Post AcuWVLjGPRLX8gGZAe by JustGrist@disabled.social
 (DIR) More posts by JustGrist@disabled.social
 (DIR) Post #AcuWVKUh0863JCRPou by JustGrist@disabled.social
       2023-12-17T19:35:55Z
       
       0 likes, 0 repeats
       
       The census bureau is proposing changes to census questions about disability that would, in their words, create a more nuanced picture of disability in the US. The material effect would be a reduction of the estimated level of disability in the US from 14% to 8% and a corresponding reduction in federal funding for programs for disabled people. ...
       
 (DIR) Post #AcuWVLjGPRLX8gGZAe by JustGrist@disabled.social
       2023-12-17T19:36:30Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       14% is already a gross underestimate of disability in the US by, if I were to guess, at least 6% and as much as 11%. Furthermore, covid has created an estimated 2 million newly disabled people since 2020. ...
       
 (DIR) Post #AcuWVMqkF6vOcAm3TE by JustGrist@disabled.social
       2023-12-17T19:37:05Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       I personally have significantly worsened asthma and an arythmia since getting covid in late 2021. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to suspect that if the census bureau adopts this new definition of disability that the social security administration may later adopt it as well. ...
       
 (DIR) Post #AcuWVNiyzSJHKO9N0i by JustGrist@disabled.social
       2023-12-17T19:37:15Z
       
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       The social security administration already has an incredibly outdated and restrictive definition of disability that leaves thousands of disabled people in the US shit out of luck and forced to crowdfund for their basic needs and/or work jobs that make their disability and/or chronic illness worse and ultimately decrease their lifespans. ... ...
       
 (DIR) Post #AcuWVOUU8qJ7hiNJ3I by JustGrist@disabled.social
       2023-12-17T19:38:05Z
       
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       Here’s the original twitter thread from the More Perfect Union account:https://twitter.com/moreperfectus/status/1735706116066075086?s=46&t=zUiY5Kc3g8pxWcwa8CTrwwHere’s a compilation of the thread on Thread Reader:https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1735706116066075086.htmlHere are the two links explaining the situation that MPU included in their thread.From science.org:https://www.science.org/content/article/how-many-americans-are-disabled-proposed-census-changes-would-greatly-decrease-countFrom Fortune:https://fortune.com/2023/12/08/census-bureau-disabilities-survey-change/
       
 (DIR) Post #AcuWVPJX538mG2G4cS by JustGrist@disabled.social
       2023-12-17T19:38:33Z
       
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       I’ll post the text of my entire federal register comment below. Feel free to copy it and use it to make the comment process less time-consuming. Also feel free to pass it on to others to do the same for them.  My comment is as follows in the next toot:
       
 (DIR) Post #AcuWVQ6o7qYWirJQQK by JustGrist@disabled.social
       2023-12-17T19:40:24Z
       
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       I oppose these changes to the way disability is counted by the US Census Bureau. Disability is already underestimated in the US and programs for disabled people are already underfunded as a result.(comment continued in next toot) ...
       
 (DIR) Post #AcuWVQzkpYVZTH1J4K by JustGrist@disabled.social
       2023-12-17T19:42:04Z
       
       1 likes, 1 repeats
       
       These changes would result in an almost 50% reduction in the federal recognition of disability in the US and even less federal funding for necessary programs for disabled people. I think this is a especially irresponsible change to make given that 2 million more people are known to be disabled in the US as a result of covid.(comment continued in next toot) ...
       
 (DIR) Post #AcuWVSvZe4LvSt4zpY by JustGrist@disabled.social
       2023-12-17T19:42:16Z
       
       1 likes, 0 repeats
       
       Furthermore, as research into identifying and treating long covid is still in its early stages there are likely many more people in the US struggling with new disabilities than are currently recognized. I urge the Census Bureau to maintain the current definition of disability rather than making the proposed changes that will ultimately harm disabled people in the US.
       
 (DIR) Post #AcuWVUWTiLT0PdLyzY by JustGrist@disabled.social
       2023-12-17T19:43:24Z
       
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       Here’s the direct link to the federal register where you can leave your comment:Federal Register :: Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request American Community Survey and Puerto Rico Community SurveyCommenting directions below. ...
       
 (DIR) Post #AcuWVW10ALTd2adsCu by JustGrist@disabled.social
       2023-12-17T19:44:14Z
       
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       Find the link that says “submit a formal comment.” Click it. Type or paste your comment in the edit field. Fill out the required info (name, city, state, zip). Agree to the TOS and click "submit."The comment deadline is December 19, 2023, so please take five minutes to do this in the next couple days. Thanks.