A new ranking names the best and worst cities in the country for people with disabilities. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/TNS)
Using dozens of metrics on everything from the economy to health care to quality of life, a new ranking sheds light on which U.S. cities are the best and worst for people with disabilities.
Scottsdale, Arizona, tops the list released this week by personal finance website WalletHub.
Other winners include Minneapolis; Columbus, Ohio; Saint Louis; and St. Paul, Minnesota.
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The annual category factors 33 disability accommodation indicators, including cost of living, disability employment, cost of health care and home services, as well as accessibility in more than 180 cities. It is based on data from government agencies, disability nonprofits, and other sources.
Scottsdale offers more wheelchair-accessible food, entertainment and recreational facilities than other cities, while providing residents with disabilities access to the nation’s best Medicaid program and favorable economic conditions, according to the report.
By contrast, at the bottom of the list is Gulfport, Mississippi. Other countries with poor results are Pearl City, Hawaii; Jackson, Mississippi; Montgomery, Alabama; and Juneau, Alaska.
«More than one in four American adults lives with a disability, so it’s extremely important that cities prioritize becoming a safe, welcoming, and affordable place for this demographic,» said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. «The best cities have highly affordable public housing and facilities, high-quality healthcare, and an affordable cost of living for people on fixed incomes.»
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