United Federation of ...Census Advice

RantWoman notes that the following is good advice for blind people regardless of whether they belong to 0, 1, or 2 of the US nationwide blind consumer organizations.

RantWoman is pointedly NOT addressing the remarkable sociological tendency of small minority communities to split into mutually antagonistic factions, even without help from the social psych folks who set up Survivor cycles.

If RantWoman wanted more reasons in her life to be irked about something or other, she would excoriate the author of this item for, in several places, implying that the only blind people who count are members of a specific organization.

RantWoman is going to stop at reminding everyone, blind or not, to please deal with your census stuff.

From: Othman, Ronza
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Sent: Monday, April 12, 2010 11:46 AM
Subject: Census Alert

Fellow Federationists,

As you know, the 2010 Census is upon us. You may have received a form inthe mail from the U.S. Census Bureau in late March. All Americans arerequired to provide Census data under Title 13, United States Code, Sections143 and 191. Anyone over 18 years old who refuses or willfully neglects to complete the questionnaire or answer questions posed by Census employees maybe fined up to $5,000. The Census Bureau is required to safeguard information it receives and is prohibited from sharing information about individuals with anyone, including other governmental agencies. Any Census worker who shares personal information about any individual will be subjectto a fine of up to $250,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.

The information obtained through the Census may only be used for statistical purposes, including legislative redistricting and the allocation of nearly$400 billion in governmental funding to public projects such as schools,road and infrastructure construction, hospital and health care services,rehabilitation programs, and disaster preparedness projects. It is crucialthat the nation's blind be counted.

Blind Americans can complete the Census in a number of ways:

-- By Phone: Call the Census toll free help line at 1-866-872-6868 andrequest a representative. A Census worker will complete the Census ShortForm over the phone between April 12 and 21. You may be asked for your20-digit Census Identification Number, which is located on the bar codebelow your mailing label. The U.S. Census will likely continue to receivetelephone submissions after April 21, but fewer representatives will beavailable to take data in this manner.

-- At Home: You may schedule a home visit by a Census worker by calling(toll free) 1-866-872-6868. Census workers will be deployed to conduct homevisits in May and June. Though the U.S. Census attempts to sendrepresentatives to every home that failed to mail in a form, it is unlikelythey will reach every American. Thus scheduling a visit by calling the HelpLine guarantees a visit to your home.

-- In Person: Individuals can visit Census Questionnaire Centers in person for assistance with completing their forms. To locate your local office,visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/bcqac-textview.php andenter your zip code.

-- As a Group: chapters and affiliates can request that a Census PartnershipSpecialist conduct a Census workshop and provide survey completion assistance for a group. Individuals will be required to bring the Census form they received in the mail because it lists their Census Identification Numbers below the bar code on the address label. To find your local Census Partnership Office, visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/bcqac-textview.php.

I urge every federationist to take advantage of one of the alternate methods for completing the Census as quickly as possible. As equal, contributing members of society, we must be counted.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me using theinformation below.
Regards,
Ronza M. Othman, Esq.
Government Programs Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
Phone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2374
Email: rothman@nfb.org

RMO/wmb