Census 2020: Making Sure People with Disabilities are Counted
Eric Galatas, Public News Service – CO
DENVER — People with disabilities make up 22% of the American
public, but they remain largely undercounted in the U.S. Census Bureau’s
once-a-decade population tally.
The Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition
is just one group working to get an accurate count in this year’s
census. In Colorado, $13 billion a year, for a broad range of programs,
is at stake. Judy McCree Carrington, the coalition’s census coordinator,
said taking part is critical to ensuring that all Coloradans get the
medical care, education, transportation and other services they need.
“Historically, people with disabilities have been undercounted during
the census,” she said. “Being undercounted means less funding, less
representation, and often misguided business decisions in our Colorado
communities.”
Some people have shied away from being counted, concerned that personal
information could interfere with Social Security or other benefits,
especially when they’ve waited years to receive critical services.
Participation by people with disabilities goes up when surveys are
conducted in partnership with trusted community groups and when people
can fill out the forms in churches or community centers.
The census form doesn’t record a person’s disability status, and the
Census Bureau never shares personal information with Social Security or
other government agencies. By federal law, all data is protected and
records are confidential. Carrington said she hopes this year’s census
numbers demonstrate just how much people with disabilities count in
Colorado.
“The survey only takes 10 minutes and could determine funding for the
next 10 years,” she said. “It’s safe, easy and secure. This census,
let’s make sure we’re counted.”
By April 1, all households will receive an invitation to participate in
the census, and forms can be completed online or by calling a toll-free
phone number, where people also can request Braille, large-print and
American Sign Language versions of the census form.
Tips on how to respond to the census are online at 2000census.gov, and information about the census is available in English and Spanish.
