Did you receive a letter from the census and are wondering
what it is and what you need to do? In 2020, it is easier than ever to complete
your census from home.
The census seeks to account for every individual living in
the United States. But many people with disabilities are left out of the
count—harmfully impacting funding, services, and supports. Making sure you and
your community are counted in the 2020 Census is an easy and important way to
advocate for people with disabilities. After reading this introduction to the
census, head to our census page for more
resources and information, including information about how group homes are being
counted.
What is the census?
Every 10 years, everyone in the United States is counted
through the census. This data impacts many things:
- How much money state and local governments get;
- Where that money goes, like Medicaid, housing
vouchers, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and education
programs; and - How many representatives each state gets in the
House of Representatives.
Why does it matter?
When the government does not have an accurate count of who
is living in communities, they do not know how much money the community needs. When
there isn’t enough money, services and programs for people with disabilities
can be cut.
When everyone is counted, our communities get their fair share of federal funding to help keep all people safe and healthy—something that even more important now as we navigate COVID-19. Health care, education, and emergency planning all depend on getting an accurate census count.
What types of questions does it ask?
They will ask a short list of questions about everyone in
your household, including demographics like age, sex, and race.
How do I complete it?
Even with many self-isolating, it’s easy to complete. It takes just a few minutes to fill out and can be done safely right in the comfort of your home. You can fill out the census in three ways: online, over the phone, or by mail. First they will mail the forms, and later, census workers will visit households who have not yet responded.
For more information and free resources, visit thearc.org/census. Los recursos
también son disponibles en español!
People with disabilities count—make sure you’re counted!
The post The Census is Here: Are You Ready to Be Counted? appeared first on The Arc.