Long Beach: City Launches Disability Data & Community Survey to Enhance Inclusivity and Support for Residents with Disabilities
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Long Beach, CA ~ Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach is taking steps to ensure that the needs and voices of the disability community are heard and addressed. Through its Citizens' Advisory Commission on Disabilities (CACoD) and the Office of Equity, the city will be launching the Disability Data & Community Survey. This initiative, which has received a one-time allocation of $60,000 as part of the City's Adopted Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, aims to bridge critical data gaps and inform policies, programs, and services for people with disabilities in Long Beach.

The Disability Data & Community Survey has been co-created with CACoD and community partners, with key objectives including collecting person-centered data through participatory methods such as interviews, focus groups, testimonials, and surveys. The survey will also identify existing and emerging needs, barriers, and opportunities for people with disabilities in Long Beach. Additionally, it will provide a comprehensive understanding of the community's demographics and geographic distribution.

One of the main goals of this initiative is to inform City leadership in amending and creating policies, programs, and procedures that ensure full participation and inclusive access for people with disabilities. The data collected from this survey will also be used to develop a comprehensive demographic and information dashboard for the Long Beach disability community. This information will culminate in a Report on the State of Disability in Long Beach which is expected to be compiled and disseminated in late 2026.

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The survey will be available online in English, Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog starting from January 15th until May 1st. People with disabilities who live, work or visit Long Beach are encouraged to participate in this survey. In order to ensure equitable access and participation for all individuals regardless of their abilities or language preferences, the survey will also be available in paper form or can be administered over the phone. Those who need assistance accessing the survey can contact ada@longbeach.gov or 562.570.6257. Additionally, individuals can also visit any open Long Beach Public Library location to access the survey through a public computer lab.

To kick off the survey, the City will be hosting a free celebration event on January 15th, 2026 at Long Beach Forward (2217 E. 6th St.). This event will provide an opportunity for community members to learn more about the survey and enjoy free food, presentations, and chances to win prizes. RSVP is required to attend.

The Disability Data & Community Survey is a two-year project that has now entered its primary data collection phase. After successful listening sessions and initial data gathering between October 2024 and July 2025, which helped inform the development of the survey, the project team is now rolling out the survey instrument and identifying individuals for in-depth interviews. The project is supported by an active Memorandum of Understanding with strategic partners that commenced on August 1st, 2025, solidifying collaboration efforts in community engagement and data collection.

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CACoD serves as an advisory body to the Mayor and City Council on issues affecting people with disabilities in Long Beach. They are dedicated to advocating for an inclusive and accessible community.

For media inquiries, please contact Jennifer Kumiyama, Citywide Accessibility Coordinator at ada@longbeach.gov or 562.570.6257.

This initiative highlights Long Beach's commitment to creating a more inclusive and accessible city for all individuals, especially as it prepares for the upcoming 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. By collecting valuable data and insights from people with disabilities themselves, this initiative will help shape policies and programs that promote justice, equity, freedom, dignity, privacy, economic self-sufficiency, mental and physical health and wellbeing for all members of the community.

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