[blparent] Intro and Question about city accessibility

Fri May 15 17:51:07 UTC 2015

Amanda, come to Austin. It is a great city with everything you
specified - most liberal city in Texas, but not too liberal; diverse
population; university; public transportation including metro access
plus Lift and Uber; friendly people; and blind felowship with the NFB
Austin chapter. I settled here almost four years ago and Love it. Lots
of cultural activities and festivals.
Nevzat

On 5/15/15, Amanda Matheny via blparent <blparent at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I had joined this list before, but left when things got very hectic
> and I needed to reduce my list mail. I am back now and I have a
> question, but first I will briefly introduce myself.
>
> My name is Amanda. I will be 31 in a month and a half and I have a
> 4-year-old son. I am a single mom. We're currently living in Texas,
> but I don't feel like this is where I belong and am planning to move
> after I finish my Bachelor's degree. I was originally planning to move
> to Portland, Oregon, and may still, but there are some problems with
> Portland that are forcing me to reconsider my plans. Speaking of
> which, that is the other part of this email.
>
> At present, I have three possible options, though there are advantages
> and disadvantages to all three. Let me describe myself and what I am
> looking for in a place, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of
> my current options, and if you think you know a place that fits the
> bill, please suggest it and why you think it fits. I will then
> research all the options in an effort to make a good decision for
> myself and my son.
>
> I am not religious. I consider myself agnostic. I am visually impaired
> and my son is fully sighted. Both socially and politically I am middle
> of the road. I'm direct middle of the road politically, neither
> republican nor democrat. Socially I am leaning slightly liberal. I
> like to tease that I am too liberal for Texas, but quite likely too
> conservative for Portland, which is very liberal. I love the outdoors
> and I have a good independence level. I prefer to do things without
> assistance whenever possible. I am a Special Education major. Here are
> some basic criteria I want in a city to move to. I don't expect any
> city to meet these perfectly, but it should do so as closely as
> possible.
>
> 1. I'd like to have friends there. Of course there are lots of places
> I don't have friends, but if I don't have them already, it should be
> pretty easy to meet and connect with other people, including those who
> have kids in my son's age range because I'll need to make friends for
> both of us. Of course a city where I already know at least a couple
> people will be most likely given priority, but if one that does not
> already have people I know fits these criteria better, it will still
> be considered.
> 2. Must have good public transportation. The fixed route system should
> span the entire city, possibly even suburbs, and should run
> frequently, no more than every 20 minutes on weekdays, 30 on Saturdays
> and hour on Sundays, and if it's better than that, so much the better.
> A couple of light rail options doesn't hurt either. Paratransit should
> be reliable when needed for appointments and such.
> 2. Low crime rate, especially violent crimes and sex crimes. I do not
> want to put myself and my son in an unsafe environment. Any city is
> going to have some level of crime, but it should not be overrun by
> crime.
> 3. Very little drug use, and drugs should be illegal. Part of the
> problem with the northwest is the legalization of drugs, like
> marijuana, not only for medical use but for recreational use. I heard
> they're even planning on putting pot stores on the streets, like
> liquor stores, and a few people I know that live up there have said
> more people are using drugs and doing so publicly for all to see. This
> is intolerable to me and I will not expose myself or my son to it. I
> hate smoking of all forms and if I could help it, I wouldn't expose
> myself to cigarettes either, but they are everywhere so that is
> unavoidable. However, if you live in a place where smokers are at
> least respectful of non-smokers, and tend to stay clear of them,
> especially children, then it might be worth considering.
> 4. People should not be judgmental. I know that in some cities, people
> are more open minded toward the blind than others. That is actually
> one of Portland's advantages. Around here, they're nothing but
> patronizing, with very few exceptions. I want to live in a place where
> I can put my degree to good use and not be assumed incapable based on
> my blindness.
> 5. Should have a university. This is a must as I intend to pursue my
> Master's degree in Special Education with a focus on visually impaired
> students. My current focus is mild/moderate as that is all that is
> offered by my online university, so I'll need to transfer to a
> physical one for a VI focus.
> 6. Reasonable climate. Texas gets a lot of flash flooding and
> thunderstorms. One of Portland's advantages is that while it gets
> rain, it's usually not as heavy or violent. Salt Lake is another
> option I've considered that I like, but I don't like the snow,
> especially when the sidewalks are not plowed. That doesn't rule them
> out, but it's something to consider. I'd prefer a nice, moderate
> climate, very little extreme weather problems such as hurricanes,
> tornados, and absolutely no earthquakes! I couldn't handle those.
> 7. Ideally should have Section 8 wait lists open or apartments with
> open wait lists that do project based section 8 or similar state based
> programs. Money is tight for myself and my son, who are currently
> living in a mobile home and only paying lot rent. Unfortunately we
> can't take the mobile home with us or we could just find an accessible
> community there, and we can't afford to buy a new one, so when we move
> out, we'll have to go section 8 or similar until I finish college.
> We'd prefer a 2 bedroom section 8 or similar so we don't have to share
> a room since he's used to his own now, but that actually should be
> easier since most 1 bedrooms get a lot more full than 2 bedroom ones.
>
> I'm sure there are other things I'd like but these are some of the big
> ones. Now here are the possibilities for the three cities I've
> considered and their advantages/disadvantages. One of them has been
> entirely ruled out and I will tell why in its description.
>
> Portland Oregon: Advantages - great public transportation system,
> friends in and near the area, some with kids my son's age, almost
> everything accessible, easily navigable address system, people seem
> open to the ability of the blind, Portland State University, mostly
> reasonable weather. Disadvantages - A bit too liberal for my comfort,
> legalized recreational marijuana along with expanding public use and
> the emergence of pot shops, severely limited blind services, though
> Portland residents can acquire services from Vancouver Washington if
> needed.
> Salt Lake City, Utah: Advantages - Another great transit system,
> friendly people, easy to navigate, know the area from living there
> before, University of Utah, my son's old pediatrician from when he was
> a baby if she still works there, who I trust and often tease that I'd
> like back, some friends there, though none with kids. Disadvantages: A
> little too conservative and religious, though not so bad in the main
> city, snow and often unplowed sidewalks during the winter, making
> travel more difficult, ex's family lives there (haven't figured out
> yet if this is actually an advantage or a disadvantage.)
> Plano, Texas: Advantages - Friends from high school, even several
> sighted ones that don't tend to judge, most with kids around my son's
> age, I know my way around since I grew up there, weather is usually
> okay but can get bad at times. Disadvantages - limited public
> transportation so need to walk most places, no university
> (dealbreaker)
>
> I know this is kind of long, but I'm trying to be thorough. I'd prefer
> a place I've visited before as well, but I haven't visited too many
> places so that may or may not be doable. I'm going to have to do some
> thinking, researching, and soul searching, because wherever I go, I
> want it to be final and where I end up settling. Feel free to make any
> suggestions you think might fit the bill. Thanks!
>
> Amanda
>
> --
> Amanda Matheny
> Website: www.craftyfrugalmom.com
> Twitter: @craftyfrugalmom
> Facebook Profile: http://www.facebook.com/craftyfrugalmom
> Facebook fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/cfmfanpage
> Stumbleupon: http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/craftyfrugalmom
> Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/craftyfrugalmom
>
> _______________________________________________
> blparent mailing list
> blparent at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> blparent:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/nevzatadil%40gmail.com
>

-- 
❝"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his
head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his
heart."❞
‒Nelson Mandela