Instructions for the Voluntary Disability, Race and Ethnic Data Reporting
A. General Instructions:
To provide annual reporting which is required by the federal funds used to develop this
property, management is required by the Federal Government to request that heads of
household wishing to be served (applicants) and those that are currently served (tenants)
complete this form strictly on a voluntary basis.
Owner and agents are required to offer the applicant/tenant the option to complete the form.
Once the form is completed it need not be completed again unless the head of household or
household composition changes. There is no penalty for persons who do not complete the
form.
1. The two ethnic categories you should choose from are defined below. If both apply to
persons in your household, check both.
1. Hispanic or Latino. A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central
American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. The term “Spanish
origin” can be used in addition to “Hispanic” or “Latino.”
2. Not Hispanic or Latino. A person not of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or
Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.
2. The five racial categories to choose from are defined below: You should check as many
as apply to you.
1. American Indian or Alaska Native. A person having origins in any of the original
peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintains
tribal affiliation or community attachment.
2. Asian. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East,
Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China,
India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam
3. Black or African American. A person having origins in any of the black racial
groups of Africa. Terms such as “Haitian” or “Negro” can be used in addition to
“Black” or “African American.”
4. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. A person having origins in any of the
original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
5. White. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle
East or North Africa.
3. Definition of Disabled Person: Under federal law, an individual is disabled if he/she has a physical or
mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; has a record of such an impairment or
is regarded as having an impairment. (“Substantially limits” suggests that the limitation is “significant” or “to a
large extent”. “Major life activities” means those activities that are of central importance to daily life such as seeing,
hearing, walking, breathing, performing manual tasks, caring for one’s self, learning and speaking (this list of major
life activities is not exhaustive)).
The "Term" physical or mental impairment includes, but is not limited to, such diseases and conditions as
orthopedic, visual, speech and hearing impairments, cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple
sclerosis, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, human immunodeficiency, virus infection, mental retardation, emotional
illness, drug addiction and alcoholism. This definition doesn’t include any individual who is a drug addict and is
currently using illegal drugs or an alcoholic who poses a direct threat to property or safety because of alcohol use
(24 CFR Part 8.3).