I'm not at all certain that this is true: my recall of "environmental justice" is that it relates to "low income" and "minority" populations, and NOT to other groups such as the "disabled" or "seniors" or "children"..... I think we need clarification from Ed or Elaine on this particular issue.

Nonetheless, the elderly and disabled communities within your regions and states will be particularly interested in data from the ACS related to changes in disability questions.

My recommendation would be to carefully document the changes in the disability questions over the lifespan of the decennial census, and the American Community Survey. Then, to analyze the "one-year" ACS data for your region/state using the "2007" vintage ACS disability questions; compared to the "2008-to-current" vintage ACS disability questions, knowing that the questions (and responses) have changed between 2007 and 2008. Depend as much as possible on Census Bureau published research on the Disability questions, be it from Census Bureau working papers or professional papers at the Population Association of America, ASA, etc. Exactly "why" did the Census Bureau change the questions, etc.

It will be impossible to say anything about "changes" in the number of disabled persons, even between 2007 and 2008, due to questionnaire changes. It's just best to be upfront with your clientele to show how the ACS questions have changed, and how they impact the responses.

And, it would also be useful to use the PUMS to understand the overlap between minority, low income, elderly and disabled. The tricky element is how to define "low income" (100% or 200% of poverty level, other methods?).

Just some thoughts.

Chuck Purvis

retired :)

San Francisco Bay Area

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