[nabs-l] Living in New York City

[wmodnl wmodnl]

Good morning,
Well, as a native New Yorker, I will give you my perspective.  Of course, no two people will have the same experience.  I wish you successful per suit of your future endeavor.
Navigating around can be easy within Manhattan.  Since people are always around, you will not have a hard time finding someone if you need assistance or you become disoriented as a result of the ever-changing environment.  A few things you should know:
The transit system is good with some flaws.  For example, if bus drivers see you, they will be likely to announce routs and stops.  The systems are not automated as they are here in Boston, nor are they required to have an automated system in-place.  I was given the last peace of information second-hand, someone else may have a more accurate answer on that.  Regarding the subway system, it is slowly advancing, more newer trains with clear announcements are being put in-place.  Those are fixed routs that do not change unless the MTA decides to do construction.  
Remember to always have a back-up cane even if you travel with a guide dog.  Also, always have an extra one if you use one.  I have found that, if you are a guide dog user that access is more problematic when accessing public buildings or stores than in other places.  I think this is due in-part to people bringing in pets who are not controlled.  A word of caussion:
Make sure your housing arrangements are set (on paper) if you have a guide dog and that all are aware.  More buildings are "pet free", and they do not like to make exceptions.  Quite honestly, you will be lucky if the people at the front desk let you in.  NYC has some of the wealthiest people in the world.  Of wich, who are completely ignorant to people with disabilities.  Nor, do they ever want to be educated since "they have it all."

I moved from NYC in early 2012; so, I do not know where things have changed.  You will want to contact the local NFB chapter.  You can do this by visiting:
www.nfbny.org.
Hope this helps.  Have a great day.


Sent from my iPad

On Apr 3, 2013, at 5:08 AM, "Ignasi Cambra Díaz" <ignasicambra at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hello all,
> I will be moving to New York City in August and was wondering how things are over there for blind people in general? Is public transportation good? How about big intersections etc? Of course I have been to New York in several occasions before but only for short periods of time.
> Ideally I would like to find an apartment near Juilliard (Lincoln Center Plaza) as it would be the most convenient option for me, but I don't know if that will be possible for several reasons. I am trying to figure out how realistic it would be for me to live far away from Juilliard and go back and forth? I have a guide dog and have no problems at all dealing with public transportation, but don't know much about New York and Manhattan in particular when it comes to these things.
> Any comments, tips or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
> Thank you!
> 
> IC
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