Proposed Changes to Disability Questions in U.S. Census: Advocates Express Concerns

Overview of the Proposed Changes

The U.S. Census Bureau is considering a significant overhaul of how it queries citizens about disabilities in a bid to align with international standards. This shift involves modifying the disability-related survey questions to accommodate more nuanced responses and tweaking the threshold for determining disability. The bureau hopes that these changes will enhance the accuracy and reliability of the disability data collected.

However, this proposal has sparked a heated debate, with disability advocates expressing concerns that it could slash the number of people identified as having disabilities by nearly half. They fear that the proposed cut-off might exclude many individuals who are disabled, thereby affecting the allocation of vital resources like housing provisions, school programs, and benefits.

The New Scale

Currently, the American Community Survey (ACS) employs yes-or-no questions to determine disability status. The proposed changes suggest a shift from binary answers to a scale that ranges from 'no difficulty' to 'cannot do at all' relating to specific tasks. This shift is expected to provide a more detailed understanding of the disability landscape in the country.

However, critics argue that the proposed cut-off point may still exclude many people who are disabled. Existing survey questions are already believed to undercount disabled individuals, and the new measures are anticipated to exacerbate this issue, potentially overlooking more than half of those with mental health disabilities or chronic illnesses.

Impact on Women and Girls

The National Partnership's analysis reveals that women and girls currently constitute just over half of the disabled population in the United States. If the proposed definition is adopted, it could lead to a reduction of approximately 9.6 million in the counted number of disabled women and girls. This decrease could have significant implications for funding allocations and civil rights enforcement.

Concerns About Inclusivity

One of the significant concerns raised by critics is the inclusivity of the proposed changes. They argue that the modifications might not sufficiently account for new, long-term conditions like long COVID, which has emerged as a significant health concern in recent years.

Public Input and Future Implications

The U.S. Census Bureau is also considering the inclusion of new questions on solar panels, electric vehicles, and sewage disposal in the 2025 ACS and Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS). The public has until December 19, 2023, to submit comments on these proposed changes, highlighting the role of public input in shaping the future of these vital surveys.

The outcome of this debate will not only affect the accurate counting of people with disabilities but also influence the identity of disability as a social movement. It underscores the need for a careful and inclusive approach in defining and measuring disability to ensure that all individuals receive the necessary support and resources.