[Blindtlk] Living in the suburbs as a visually impaired mom withkids?

[Mari Hunziker]

Thanks Brian for your opinion. I love feedback. The planned community does
have sidewalks, 4 pools,  a hike and bike trail and a really great sidewalk
to the schools. It is so important for me to be able to get to the schools.
I like volunteering in my sons schools. He was in kindergarten last year and
I liked participating in field trips,, and classroom activities. I had to
drive with someone else on most occasions or walk 2 miles there and 2 miles
back. If I had to walk my son to and from school everyday. I would have to
walk 8 miles a day. CRAZY! And definitely not doable with a toddler  in a
stroller. It would kill me. The new community will allow me to be there in
less than 10 minutes since it is just across the street. I am really excited
to move there but I feel that maybe someday my current neighborhood will be
annexed into Austin and will possibly have a bus route close buy. I think
either way, the new community will be more beneficial in the long run even
though it is further out.

Mari Hunziker

On Wed, Jul 21, 2010 at 3:44 PM, Brian Miller <brian-r-miller at uiowa.edu>wrote:

> Hi Mary,
>
> Given the two options you describe below, it doesn't sound as though the
> planned community  puts you in a much worse situation, and given the
> proximity of the school, it may be even better. You can always order
> groceries for delivery, or hire a driver.
>
> Still, I wonder if there isn't a third option -- one that puts you in easy
> walking distance of shopping and other recreational opportunities without
> endangering yourself or your children, but still has access to good
> schools?
> I don't know Austin very well, so I can't suggest anything there, but
> ultimately you and your husband need to consider all your needs, not just
> those of the kids, or you, or him.
>
> Personally, I'm not a big fan of most planned communities -- they are
> typically little better than prisons for blind guys... They often don't
> even
> have sidewalks.
>
> Good luck with your decision.
>
> Brian
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Mari Hunziker
> Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2010 3:42 PM
> To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Blindtlk] Living in the suburbs as a visually impaired mom
> withkids?
>
> HI Friends,
>
> My husband and I have two children a six year old son and a two year old
> daughter. We live, in a suburb outside of Austin and frankly if we lived in
> the Austin city limits life might be  easier for me (bus travel). But
> here's
> my dilemma is that my husband wants to move to a beautiful master planned
> community, which I love as well. The only thing about this community is
> that
> it does not have close shopping. This really does not bother me because
> where I currently live I can walk to the grocery store. It is just about a
> mile and a half away. Trying to do this with the kids has been extremely
> difficult. I don't know if life will be better in the community or if it
> will be better to stay. The pros to the new place is that they have an
> elementary, a middle, and a high school right across the street from the
> homes. It also has a pool and a playground. My current neighborhood has
> more
> things around it like shopping but I cannot cross the street to get to
> them.
> The street does not have a crosswalk and I am not about to jaywalk with two
> children underfoot. I'd  really like your opinion.
> Thank you,
> Mari Hunziker
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