Providence Ranked Worst City in U.S. for People With Disabilities
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Providence is worst city in the country for people with disabilities PHOTO: Marcus Watkin/Flickr Commons
According to a recent study completed by WalletHub, Providence is ranked as the worst city in the country for people living with disabilities, ranking 182nd overall.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“When searching for a new home, people with disabilities often have a longer and more complicated list of considerations compared with other individuals. In addition to common wish-list items, such as reliable public transportation and diverse entertainment options, people with disabilities also must think about things like the accessibility of facilities or even the cleanliness of the air,” writes WalletHub.
The only other Rhode Island city to make the rankings is Warwick, who comes in at 136th overall.
The study comes during National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
WalletHub adds, “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four U.S. adults, or 61 million total, have a disability that impacts their major activities. And among Americans age 65 and older, that number rises to two in five.”
Providence’s Rankings:
- 166th Best – Employment Rate for People with Disabilities
- 176th Best – % of People with Disabilities in Poverty
- 174th Best – Cost of Doctor Visit
- 156th Best – Annual Cost of In-Home Services
- 81st Best – % of People with Disabilities
- 157th Best – Family Doctors & General Practitioners per Capita
- 139th Best – Median Earnings for People with Disabilities
The Rankings
Providence ranks directly behind Bridgeport, Connecticut and Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
South Burlington, Vermont is ranked as the best city in the country for people with disabilities.
See the full rankings in the map below
The Method
To determine the most livable places for people with disabilities, WalletHub compared 182 cities — including the 150 most populated U.S. cities, plus at least two of the most populated cities in each state — across three key dimensions: 1) Economy, 2) Quality of Life and 3) Health Care.
They evaluated those dimensions using 33 relevant metrics. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the most favorable conditions for people with disabilities.
Lastly, WalletHub determined each city’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and ranking.
Economy – Points: 33.33
- Housing Affordability: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
- Cost of Living: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
- Median Earnings for People with Disabilities: Double Weight (~5.56 Points)
- Employment Rate for People with Disabilities: Double Weight (~5.56 Points)
- Share of Persons with Disabilities Living in Poverty: Double Weight (~5.56 Points)
- Share of Homeless People with Disabilities: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
- Annual Cost of In-Home Services: Full Weight (~2.78 Points)
- Presence of CDC Funding for Disability & Health Programs: Half* Weight (~1.39 Points)
- Presence of Public-Housing Waiting List for Seniors/People with Disabilities: Half* Weight (~1.39 Points)
- Presence of “Disability Insurance” Programs: Half* Weight (~1.39 Points)
- Presence of Employment First: Half* Weight (~1.39 Points)
Quality of Life – Points: 33.33
- Share of People with Disabilities: Double Weight (~6.06 Points)
- Special-Education Teachers per 1,000 School-Aged People with Disabilities: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
- Graduation Rate for Students with Disabilities: Half* Weight (~1.52 Points)
- Wheelchair-Accessible Restaurants per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
- Wheelchair-Accessible Grocery Stores per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
- Wheelchair-Accessible Art, Entertainment & Recreational Establishments per Capita**: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
- Wheelchair-Accessible Trails per Capita**: Half* Weight (~1.52 Points)
- Share of Population with Walkable Park Access: Half Weight (~1.52 Points)
- Walkability: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
- Effectiveness of State Medicaid Programs: Full* Weight (~3.03 Points)
- Share of Young Buildings: Half Weight (~1.52 Points)
- Share of Accessible Homes Listed on Redfin.com: Full Weight (~3.03 Points)
Health Care – Points: 33.33
- Cost of Doctor Visit: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)
- Average Per-Person Health-Insurance Premium: Half* Weight (~2.22 Points)
- Family Doctors & General Practitioners per Capita: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)
- Occupational Therapists per Capita: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)
- Home Health Aides & Personal Care Aides per Capita: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)
- WalletHub “Doctors” Ranking: Half* Weight (~2.22 Points)
- WalletHub “Nurses” Ranking: Half* Weight (~2.22 Points)
- Hospitals per Capita: Half* Weight (~2.22 Points)
- Quality of Public Hospital System: Half* Weight (~2.22 Points)
- Share of Uninsured Population: Full Weight (~4.44 Points)
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