Address: The Arc of Washington State, 2638 State Avenue NE Olympia, WA 98506
Phone: (360) 357-5596 | Toll Free: (888) 754-8798 | Fax: (360) 357-3279 | Email: info@arcwa.org
Every 10 years, everyone in the United States is counted through the census. It is important that everyone is counted because the census data impacts many key things. For example, the census data is used to figure out how much money state and local governments get for Medicaid, housing vouchers, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and education programs. When there isn’t enough money, services and programs for people with disabilities can be cut. Census data is also used to determine how many representatives each state gets in the House of Representatives.
The 2020 Census self-reporting period has now concluded.
Thank you for completing your census and for encouraging others to be counted. We continue to monitor the activities of the Census Bureau as they complete the census process.
Check out the resources below to learn more about the importance of the census.
The Arc has developed resources to support individuals and organizations in understanding what the census is, why its important for people with disabilities, and how to complete it.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You Count! Be Counted.
Plain language, English (PDF) | Plain language, English (Word Doc)
Tu Cuentas! Se Contado.
Plain language, Spanish (PDF) | Plain language, Spanish (Word Doc)
Get Your Community Counted: A Guide for Organizations
English (PDF) | English (Word Doc)
Haga Que Su Comunidad Sea Contada: Una Guía Para Organizaciones
Spanish (PDF) | Spanish (Word Doc)
How Are Group Homes Being Counted in the Census?
Census Group Home Fact Sheet (PDF) | Census Group Home Fact Sheet (Word Doc)
Why the Census Matters for People With Disabilities: A Guide to the 2020 Census Operations & Challenges (National Disability Rights Network)
How the Census Can Give People With Disabilities a Fair Chance
Webinar: The Census & The Disability Community: Census 101 (National Disability Rights Network & The Arc; Recorded February 2020)
Webinar: Get Your Community Counted – Strategies for Census Outreach from Chapters of The Arc (Outreach & Materials) (Recorded February 2020)
Webinar: The 2020 Census Disability Count Continues (National Disability Rights Network, The Arc, NACDD; Recorded May 2020)
The 2020 Census Disability Count Continues Questions and Answers
Why Are There No Disability-Related Questions on the 2020 Census?