Raising Kellan

In today’s episode, I chat with Matthew Dietz, a civil rights attorney and founder of Dislaw Consulting. Matt has spent more than thirty years advocating for people with disabilities. His litigation has advanced effective communication for Deaf people, challenged the unnecessary institutionalization of children with disabilities, and protected voting rights for people with disabilities. His work also addresses discrimination in housing, education, employment, healthcare, and access to community life.

Matt began in private practice before bringing his legal work into Disability Independence Group, the nonprofit he founded to combine litigation, community education, and advocacy. He later served as professor and director of Nova Southeastern University’s Disability Inclusion and Advocacy Law Clinic, representing clients while teaching future lawyers to challenge exclusion and work alongside people with disabilities.

Today, through Dislaw Consulting, he provides legal services, consulting, training, and expert assistance to individuals, families, organizations, and attorneys. Living with a stutter gives his advocacy a personal dimension. He joins us to discuss U.S. v. Florida and the fight to ensure children can grow up with their families with the nursing care and support they need

Timeline of our conversation

1:00 Matthew (Matt) Dietz background as a disability rights lawyer.

2:54 Background and latest updates on the Florida lawsuit regarding the provision of home care to medically fragile children.

3:24 The journey of how the Department of Justice (DOJ) initially sued Florida to provide services to children and now the DOJ’s changed position in light of the Olmstead Opinion issued on June 18, 2026. 1

0:10 Implications of the Florida case conflated with the September 23, 2026,  Texas vs. Kennedy ruling, which now applies to ALL states. 

12:21 Investigative reporter Mike Hixenbaugh series on NBCDisabled and Denied calls for families impacted by Medicaid changes to contact them at the following link.12:44: The story of Amy and Sue Root, the faces behind the Florida lawsuit. 15:57 What brought about the changes to the DOJ position, and how this aligns with this administration's current “homelessness” policy. (Source: “Disabled and Denied” )

21:39 The institutionalisation of care of the disabled and how this has played out in the past, in the cases of Willowbrook and Clover Bottom

23:00 Calls to Action: We have to VOTE and TELL OUR STORY.

27: 00 Conclusion. 

A tenth-generation South Memphis resident, Marquita Bradshaw is the first African-American woman to win a statewide nomination in a major party nomination. She has built on her family’s tradition of labor and community advocacy by working on issues affecting working families and historically underserved neighborhoods. Her career has focused on environmental health, workers’ rights, economic opportunity, and public accountability. As executive director of Sowing Justice, an environmental justice nonprofit, she has addressed concerns involving industrial pollution, fossil-fuel infrastructure, data-center development, and their effects on local communities.

Her Call to Action:

The importance of voter engagement and participation in the upcoming November 2026 General Election. -- We’re going to need an incredible grassroots team to create the change we want to see in Washington.

Timeline:

00:41 Marquita Bradshaw's background.

01:55 Her career as a community organizer and her role as Executive Director of Sowing Justice.

02:49 Affordable and accessible broadband, and data privacy protection.

07:11 Gerrymandering and protecting voter rights

09:03 Budgets reflect morality, and universal healthcare is a policy choice and priority

11:02 Ms Bradshaw's 3-step grassroots voter engagement:

1) Are you registered?

2) Do you have a voting plan?

3) Invite others to join you to vote.

13:22 You are invited to a Community Forum taking place Friday, October 16, 2026, at 5:30 at the Lannom Center in Dyersburg, TN

14: 19 Conclusion

Gary Blumenthal is the brother of Steve Blumenthal, a senior adult with profound autism, and dementia, now receiving hospice services in his HCBS group home in Lawrence, KS. He is a former high school Civics teacher, former six-term member of the Kansas House of Representatives, and former disability official in the Clinton and Obama administrations, and is currently serving as a Senior Political Advisor for The National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals.

Timeline of the conversation:

1: 00 Backstory of Gary and Steve Blumenthal

3:25 Transition from institutional living of "3 hots and a cot" to home and community-based services (HCBS)

5:41 Civic engagement and voting

6:30 Education and communicating with Legislators.

8:50 Be educated and to educate

9:32 Paid Family Caregiving

12:00 Get out the Vote (GOTV)

15:38 Why do States have waiting lists for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS)

16:33 Funding Priorities and Policies to determine funding of services and advocates making their voice known in an environment of lobbyists and money in politics.

17:00 Advocacy and Activism

18: Call to Action: Get Out The Vote (#GOTV)

Please read Gary's recent opinion in the Kansas City Star: 60 years of disability progress helped my brother. I fear we’re reversing it

Read more at:

Robbie Faulkner is the Executive Director of The Arc Tennessee, a nonprofit that protects and advocates for the rights of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She is also the proud parent of two sons, Ian and Collin. Since her older son’s diagnosis of autism 28 years ago, Robbie has looked to serve individuals with disabilities and, for 31 years did so in the public education arena before coming to The Arc Tennessee.

Timeline of our conversation: 

1:35 Robbie’s Background

5:00 Multigenerational households

6:14 The Dinner Table

7:28 Robbie’s teaching career

13:00 How did Robbie transition to the ARC Tennessee

15:00 Advocate challenges and the potential for positive policy change

          TX vs Kennedy and DOJ Olmstead Decision

19:00 Telling your story, prioritising your vote. 

23:00 The cost of misinformation

25:00 We can’t go back

27:05 CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS, especially If you have  ideas for solutions to problems you experience

28:00 Joining ARC TN and accessing the policy calls while the TN House is in session

Edward Mitchell was a victim of a hit-and-run bicycle accident in 2003 when he was hit by a truck, thrown into a ditch, and found by his little brother. Edward has quadriplegia with an incomplete spinal cord injury at the C5 and C6 levels. Edward obtained his bachelor’s degree in 2009 from Lane College, a private HBCU, and his MBA in 2011 from Union University. 

That hasn’t slowed him down; he works as Executive Director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Tennessee while serving on numerous boards. 

In 2018, Edward was selected as an inaugural ABLE Advisor for the Able National Resource Center. ABLE Accounts are tax-advantaged savings accounts for individuals with disabilities. In the summer of 2018, Edward was confirmed by the Republicans & Democrats of T.N. to testify before the Washington, D.C., Senate Special Committee on Aging. The hearing was titled, “Supporting Economic Stability & Self-Sufficiency as Americans with Disabilities ​and their Families.

Timeline of the conversation.

​01:00 Edward Mitchell's backstory.​01:41 What are Able Accounts?

​04:51 Home and Community-Based Services and the Role it plays in the Disability Community.

06:08 Disability Advocacy Organizations in TN: Disability Rights TN, Tennessee Disability Coalition, ARC TN, and Tennessee Council on Developmental Disabilities​

08:24 Centers of Independent Living

10:10 Statewide Independent Living Council

11:50 Conclusion

Chaz Molder is a native son of Columbia, Tennessee. He graduated from Columbia Central High School, the University of Tennessee, and the University of Memphis Law School. He also served as his high school and college student body president.

He was elected as the Mayor of Columbia, in 2018, becoming the youngest mayor in his city’s 200+ year history.

Since then, Chaz has delivered for his community, revitalizing downtown Columbia, investing in public safety, and prioritizing community engagement, all while passing seven balanced budgets without increasing property taxes.

He knows what it takes to win in tough places — he’s done it twice before.

Now, Chaz is ready to win again and bring Tennessee values to Congress. Chaz is married to Elizabeth Fitzhugh, a Ripley, Tennessee native, and they are raising their three kids in Columbia.

Timeline:

01:52 Homage to Dolly Parton

03:31 Chaz Molder's Bio

His positions on:

07:00 School Vouchers and Education

10:00 HealthCare

12:30 AI Data Centers

14:32 Chaz Molder's support of the Disability Community and home and community-based services.

17: Call to Action: #GOTV

In this episode, Sara Smith and I chat with Scott Schoefernacker and Sarah Houston of "Protect Our Aquifer,", a water resource nonprofit in Memphis, TN. This podcast centers on the Memphis Sand Aquifer and the potential impact of data centers on the environment.

Timeline of our conversation:

00:41 What is an aquifer and its significance?

03:41 The origin story of "Protect our Aquifer"

06:41 How big is the Memphis Sand Aquifer?

6:26 Sara Smith relates, in her opinion, what happened when the data center came knocking in Ripley, TN

9:21 Data centers and the impact on power and water

11:28 Ripley moratorium

12:54 How do communities do the research?

16: Community Benefits Agreement (informal) vs a Data Center Ordinance (legally binding)

19:34 Should Data Centers be contributing to the communities they build in?

21: 55 How should citizens engage in the pushback and questions to ask?

22:52 Environmental regulations including: EPA, TDEC, WHPP (wellhead protection plan)

26:52 Zoning and community planning.

30:38 Access to records and why a data center ordinance is critical for a single point of access to fact-find regarding the impact of data centers on their communities and surrounding environment.

35:15 PFAS and "forever chemicals"

36:37 Upcoming Community events by "Protect our Aquifer" (POA)

In this episode, I chat with Mandeep Kaur and Leah Williamson of Family Voices of Tennessee.

Timeline:

1:30 Introduction of Leah Williamson, Director of Family Voices of Tennessee.

5:25 Introduction of Mandeep Kaur, Family Advocate at Family Voices of Tennessee.

10:34 What does Family Voices do and how do families connect with this organization?

12:26 Advocacy is an ever-changing landscape.

12:30 Statement from Family Voices National (and TN) on the DOJ opinion on the Olmstead Decision is available on the Family Voices Facebook page.

17:24 Upcoming events: Party in the Park Oct 17, 2026 and Disability Day on the Hill 2027

18:59 Call to Action

19:37 Words of encouragement.

Back Story

This summer, we launched a #GoVote TN grassroots voter awareness campaign. We travelled over 500 miles from Franklin, Union City, to Memphis, TN, to amplify the message that electing representatives who understand the disability community is important for crafting policy that supports this community (in fact, all communities) in terms of healthcare, housing, voting rights, etc.

This episode is published on a day that commemorates the signing of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) on August 6, 1965. On the 61st anniversary of this law, voting rights face an ever-growing assault of redistricting/gerrymandering, from cracking Memphis into 3 congressional districts and diluting the ability of the majority-minority Black district, which has historically elected Democratic Representatives.

This redistricting of the Tennessee Congressional maps over three days was set into motion by the Louisiana vs Callais Decision on April 29. 2026. According to the Supreme Court decision, proclaimed that race was no longer a factor and in play in present-day America; therefore, the majority-minority districts that were carved out for citizens to elect their representatives were unconstitutional.

The Calais Decision makes racial gerrymandering "unconstitutional" but partisan gerrymandering ok. As a result, to now prove redistricting discriminatory, you have to prove intent vs impact. (Tisby, Justice Journey Podcast, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-justice-briefing-with-dr-jemar-tisby/id1460240056?i=1000780389308)2026

Collection of Primary Source Voting Stories

We will be capturing primary sources of voting stories. We invite you to share your story with us. In the first installment, Ms Naomi King, who was born on 11/3/33, talks about how she moved with her grandparents from Decatur to Dyer County, TN; her early life; her first voting card in 1954; and her voting history. I am joined by my dear friend Rachel Townsend as we talk to the living legend.

Timeline:

1:24 Do you remember when you registered to vote or the first time you voted?

2:59 Have you always voted?

4:13 How did everyone stay informed of campaigns back then?

5:10 Ms Naomi's early years, school, and getting married.

12:49 The Achievement test and starting High School at Bruce.

15:38 What recollections of history stand out in your memory?

18:17: Agriculture in West Tennessee back in the day?

21:05 A loan from Mr Lipford at First Citizens National Bank to start King's BBQ.

21:44 Ms Naomi's message to young people.23:44 Conclusion.

An in-depth conversation with Theresa Sweeny, co-founder of the National Disability and Home Care Rights Coalition, about emerging threats to disability rights and home- and community-based services (HCBS) in the United States.

Sweeny explains that the coalition formed to unite disabled people, families, and organizations across diagnoses, waiver systems, and states in defense of civil rights protections rooted in the ADA, Olmsted, Section 504, HCBS, privacy, due process, caregiver rights, and equal dignity, amid growing fractures within disability communities and state-level erosion of these protections.

The discussion centers on a Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel memorandum stating that Section 504 and the ADA do not impose a general integration mandate on states, thereby allowing states the potential of not meeting the provision of  HCBS needed by persons of disabilities to live in the community and increasing the risk of institutionalization.

Sweeny highlights the Latanya Reeves Freedom Act as a critical federal civil rights proposal that would create an enforceable statutory right to community living and stronger protections for people needing long-term services and supports, and urges listeners to contact their federal legislators to support and co-sponsor the bill.

The episode also examines how narratives of “fraud, waste, and abuse” in Medicaid are used to foment public hostility towards marginalized communities despite the program’s role as a vital social safety net from birth to death for people who cannot otherwise obtain or afford health insurance.

The episode concludes with a call for broad, unified advocacy, including engagement with the coalition’s unity statement and related resources, to defend the right of disabled people to live, work, and participate in their communities rather than being forced into institutions.

Today’s Call to Action:

National Disability & Home Care Rights Coalition, in coordination with the Ohio Disability & Home Care Rights Coalition, has developed a National Unity Statement to protect community living, home and community-based services, Olmstead, Section 504, and the Disability Civil Rights. 

The following  petition represents “ 50 states. One fight. Protect Community Living” 

Here is your link to endorse https://forms.gle/vMJ7uzA2Uadvv2VK9

Resources

ARC US , ARC TN, and Family Voices (National) are some of the organizations that have issued statements in response to the DOJ Opinion.

Bruce Darling from ADAPT blog as what this opinion could mean for the disability community https://cdrnys.org/blog/uncategorized/the-olc-memo-olmstead-and-the-latonya-reeves-freedom-act/