And in the Meantime…Count Me, Too

A reporter from a magazine called Rebellious Magazine for Women contacted me last month for a few quotes about this year’s census.

Rebellious Woman? Moi?

What they were looking for were quotes about how important it is that people with disabilities fill out the forms and be counted in this year’s 2020 Census. That story, Count Me, Too, was published last week, and of course that gives me something new to add to my signature:

Beth Finke

Rebellious Woman

The story points out that more than $675 billion in federal funds were distributed based on U.S. Census Bureau data for 2015, and that funding includes money earmarked for housing, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, infrastructure, “and every social program that the population relies
on.” So it’s important we all be counted! The Census Bureau is providing video guides
in American Sign Language (with closed or open captioning), braille and large print versions of the questionnaire for those who need it, and telephone access for people with hearing impairments.
People who are deaf or hard of hearing can request a visit from a Census taker familiar with ASL. And that’s where my quote comes in:

The digital versions to the Census
are new, and a welcome addition, according to disability advocates.

“I believe the Census wants to hear from us,” said Beth Finke, featured NPR commentator and award-winning author and teacher. “When the 2010 Census was
sent out, there were no braille forms. There were no large-print forms. You could not call a phone number to answer the Census. This year, it is available
online, and it is going to be available in braille and large print or you can phone in to do it.”

Finke, who lost her sight before the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, is looking forward to filling out the 2020 Census this year. “Part
of the fight to get the ADA passed was because there was this attitude that ‘not that many people have disabilities.’ But living before it was passed—all of us were at home. We were not seen as part of the living, breathing community — and living with it after it was passed…we are American citizens and want to be part of it all.”

Today is Census Day, so I went ahead and called the number (844.330.2020) to fill out our questionnaire with the help of a census worker on the phone. A recorded message came up saying that due to COVID 19 they have fewer workers available on staff to help and suggested we call another time when the wait won’t be so long.

Totally understandable, and I can do that. I will do that. Or who knows? Rebellious woman that I am, maybe I’ll give the digital form a try, see if I can actually fill it out with the help of the speech synthesizer on my talking computer. I want us to be counted!