The 2010 Census forms will be mailed to households starting this week. People with disabilities and the people who support them are encouraged to participate in the Census.  Accurate counts are very important.  They directly affect the funding many agencies receive, as well as federally funded programs that support people with disabilities in the community.

Did you know that for every 100 people not counted, a community risks losing an estimated $1.2 million over the next decade for federally funded programs including:

• Medicaid and maternal and child health programs
• Transit programs
• Public housing assistance
• Community Development Block Grants
• Head Start
• Title 1 Education funds and grants for special and vocational education

The Survival Coalition of Wisconsin Disability Organizations is working to get everyone in the disability community to complete their forms.  One way you can help support this  effort is to print and take the two-page document "People with Disabilities - 10 Questions/10 Minutes" to hand out at trainings, meetings, or workshops you will be attending over the next few months.

Special assistance for people with disabilities will be available in many ways:

• Questionnaire Assistance Centers: These will be located throughout Wisconsin to assist those unable to read or understand the census form.
• Census information is available in 59 languages
• Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Centers: These are available by calling toll-free at 1-866-872-6868 (English) or 1-866-928-2010 (Spanish).  
• Language Assistance Guides will be available in large print and Braille.
• Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons who do not have access to Video Relay Service can call toll-free at 1-866-783-2010. 

If you are interested in a complete copy of the Toolkit for Reaching People with Disabilities, it is available at this link.