11 replies to this topic

[Narishka]

Hello everyone,

I have wanted to adopt an orphan from the orphanages in Eastern Russia for a long time, and recently found an older child that I would LOVE to bring home. He's waited far too long for a family, as he was born in 1999.

I also have had dreams of moving to Portland, OR for awhile. The little boy I would love to adopt uses a wheelchair, as he has spina bifida. I am wondering; would Portland with it's large amount of rain be too hard on him for getting around comfortably? I am willing to move to a different city with less rain..mainly I'd just like to live in a more metropolitan area (I live in a very rural little town now.)

Thanks for any thoughts!
Tracy

Edited by Narishka, 30 May 2011 - 05:39 PM.

[Narishka]

http://reecesrainbow.org/tyler3908 Here's Tyler. If I don't end up being able to adopt him; I pray that someone else will! I don't really have the money, but I'm looking for ways to raise it..and there are lots of grants and fundraising opportunities. I love that he's artistic! I am too, so I know we'd get along great. There are so many kids in these orphanages with various special needs that are not getting any of the opportunities they deserve.

[mcjane]

I didn't know they still had orphanages...they are a good idea. In Florida they are putting kids in mental institutions cuz there are not enough foster homes. (Which, btw, is often gubment funded child abuse.) I considered being a foster parent. I didn't screw my 2 sons up too bad. Of course I was lucky enough to raise them as a single parent so I could only half mess them up. No, they are really good citizens. Hard working, fun loving...they were not neglected and are still surely loved. I'm not sure a person can grow straight without that initial nurturing. Dunno...

The question you raised about where it is best to live in a wheelchair...good one. I live in a rural area, (one-light, 4-bars), but I can imagine feeling more independent in a metropolis, where they have public transportation that accomodates wheelers. My sister suggested I move back to Boston. Plus there is the humidity factor. I dunno about spina bifida but it is not a friend of SCI. I'm told people in arid regions suffer less neuropathy. Should I move to Arizona? In Disaboom there was a lengthy thread about building a community designed with wheels in mind. It was a great group fantasy! I think they decided to call it Ability Village. Maybe they are still working on it...

Good luck and God bless in your decision to adopt.

[quintooo]

hey there tracy,

i would have to say that, as a wheelchair user, i lovelovelove being in a large metropolitan area. my province has passed a new law whereby all public spaces, including apartment buildings and condominiums, MUST be accessible by or before january 1, 2025. as such, many new buildings and spaces are being built to the standards of universal design. this doesn't necessarily mean that every space will be accessible to every single person with a disability, but we're getting closer.
in the meantime, i know that if i come across an inaccessible venue, there is almost certainly something nearby - or at least somewhere in this city - that offers the same service. i can't necessarily go to every single place i used to go to before i ended up in a chair, but i'm not stuck in the house or in the hospital with a lack of things to do. i think that the other benefit to being in a large city is that there are always people around, and they are generally willing to help me "accessify" spaces that wouldn't be considered accessible to someone like me. we do this by lifting my chair, carrying me and the chair separately, sliding on the floor, "jumping" up ledges, etc.
i wouldn't go so far as to say that toronto (my city) is the best place to live if you're in a wheelchair - we have awful, awful winters here, nobody plows their sidewalks, and the city road plows are often broken or slow getting around. when this happens, i'm stuck inside. summers are tough too because of the humidity, and in spring and autumn it rains by the bucketload. as well, toronto is a lakeside city and the whole city is generally sloped towards the lake (south). it makes getting around pretty tough if you're fighting to get north on a downtown street, or even if you're traveling east-west, as one side is always being pulled down. our transit system is also heavily dependent upon several highly-trafficked streetcar routes, which are completely inaccessible to people in chairs or people who cannot climb stairs. less than half of our 70 subway stations are accessible, and not all the buses are either. so i wouldn't say toronto wins the prize of best city for wheelchair users.

sorry i didn't actually answer your question at all, but i thought i'd throw that in there.

all the best, and hope all goes well with the adoption if you end up being able to go through with it. i read your post and was absolutely thrilled to hear that you're seriously considering adoption. the world needs more people like you, buddy.

xo
quinto

[Narishka]

mcjane, on 30 May 2011 - 07:34 PM, said:

I didn't know they still had orphanages...they are a good idea. In Florida they are putting kids in mental institutions cuz there are not enough foster homes. (Which, btw, is often gubment funded child abuse.) I considered being a foster parent. I didn't screw my 2 sons up too bad. Of course I was lucky enough to raise them as a single parent so I could only half mess them up. No, they are really good citizens. Hard working, fun loving...they were not neglected and are still surely loved. I'm not sure a person can grow straight without that initial nurturing. Dunno...

The question you raised about where it is best to live in a wheelchair...good one. I live in a rural area, (one-light, 4-bars), but I can imagine feeling more independent in a metropolis, where they have public transportation that accomodates wheelers. My sister suggested I move back to Boston. Plus there is the humidity factor. I dunno about spina bifida but it is not a friend of SCI. I'm told people in arid regions suffer less neuropathy. Should I move to Arizona? In Disaboom there was a lengthy thread about building a community designed with wheels in mind. It was a great group fantasy! I think they decided to call it Ability Village. Maybe they are still working on it...

Good luck and God bless in your decision to adopt.

They have orphanages all over Eastern Europe, and for the most part, they are pretty bad from what I hear. There is so much ignorance in those countries that when a couple has a baby with any kind of special need, they are encouraged to leave their child behind in an orphanage/institution. It breaks my heart. I hear there's no heat in many of the institutions (and it gets COLD over there) and that they are always understaffed..so the children are often left day after day in their cribs with little to no stimulation or love..only their basic needs are barely met. In many cases, after a certain age, (like 4 or 5) they are transferred to a mental institution, after which they often become "unadoptable" according to their governments, to live out their lives in a cold institution..often bedridden, and with no opportunities presented to them to be all that they can be. I'm addicted to the site www.reecesrainbow.org and look at the waiting children all the time and long to bring one home. It is primarily a Down Syndrome adoption ministry, but there are many children listed with various other special needs as well.

Anyway, thank you so much for you response! I don't know if I'll get the opportunity to adopt Tyler or not, but it is my dream to bring at least one of these children home someday. I am praying that it's God's wish for me, because if it is, I know He'll open up a way.

Thanks again..I would think that constant rain would be annoying for a wheelchair user..but of course I've never attempted trying to get around in wheelchair in it. I'm sure there are plenty of wheelers in Portland that do just fine..and they do have great public transit. Oh, and thanks for the advice about SCI and humidity..I'll def look into that if I end up going forward with trying to adopt Tyler or a child with SCI. You could move to Northern CA where I live (Sacramento Valley)..it's generally pretty dry here, but the summers get way too hot for my liking..hence the draw to Portland! lol


Tracy

Edited by Narishka, 30 May 2011 - 08:40 PM.

[sh1wn]

I did my rehab in portland and it was great to be able to jump on the street car or bus and go anywhere.

There is a bit of rain and maybe a few days of snow each year, but your going to have weather no matter where you live.

I would recommend it just because there's plenty of stuff to do and the public transport is all accessable. There is also a lot of options for health care.

I wish you luck on your adoption.

[Narishka]

sh1wn, on 30 May 2011 - 08:56 PM, said:

I did my rehab in portland and it was great to be able to jump on the street car or bus and go anywhere.

There is a bit of rain and maybe a few days of snow each year, but your going to have weather no matter where you live.

I would recommend it just because there's plenty of stuff to do and the public transport is all accessable. There is also a lot of options for health care.

I wish you luck on your adoption.

That's great to hear! Yes, I love it there myself. It's soo pretty and there's a lot to do..I have a bit of a crush on the place, lol.
Thanks SO MUCH for your input

[wheelzoffortune]

Most of the relatively big cities I've been to (NYC, Seattle, Philadelphia, Las Vegas) all are fairly accessible for the most part, so I think you'd probably be okay. If I remember correctly, Seattle was one of the first cities to make all of their buses wheelchair accessible. Good luck. =)

[Ratticis]

You're worried about a little bit of rain? Try 8 months of snow!

[wheeliebear75]

San Diego would have MY vote!

As beneficial COOL STUFF: For starters our public transit system is pretty good; between fixed route buses, trolly, & para transit you/he can get to ALMOST anywhere in the county. The Mission Beach has electric wheelchairs that you can use to go to the BEACH (they have some that have to be pushed that CAN get a little wet in the surf). Children's Hospital is here in San Diego & they'll be able to handle his medical care. (Children's was where I went when I had my accident....they are THE BOMB in kid care!) There are activities that you can get him involved in like day camps during the summer with parks & recreation. There are also several groups that can help parents of disabled kids. Our weather is some of the most mild "nice weather" (Florida might have us beat during winter). Oh not to mention that we've got Sea World, San Diego Zoo, Lego Land AND we're driving distance from Disney Land ,Universal Studios, Six Flags & Knott's Berry Farm.

[sciiaf]

I felt obligated to respond to your posting as I’m a fellow SCI and I live in Portland, OR. I support your desire to find the best city living for yourself, me, I want to return to the Bay Area next year, that’s my thing but I’m here while recooperating with family.

Anyone, the truth about Portland is yes, it rains A LOT. We have had an especially bad spring where it has been cloudy, cold and most often rainy. The rain however is not horrendous, there are never massive downpours, more sprinkles here and there throughout the day. For me, it’s a hindrance and a bummer. I want my sunshine and warmth.

Depends on where you live, but public transport helps too. If you live along a maxx train line, they’re an incredibly well serviced, clean train system running from NE/SE to W/SW Portland. And the bus line is supposedly the best in the country, TriMet. Also, I’m out in Hillsboro in the burbs but I live at Nexus Apartments Orenco Station. They have ADA units that are fabulous! Space under sinks so you can roll under, bathrooms, eye level washer/dryer and the office folks are super nice. Just thought I’d mention that Simpson Property Group owns the Orenco station and a couple downtown in the city. ADA living is a good way to go for us. Not sure about downtown life as I haven’t lived downtown since college but people downtown can be hip, granola, earthy, politically forward thinking and in general, very very nice.

I hope to my heart you will be able to adopt this young boy, what a family you would make, thank you for caring so damn much. Public schools here are really, REALLY good. Well funded, a variety of class makeup (you know, rich to middle to low income) and quality teachers.
We do have four designated seasons, a beautiful fall where leaves turn, not too rainy until you get nov-mid April. Maybe a snow drop once or twice, nothing terrifying, and the summer are really beautiful, warm but not too hot, nice warm nights.

Please let me know if I can help you and ANYBODY IN THE BAY AREA shout out because I’d like help on moving back there as a para.

also one more thing, fantastic doctors for sci here in portland, especially at legacy, i could recommend you my pshiastrist, pscyhologist, urologist, cardiologist, therapists, etc etc etc, they have been the best for me, nothing like the crew down at santa clara valley rehab, in san jose

[Narishka]

Thank you everyone SO MUCH for your feedback! I really want to adopt Tyler; ever since I saw his pic I can't stop thinking about it. To be honest, it would take a miracle at this point (financial miracle)..but I continue to dream and pray. I feel for all the orphans..but the older ones sometimes get overlooked, so I started looking at the older boys..Tyler has been waiting so long for a family If you pray, please pray he gets a family..and that if it's God's will, I could be his mom

Thanks again all!
Tracy