The Diaper Ruling
The 9th Circuit reversed a summary judgment, ruling that a disabled prisoner satisfied the primary elements of an ADA claim. The prisoner, disabled by a spinal condition and incontinence, was denied adult diapers as an accommodation. The court found that denial of adult diapers meant denial of meaningful access to prison toileting and hygiene services. (Source: LISA Legal Info, https://lisa-legalinfo.com/2026/09/14/disabled-prisoner-allowed-to-use-ada-to-pursue-prison-indifference-to-medical-needs-update-for-september-14-2026/ ; ruling issued September 14, 2026.) I served four years in prison. I know what the inside looks like. This ruling matters because it establishes that the ADA's meaningful-access standard applies to prison toileting and hygiene. That sounds obvious until you've been inside and watched officials argue that 'access' means there's a toilet in the cell, not that you can actually use it. An incontinent person without diapers doesn't have access...