[wheelygirll]

Just curious about places that would be good for me or other who are wheelchair bound to live, I've lived in the same town for the last 30 yrs and i think its time for a move really tired of being the only para women around here and to say the least there is only 3 people in the whole town with sci. Just curious to find out where people live and what they think of there town maybe one day i will move there lolol

[Manda]

I find this interesting also,I am one of 3 people paralyzed in my area,
Pennsylvania is beautiful in most areas but my town has nothing in it
So if I would or shall I say,I've always wanted to move upstate in Pa
like Wellsboro,Beauitful,small country living,antiques,Awsome resterants,Pa
Grand Canyon,They still have the old gas lights,The park on Main street
has a big statue with Winken,Blinken,and Nod sailing off in their wooden shoe
SIGH!!!!

[KarenFerguson]

For a great place to live you can't beat California - especially the central coast. Hubby & I live in Los Osos which is just west of San Luis Obispo and across the bay from Morro Bay. We have great weather all year round and you can beat the ocean and the bay! Being a college town (Cal Poly), you get a great atmosphere - think trendy restaurants, tiny coffee places and great activities from the college and the beach towns all year round.

California in general is great. I've lived in central California (Fresno - I wouldn't recommend it), northern California (Davis - close the Sacramento a great place but I needed the ocean) and San Diego. San Diego was (for me) the best place to live in a chair. Everything is pretty much accessible - the public transportation is excellent and you can't beat it's fabulous weather. Many people in chairs live in San Diego. There are many wheelchair spots teams as well.

Also, with the economy the way it is now in the US, the time to buy some real estate is now! Prices are pretty much the lowest they have ever been (and will just keep getting lower).

[Kev-O]

KarenFerguson, on Oct 16 2008, 11:21 PM, said:

For a great place to live you can't beat California - especially the central coast. Hubby & I live in Los Osos which is just west of San Luis Obispo and across the bay from Morro Bay. We have great weather all year round and you can beat the ocean and the bay! Being a college town (Cal Poly), you get a great atmosphere - think trendy restaurants, tiny coffee places and great activities from the college and the beach towns all year round.

California in general is great. I've lived in central California (Fresno - I wouldn't recommend it), northern California (Davis - close the Sacramento a great place but I needed the ocean) and San Diego. San Diego was (for me) the best place to live in a chair. Everything is pretty much accessible - the public transportation is excellent and you can't beat it's fabulous weather. Many people in chairs live in San Diego. There are many wheelchair spots teams as well.

Also, with the economy the way it is now in the US, the time to buy some real estate is now! Prices are pretty much the lowest they have ever been (and will just keep getting lower).

I know a guy that lived in san diego that was in a chair an he said its prob the best place to be if your in a chair. nice weather year around an flat. Thats were i plan on living once i get done with school

[RacingAxe]

I've heard Vancouver is one of the most accessible cities. Visited when I was a kid but I thought it was great back then. Have you checked it out?

[andinoah]

San Antonio Texas!!!!!

[FROG]

Camarillo is a great place for wheelchair living. The weather is perfect and the town is very accessible. The people are very cool with the chair and support etc. Public transport is better than average.

[Gordo]

RacingAxe, on Oct 17 2008, 08:50 PM, said:

I've heard Vancouver is one of the most accessible cities. Visited when I was a kid but I thought it was great back then. Have you checked it out?

I've been lurking around here for a few days, but since I'm from Vancouver, I just thought I'd give my thoughts.

In terms of Canadian cities, Vancouver would be good for wheelchair users in terms of weather; we are one of the two major cities in Canada that does not normally snow in winter (the other is Victoria, which is a ferry ride away). The daily high temps in winter do not normally drop below 0 degrees C (32 degrees F). But it does rain a fair deal from October to April. It's the opposite from May to September; almost no rainy days during that period.

There are some issues with accessibility in Vancouver (due to lack of building regulations set by something like the ADA, in my opinion). But there's been some improvements, to get ready for the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. It was long overdue, but the public transit system is now fully accessible (although the buses and trains can get really full during rush hour, so be prepared), and from what I heard, most businesses that opened since the 1990s are required to be accessible to those with disabilities.

The terrain itself is okay for the most part, but there are some places with really steep hills, particularly in the Shaughnessy neighborhood of town and the suburbs of North Vancouver and West Vancouver. But chances are that tourists won't go to those places (maybe except for the Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver). Plus, those are the really expensive parts of town, so even if you're living here, you won't stop at those places too often.

Some of the suburbs are pretty flat, so if you're not planning to work or venture into the City of Vancouver itself, it's perfectly workable to live in Richmond, Delta, Surrey or Langley. Those four suburbs are among the flattest in the Metro Vancouver area. Richmond is getting a rapid transit line next year as well, which would make it a bit more desirable to live in.

I live in Richmond, which is on an island that is completely flat, which makes it great for wheelchair users. It also boasts a 60% Asian population rate, so if you're into Chinese and Japanese food, that's an added bonus.

If you're living in the Vancouver area, the only parts to avoid are really the Downtown Eastside and Whalley (in Surrey, the suburb to the southeast) -- not because of access issues, but because they are really high-crime.

I think I covered everything... If there's anything else that you want to ask about Vancouver, feel free to ask away (including via PM).

This post has been edited by Gordo: 02 November 2008 - 02:32 AM

[allyouneedislove]

Denver is a great place to live most of the time. Public transportation is pretty accessible, and we have 300 days of sunshine a year. However, because snow usually melts off pretty quickly here, on the rare occasion that it doesn't, the city is totally unprepared, and the city sidewalks don't get cleared in a timely fashion. The city itself is pretty accessible, particularly downtown. There are also many great performance venues that are accessible.

[wheeliebear75]

I'm in the San Diego area......just a ways south of Karen. NO snow.....unless of course you want it in which case drive up to the mountains and have all the snow you want. Mission Beach has a program with 4 wheelchairs that can go onto the sand 2 of which can go into the edge (2 are manual but the manual is someone pushing you from behind.......the other 2 are electric......the reason they can only go on sand on not IN the water)......you just leave your chair & an ID with the life guards who then loan you a chair. It's the best way for me to take my kids to the beach and we can use it all day (9-4 or 4:30). Public transportation is pretty good. If you need help getting a job (although with being Canadian I don't know) there is Department Of Rehabilitation that can help. There are fairly nice colleges.......both 4 yr and community. They're mostly accessible the only exception being City College which has all sorts of sub-levels and 1\2 levels to it because it was built on a hill around the 30's I think.......so if the ONE main elevator breaks down (which it did OFTEN) you're SOL. But all the others are all 100% accessible and have wonderful DSPS (Disabled Student Programs Services) are terrific! There is Sharp Hospital for spinal cord care (I was hospitalized & did my rehab there.....but haven't been back in years). San Diego is a very large county so you can live here and be on the beach, in the mountains, or out in the desert.......your choice. But just so you know although I know there are many other SCI's in my area......it isn't like we're all getting together for lunch........most of us don't even know each other.

[ericr]

Florida!! nice and flat warm all year round

[ajl338]

You can come and swap with me. I live in the uk but would do anything to live in canada, i love the place.
If its canada you want to live, i have been to toronto and winnipeg and both were amazingly easy interms of access compared with the UK.

If you want somewhere in the world not to live then i can suggest Mostar in Bosnia as its the most inaccessible place i have been to yet

ann

[goldnucs]

Tucson, Arizona is a wonderful place as long as you can handle the 100-degree-plus days in the summer.

[dangerousdave]

I exist in the best area to live a disabled life

Here on earth...whatever the issue...adapt

[allis53ca]

Rick, i grew up in Tucson (the oven)..i haven't been back there since the late 90's and haven't lived there in almost 20 years..my step sister has been trying to get me to move back since i broke my neck..how do you function in the heat w/that high of an injury...i had to leave fort worth because the heat keeps me locked in all summer...is it easier to keep your bod temp regulated in the dry climate ?....i know its easier to keep warm and body comf. in the dry winters in colo than it is humid cold in tex..and of course a "hot" day in the mts. is 85 degrees, so summers are nothin...is it the same for heat ?

shit, back on topic, sorry..........Denver is an easy city to wheel in, and surprisingly so is Steamboat Springs especially with its free and convenient paratransit

This post has been edited by allis53ca: 11 December 2009 - 06:14 PM

[goldnucs]

The older I get the tougher it seems to get dealing with the heat. The nights are great but I avoid going out during the day. When I do, I'm not exposed to the heat for any long periods; just from one A/C to another. I tolerate it significantly better when I stay well hydrated. I'm not a big water fan so I have to force myself.

Bottom line is the grass is always greener somewhere. I'll gladly suffer through the hot days of summer and still have the nice nights as opposed to live someplace cold and be confined to the heated indoors for day AND night during the long winter.

This post has been edited by goldnucs: 11 December 2009 - 09:12 PM

[allis53ca]

well since you put it that way....i guess id forgotten those 85 degree nites....i never minded working graveyard back in those ab days..used to (edited for legal reasons) and then get someone to drive us up A mountain and ride our bikes back down insanely fast while extremely (edited) also......midnite drags on speedway or out houghton.......

...okay, enuff memory lane.......got an extra room for rent rick ?

[goldnucs]

Funny you should ask..I rent my whole house out from Jan 1 through May during which time i live at the beach in San Carlos, Sonora, MX. Not the most accessible place but paradise nevertheless.

[allis53ca]

but i want to go to mex jan to may too....i want the room sept to jan ...i go to colo may to sept