A new ranking names the nation’s best and worst cities for people with disabilities. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
Using dozens of metrics on everything from the economy to health care and quality of life issues, a new ranking is shedding light on which U.S. cities are the best and worst for people with disabilities.
Scottsdale, Ariz. comes in on top of the list out this week from the personal-finance website WalletHub.
Other winners include Minneapolis; Columbus, Ohio; St. Louis; and St. Paul, Minn.
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The annual ranking factors 33 indicators of disability-friendliness including cost-of-living, employment for people with disabilities, cost of health care and in-home services as well as accessibility in over 180 cities. It’s based on data from government agencies, disability nonprofits and other sources.
Scottsdale offers more wheelchair-accessible groceries, entertainment venues and recreational establishments than other cities while providing residents with disabilities access to the nation’s best Medicaid program and favorable economic conditions, the report said.
By contrast, at the bottom of the list is Gulfport, Miss. Other poor performers include Pearl City, Hawaii; Jackson, Miss.; Montgomery, Ala.; and Juneau, Alaska.
“More than one in four U.S. adults live with a disability, so it’s extremely important for cities to prioritize becoming a safe, welcoming and affordable place for this demographic,” said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst. “The best cities have highly-accessible public facilities and housing, high-quality medical care and an affordable cost of living for people on a fixed income.”
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