10 Best Disabled-Friendly Cities in US


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Accessibility is the primary need of people with disabilities. A large population of disabled people live in US cities. It is therefore important to address their needs and develop infrastructure and urban development plans which are disabled-friendly. 

What makes a city disabled friendly and how to meet their accessibility needs; we try to understand in this blog. Also, we reveal the 10 best disabled-friendly cities in the US. Read on to know more about it.

What makes a city disabled friendly?

As per the World Health Organization, around 15% of the population of the entire world live with some form of disability. As the world population is increasing, most people with disabilities will be living in cities. 

The cities need to be disabled-friendly in order to cater to the needs of people with various disabilities. These people can be young, old, men, women and of various races and ethnicities. 

So if cities are built with accessibility as a priority, people with disabilities will feel socially included.

The urban infrastructure of the cities should be such that they provide universal design and barrier-free elements for parks, playgrounds, buildings, schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, public toilets, recreational areas, etc. 

When it comes to transportation, there should be easy access to pathways, footpaths, bus shelters, junctions, crossings and public transportation.

Likewise, in terms of health, there should be availability, awareness and easy access to medical facilities. 

Digital tech should also provide for the needs and demands of people with various disabilities like mobile applications, websites, products, and services.

The educational centers must be inclusive and provide quality education with access to digital learning for the disabled. 

Most importantly, the city must have citizen-friendly governance that takes care of the needs of people with disabilities and makes it a priority to provide them with solutions to the problems faced by them. 

The cities must be built with diversity, inclusion, and equality in mind. Wherever possible, changes should be made to suit the needs of the disabled.

Features of disabled friendly?

There are certain features that make a city disabled-friendly. Let us explore these features and discuss them one by one.

  • Accessible Housing
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The housing needs of people with disabilities are different, and this is why they look for accessible housing options. Accessibility needs are different depending upon the kind of disability the person has. 

Talking about the US, only 6% of the houses across the nation are accessible, while 15% of households have someone living with a disability.

“Installation of wheelchair ramps for disabled is the first step homeowners can take to make your home disabled-friendly”. 

— EZ-ACCESS

The good news is that many cities are coming up with accessible housing options, and this means they are going to grow in times to come. 

The only factor which is important to know is that are these housing options as per the budget expectations of the people with disabilities. Also, are they conveniently located near places of work or accessible transportation?

  • Accessible Transportation

As many as 25 million people in the US have travel-limiting disabilities, and about 3.6 million people are home-bound pertaining to travel or transportation barriers. 

The Americans with Disabilities Act suggests public transportation provisions that indicate accessibility standards that cities need to meet. In this case, some cities are better than others, which are still catching up.

  • Accessible Sidewalks

The sidewalks are not only meant for public areas, but they should provide enhanced accessibility to people with disabilities. There must be right provisions and facilities for the disabled around the city so that they can enjoy the public spaces.

  • Buildings and Public Venues Accessibility

Buildings like malls, offices, restaurants, and other public venues must have accessibility on their priority list. The framework should be such that it allows ease of entering and exiting for people with disabilities.

  • Visual and Audio Cues

People with sight and hearing impairments should also not feel left out, and proper visual and audio cues must be provided to them in the city, especially in public areas, so that they can understand things with precision.

  • Universal Design Principles

These are principles that aim to provide accessibility irrespective of age, size disability or ability. If followed in the right manner, they provide a great deal of accessibility to everyone.

  • High-Quality Healthcare

Healthcare is an important need for everyone, and this goes true for the disabled as well. There must be provisions for fast healthcare delivery to people with disabilities within the city, and most hospitals and health centers should provide accessibility options to everyone.

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Urban planning & development for people with disabilities

Urban planning and development play a major role for people with disabilities. Many disabled people choose to live in urban centers as it is easy for them to get healthcare and other development needs. 

The urban environments, facilities, and infrastructure require a lot of planning so that the population with a disability feels included. 

About 15% of the world’s population live with some form of disability, and a major amount of this population lives in urban areas. 

They have specific needs for housing, transportation, education, work and basic services.

There are initiatives and good practices which promote accessibility and disability inclusion within cities around the globe. If universal design is followed in the right manner, it provides for accessibility to the disabled. 

While this is possible in developed countries, developing countries still lag behind in providing accessibility relief to their disabled population.

The universal design principles have to be implemented right from the initial stages of urban development and planning. 

Accessibility is a matter of human rights, and it is also an indication of social and economic development.

Policy framework for people with disabilities

As the ADA (American’s with Disabilities Act) was signed 32 years ago, it facilitated civil rights protection for disabled Americans. It included four major outcomes, such as: 

  • Equal opportunity 
  • Economic self-sufficiency 
  • Full participation 
  • Independent living

The ADA prohibits any discrimination on the basis of any disability and this holds true for various contexts such as employment, community living, transportation and public accommodations. 

The US government has taken steps to provide for a more disabled-friendly democracy. They have appointed U.S. Special Advisor on International Disability Rights.

They also have worked in order to increase access to democracy for disabled voters. Likewise, they are advancing equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion across the federal government. 

The needs of people with disabilities are one of the major concerns of the government.

10 Best Disabled-Friendly Cities in US

Let us have a look at some of the most disabled-friendly cities in the US

  • Washington, DC

The national capital offers a lot of disabled-friendly facilities. It has wide sidewalks, and offers the metro, which is one of the most accessible transportations in the world. It also offers accessible accommodations.

  • Los Angeles, CA
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The metro rail stations are wheelchair friendly, the metro buses also feature automatic lifts which are quite helpful in moving around the city. There are many accessible accommodations and public places for the people with disabilities. All major attractions are accessible too, namely Universal Studios, Venice Broadwalk and Dodger Stadium.

  • Denver, CO

It is a city well known for amazing outdoor activities. It provides accessible hiking trails, campsites, and river rafting facilities. It is like a hidden gem of accessibility in US cities. It offers a para-transit system that runs 23 hours a day. The city’s metro also provides great accessibility for the disabled.

  • Portland 

This city is environment-friendly as well as friendly for people with disabilities. The city offers a fully accessible TriMet transportation system. Those who cannot take a regular bus or train can access the LIFT paratransit service of the city. The sidewalks are wide and smooth, too. The city also offers accessible hiking trails to visitors.

  • San Francisco, California

The city offers major transportation systems like Caltrain, BART and MUNI which are accessible to the disabled. The drivers are well-trained to attend to people with various needs or disabilities. Accessible sites include Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.

  • Las Vegas, Nevada

The city is well known for providing the most accessible hotels in the US. The major establishments are completely accessible, and transportation facilities are also well-equipped to meet the needs of people with disabilities.

  • Orlando, Florida

The major attractions like Universal Studios and Walt Disney World are well known for the accessibility they provide. The transportation systems are also accessible for people with disabilities. Accessible accommodations are also easily available.

  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

It is a welcoming city mainly to the disabled people as they will find accessibility options well in place. It offers major attractions like Philadelphia Zoo, Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Franklin Institute, all of which are accessible. The transportation systems also cater to the needs of the disabled.

  • Chicago, Illinois

The city offers accessible transportation systems, accommodations and walkways for the disabled, and they can enjoy their visit by going to major attractions offered by the city, most of which are accessible as well.

  • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This is another city which provides great accessibility to people with various disabilities. They can choose to visit or live here, as they will find provisions for accessibility, be it going around the city or in the accommodations offered by the city.


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Michelle Gram Smith
Michelle Gram Smith is an owner of www.parentsmaster.com and loves to create informational content masterpieces to spread awareness among the people related to different topics. Also provide creating premium backlinks on different sites such as Heatcaster.com, Sthint.com, Techbigis.com, Filmdaily.co and many more. To avail all sites mail us at [email protected].