People with Disabilities and the Census
People with disabilities rely on many programs whose funding is directly affected by census data.
Organizations that serve or represent people with disabilities should make sure that they understand the importance of a full and accurate count, and provide them with information about how to access any assistance they might need in completing the census form.
The federal government uses census information to guide the annual distribution of approximately $15 billion in services to people with disabilities (figures for fiscal year 2007).
Here are some examples of the ways that census data are used:
- Help state and county agencies plan for eligible recipients under the Medicare, Medicaid, and Supplemental Security Income programs;
- Distribute funds and develop programs for people with disabilities and the elderly under the Rehabilitation Act;
- Distribute funds for housing for people with disabilities under the Housing and Urban Development Act;
- Allocate funds to states and local areas for employment and job training programs for veterans under the Job Training Partnership Act, Disabled Veterans Outreach Program;
- Ensure that comparable public transportation services are available for all segments of the population under the Americans with Disabilities Act;
- Award federal grants, under the Older Americans Act, based on the number of elderly people with physical and mental disabilities;
- Allocate funds for mass transit systems to provide facilities for people with disabilities under the Federal Transit Act;
- Provide housing assistance and supportive services for low-income individuals with HIV/AIDS and their families under the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program;
- Make available special education for children ages 3 through 5 through Special Education Preschool Grants.
Census materials will be available in large type and Braille formats upon request. There is a TDD program for the hearing impaired.
