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You Count – So Get Counted

Categories: Living with Brain Injury

By Laurie Rippon, Writer, A Brain Injury Life Blog

Respond to the 2020 Census today. It’s not too late, but almost… The deadline is September 30, 2020.

For too long brain injury has been a silent, invisible disability. Well, I’m tired of keeping my mouth shut – and not just for me, but for all of us. Every one of us has to take responsibility for all of us and our community by responding to the 2020 Census. Every 10 years, by law, the Census is supposed to count every single person living in this country. But the disability community’s response has fallen short. We have to do better, to step up to the plate, and that means you. Don’t wait. Don’t forget, just do it (or someone might come knocking at your door).

The Census is short and (depending on your brain injury) easy. There’s no citizenship question, but be forewarned: there’s no disability question, either. You might be thinking, “If there’s no disability question, I guess we don’t matter, right?” WRONG! We matter, and the 2020 Census matters – big time.

WHY? Because our participation this year will determine the services and representation available to us for the next 10 years. HOW? $1.5 trillion in federal funding is on the table, allocated to cities, counties, and states based on the Census results this year. WHAT? The federal funding supports affordable and accessible housing, Medicare, Medicaid, and other health care, food programs like SNAP, special education, accessible transportation, and more.

The most important reason to participate is that the Census determines our Congressional representation wherever we live. Bottom line: it’s self-advocacy – making our voices heard.

The 2020 Census: Go for it. The Disability Community is counting on you. #DisabilityCounts2020

Resources

  • United States 2020 Census homepage
  • Information about responding online, by phone, and by mail in 60 languages.
  • If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can take the 2020 Census by using telephone devices for hearing impairments or request a visit from a census taker who uses ASL. If you have a visual impairment, you can get instructions in braille.