Providence Is One of Worst Cities in U.S. for the Disabled, But It Is Worse Than That
GoLocalProv News Team
Providence Is One of Worst Cities in U.S. for the Disabled, But It Is Worse Than That
While the data show one set of problems, one of the leading wheelchair accessibility advocates in the state says the lack of maintenance and failure by homeowners and businesses makes mobility very difficult in the city.
One of the issues is that Providence sidewalks are littered with parked e-scooters, making them impassable for pedestrians and the disabled.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“Since being a college student at College Unbound and Ms. Wheelchair Rhode Island last year, I have had to navigate the city of Providence a lot more. I agree that the scooters on the walkways and the lack of maintenance of the public walkways are a huge issue when it comes to the inaccessibility in the area,” said Autumn Rain Johnson.
She helped make North Kingstown's Town Beach accessible this summer.
“It makes it even harder for someone like myself who is independent and navigates everyday life by myself most times. Sometimes it can be unsafe for me to pick up and move a scooter or go around overgrown bushes,” said Johnson, she was Miss Wheelchair Rhode Island in 2023.
Providence streets are littered with broken sidewalks, and many homeowners fail to keep the public sidewalks passable.
As some have shifted from lawns to gardens, they seem to have shifted from maintenance to chaos.
The minimum width for a sidewalk to be wheelchair accessible is 36 inches (3 feet). Sidewalks can be wider than this, but if they are less than 60 inches (5 feet) wide, passing spaces must be built every 200 feet.
Providence Ranked 169th
The recent study ranked Providence 169th out of the 182 cities for people with disabilities.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28.7% of U.S. adults have a disability. Keeping up with the costs of a disability can be very expensive, too. The average monthly Social Security disability benefit as of June 2024 was only $1,402.69. That adds up to a yearly income of $16,832.28, only slightly above the federal poverty line for a single individual ($15,060)
“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. 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,” said Chip Lupo, Wallethub Analyst.
Warwick does not rank much better than Providence; it ranks 162.
SEE THE RANKING OF ALL CITIES BELOW
"I also find that those without a physical disability in the area, have a tendency to overall ignore the ways they can assist those with a physical disability. During RI Pride last year, Little Miss Wheelchair RI 2023, her mother, and myself had to make our way to line up for the illuminated night parade. Blockades were blocking the road, so vehicles could not pass through, which is understandable. But this made getting wheelchairs through the streets harder, and we experienced people walk around us and cut us off, rather than help us get around the blockades," said Johnson.
"I also like to note that there are clubs/businesses that have had to pick my chair and me up to get into their establishments or have me use a makeshift ramp. While it's nice to see these businesses in Providence accommodate me, it can be unsafe for myself and others either helping or in the situation, to enter and exit a public space in that way," said Johnson.
She adds that not all restaurants are accessible. "The Cheesecake Factory also isn't fully accessible. I can enter from the main entrance, but once I am in there, I am subjected to have a seat in the lower half of the restaurant, and if I or others with a physical disability need to use a bathroom, we cannot due to the fact that there are stairs to get to that part of the establishment. The only way to access the bathrooms is if I enter The Cheesecake Factory from the Providence Place Mall, which is another place can be overwhelming to navigate as a wheelchair user," said Johnson.
"I could go on and on about the inaccessibility and the awareness that need to be brought to others' (able-bodied people) attention in Providence, but these are the things that stick out most to me," Johnson said.