[blparent] Intro and Question about city accessibility

Sat May 16 13:41:25 UTC 2015

Amanda, I am sorry to hear that, But I can understand personal reasons
for not wanting to return to an otherwise great city. Check the
Internet; that's how I found Austin.
I was looking forward to seeing you here.
Anyway, I wish you all the best in choosing a city to settle.
Warm regards,
Nevzat Adil

On 5/15/15, Amanda Matheny via blparent <blparent at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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
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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