[blparent] Intro and Question about city accessibility

Fri May 15 20:40:22 UTC 2015

Nevzat,

Thank you so much for making a reasonable suggestion without getting
rude about it. It is very much appreciated.

I have lived in Austin before, and I'm not particularly fond of the
idea of returning, for a variety of personal reasons I'd rather not
discuss here. However, I do know Austin is pretty accessible and
friendly, and I believe I heard they are expanding their
transportation, so that is good. They did however destroy my favorite
mall! lol. Anyway great suggestion, but as I said for personal reasons
unfortunately it won't work out for me.

On 5/15/15, Nevzat Adil via blparent <blparent at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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
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>>
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>
>
> --
> ❝"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
>
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-- 
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
TSU: http://www.tsu.co/craftyfrugalmom