together, we can continue breaking down barriers, expanding possibilities, and building a community where freedom and belonging are available to everyone.
