I just finished reading The Hill’s report on the Department of Justice rescinding 11 pieces of ADA guidance, and I am livid. This isn’t just bureaucratic housekeeping. This is systemic neglect, wrapped up in language about “efficiency” and “reducing regulatory burden.” The DOJ calls this guidance “outdated.” But for millions of disabled people, and for the businesses serving them, this was vital information; clear, accessible directions to help ensure equity and safety.
They want us to believe this is about cutting red tape. Let’s call it what it is: cutting people loose.
The Human Cost of Legal Ambiguity
Think about a woman with PTSD who wears noise-canceling headphones to reduce sensory overload in loud spaces, arriving at a hotel after a long day of travel. Without proper guidance, the front desk staff fumbles the interaction, raising their voices unnecessarily or mistaking her quietness for being rude or “difficult.”
Or consider the wheelchair user who visits a café, only to discover the aisles are too narrow, the restroom inaccessible, and the staff unsure how to respond. The previous DOJ guidance offered real-world best practices on things like physical space design and customer service approaches. Without it, experiences like these become more frequent and more exhausting.
When clear guidelines vanish, everyday moments become battlegrounds for basic dignity.
When Businesses Are Left in the Dark
This rollback is being pitched as a win for businesses, but that is a smokescreen. Many businesses rely on this kind of guidance because the ADA alone, while powerful, is not always easy to interpret without concrete examples. Without clear direction, businesses (especially small ones) are left to figure it out on their own.
Imagine a neighborhood gym unsure how to accommodate members with respiratory conditions under lingering COVID protocols. Or a restaurant confused about their obligations to diners who need service animals. What should be standard across the board will now vary wildly depending on who happens to be making the call that day.
This does not create innovation; it creates chaos. It creates vulnerability for businesses and hardship for the customers who depend on them.
The Emotional Toll on the Disability Community
For the disability community, this is another layer of emotional labor. People with disabilities already spend far too much time advocating for access, explaining their needs, or fighting ableist assumptions. Without these guidelines, they will now be forced to take on even more of that burden.
Think of that autistic ten-year-old and their family, heading out to a local diner that, under previous guidance, might have implemented a sensory-friendly policy. Now, that family walks in unsure whether today’s outing will be accommodating or an exercise in damage control.
These day-to-day scenarios weigh heavily, creating cumulative fatigue and reinforcing the message that inclusion is only offered when it is convenient.
The Layered Impact
Let’s also be honest about who this rollback will hit hardest. It is not just people with disabilities; it is those already marginalized within that community. Black, brown, Indigenous, queer, and low-income disabled people already face intersectional barriers to access and equity. When clarity disappears, bias and systemic racism creep in to fill the vacuum.
A disabled person of color should not have to face both inaccessible environments and the added burden of navigating prejudice or ignorance, but this rollback makes that even more likely.
Where Do We Go From Here?
This decision leaves us at a crossroads. Will we let this fly under the radar, one more quiet setback to civil rights? Or will we push back, loud and clear?
Call your representatives and demand they take action. Remind them that removing guidelines does not remove the need for access. In fact, it makes the fight for access harder.
Look at your own organization or community spaces and ask: are we committed to true accessibility, or are we waiting for someone else to tell us what to do?
And just as importantly, support those on the frontlines of this work. Groups like ADAPT, The Arc, and DREDF have been advocating for disability rights long before this rollback and they will keep fighting now.
The Fight Is Ours to Continue
The DOJ’s rollback is a reminder that progress is fragile and uneven. Rights are not self-sustaining. They require constant vigilance, advocacy, and collective action.
But I am not discouraged. The disability community is strong, and we know how to resist systems that try to sideline us. The question is, will you stand with us?
Because this fight is not theoretical. It is about that ten-year-old who just wants to enjoy a meal out. It is about that woman who should be able to check into a hotel without explaining her entire medical history to strangers. It is about every disabled person who deserves to be seen, heard, and included without needing to fight for it every step of the way.
Are we ready to show up?
My Second Act 