Changes in collecting disability info

After pushback from disability advocates, the U.S. Census Bureau decided to keep the current disability questions on the 2025 American Community Survey (ACS). Proposed changes had risked reducing the counted population of people with disabilities by over 40 percent.

The ACS currently asks six yes/no questions on difficulties with hearing, seeing, concentrating, walking, self-care, and daily activities. Critics say these questions are limited and do not fully capture mental health, developmental disabilities, or chronic conditions like long COVID. A proposed change would have replaced yes/no answers with four levels of difficulty, but a test run indicated this could drop the estimated disabled population from 13.9% to 8.1%.

Census Bureau Director Robert Santos stated that staff will continue working with disability advocates to consider necessary improvements. Proposed changes must be approved by the federal Office of Management and Budget, with a final proposal expected in spring 2024, accompanied by a public comment period.

The Urban Institute recommends deep engagement with the disability community when evaluating survey questions, exploring alternative measures, and assessing how changes could affect access to services and legal protections. Accurate measurement is critical, as ACS data guide federal funding and enforcement of programs like the Americans with Disabilities Act.