|
|
 Posted Friday, July 23, 2010 |
|
|
Group: Administrators
Last Login: Friday, February 25, 2011
Posts: 27,
Visits: 168
|
|
We released Top 20 Most Livable U.S. Cities for Wheelchair Users today after months of looking at data. What do you think? How wheelchair livable is your city? What makes a city livable in your mind?
Seattle, Denver and Chicago are some of America's Top 20 most livable cities for people living with paralysis, rated by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. The Reeve Foundation commissioned the list in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA was passed by Congress on July 26, 1990, to protect against discrimination based on disability.
The Top 20 Most Livable Cities represent several regions of the country and highlight those communities that provide the best combination of health and livability-related factors, which enable a disabled person to live a fuller, longer life. Health factors include clean air, Medicaid eligibility and spending, access to physicians and rehabilitation facilities. Livability factors include access to fitness facilities and recreation, access to paratransit and the percentage of people living with disabilities who are employed. The city's age and climate are also taken into account.
"Our Top 20 list highlights the great work taking place across the country to help Americans living with paralysis live their lives to the fullest, thanks, in large part to the passage of the ADA," said Peter Wilderotter, President and CEO. "However, there is still so much more we can do as a nation to improve the quality of life for the tens of millions of Americans living with a disability."
The cities named are as follows, in ranked order:
1. Seattle, Wash.
2. Albuquerque, N.M.
3. Reno, Nev.
4. Denver, Colo.
5. Portland, Ore.
6. Chicago, Ill.
7. Birmingham, Ala.
8. Winston-Salem, N.C.
9. Orlando, Fla.
10. Lubbock, Texas
11. Miami, Fla.
12. Tampa, Fla.
13. Durham, N.C.
14. Fort Worth, Texas
15. Virginia Beach, Va.
16. Arlington, Texas
17. Baltimore, Md.
18. New Orleans, La.
19. Arlington, Va.
20. Atlanta, Ga.
|
|
|
|
| Posted Saturday, July 24, 2010 |
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Saturday, July 02, 2011
Posts: 15,
Visits: 87
|
|
[size=7][/size]
On Cape Cod where I live, more often than not, buildings are not wheelchair accessible. I have SCI and use canes. Even without needing a wheelchair, I cannot get into most buildings. Without a railing on even one step - I can't get up that step. Curb access is very limited. We have a large air force base here called Air Station Cape Cod. They have no curb access on most of their roads, which I find amazingly hard to believe.
I do speak up. Most people are not too defensive. I understand it's expensive to comply. I really do. On the other hand, I'm sure many agree with me that it's a terrible feeling to be left out.
|
|
|
|
| Posted Saturday, July 24, 2010 |
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Posts: 2,
Visits: 4
|
|
| i think you should have included how easy it is to get around by yourself ... i moved out of chicago because the city was horrible to get around in even though i love the city .... buildings are old and doorways are small even the streets are not accessible .... i moved to vegas where everything is new never have a problem going anywhere by myself ramps everywhere ... and vegas is not even on the list.. seattle is hard cause of the hills san fran is impossible ... austin is prob the best i have experienced and not on the list but new orleans is and the streets are very bad to get around in and restaurants .... is this list going by people who have actually been to these cities or what people who are walking think they have accommodated us?
|
|
|
|
| Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 |
|
|
Group: Administrators
Last Login: Monday, November 01, 2010
Posts: 50,
Visits: 55
|
|
My guess is that the heat factor knocked Vegas out of contention. Also, there are limited SCI rehabilitation facilities, etc.
I think using the percentage of people with disabilities who are employed is an interesting part of the formula--not one I would have thought of but one definately worth including.
I live within 25 miles of one of the top cities. While I do not find it very physically accessible, the access to Medicaid, top 3 health care in the country and an amazing SCI outpatient program surely drove it to the top.
|
|
|
|
| Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 |
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Monday, July 26, 2010
Posts: 1,
Visits: 2
|
|
| Albuquerque is number 2, no! I am moving away from Albuquerque because there are few Nuerosugeons! Only 1 who places or replaces Baclofen Pumps. I had to go to Las Cruces to find Physsiatrist (?) to treat SCI! No accessable taxis, only busses! Can't find quality of life programs. Wheelchair getaways has 2 vans so you may have to wait a week if yours breaks down for replacement. Few,only one that I know of, Hoyer lifts or personnel to help you have basic exams. Gynocologyst did not know how I would get a mamogram since I can't stand. I spent lots of money to make my home accessable but the city just does not offer much. Please buy my house! Orlando, Las Vegas, Anaheim ... were all easier to get around and there were more things to do!!
|
|
|
|
| Posted Monday, July 26, 2010 |
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Thursday, October 28, 2010
Posts: 10,
Visits: 50
|
|
I'm just curious whether someone actually took a stroll through these cities in a wheelchair or did they just walk around and evaluate them and assume they are accessible.
I just got back from Washington DC and you would think that the nation's capital would be 100% accessible...
yet I found it to be lacking in ease to get around.
Personally I think the ADA has helped, but I think it still has a ways to go.
I must agree though of the few places I've visited, Las Vegas is the 1 place I would travel to worry free. Everything in Vegas is design to be wheelchair friendly. Yes it's hot but you're always a doorway away from a nicely air conditioned public building that's full of fun things to do. ;-)
|
|
|
|
| Posted Sunday, August 01, 2010 |
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Sunday, August 01, 2010
Posts: 1,
Visits: 1
|
|
| I had heard that Washington DC was amazing! Everyone that i know who has been there was very impressed.
|
|
|
|
| Posted Tuesday, August 03, 2010 |
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Posts: 1,
Visits: 2
|
|
| Being newly Paralized....I often wonder...where is everybody! I see very few others in wheelchairs when I go about. Have many said "this is too much trouble", and rely on others to do errands for them? Have they all moved to the magical Wheelchair City? Where is this place where you will find an abumdance of others out in the community? To me a Top Spot to live would include a faily level terrian, good access (Auto open doors, curbcuts, ramps, etc.), and ease of entry into private homes. But most communities "build up" because of land and construction costs, and are filled with 2 story residential homes. Concreate slab built or single level ranch homes are not being built much anymore! Who will build the Magicial community? As the babyboomers age..there will be increased demand for such a places other than resthomes with an Outback nearby.
|
|
|
|
| Posted Tuesday, August 03, 2010 |
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Posts: 2,
Visits: 4
|
|
I live near Portland and frequently visit Seattle. Also, I'm familiar with Denver and the two Texas towns.
All in all, I agree with the placement of these places on a "Top Twenty" list. However, I take exception to the ranking. I would rate them as Denver, Portland, Seattle followed somewhere down the list by Texas. I do not know about all of the towns on the list. This is just my personal evaluation after pushing through them for twenty-eight yers.
|
|
|
|
| Posted Wednesday, August 04, 2010 |
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Posts: 2,
Visits: 4
|
|
| just wanted to comment on the heat factor in Vegas .... its definitly hot but at least you can still push yourself in the heat , like i said i came from chicago because the snow is a trap , no matter how cold it gets you cant plow threw it in a chair..... i always wanted to visit New York and Boston has anyone in a chair been to these cities and is it as bad as i hear it is?
|
|
|
|
