When you live with a disability, you experience every day how the world is not made for your ease. Things others take for granted–getting around in a city, going to a restaurant, shopping for clothes–take a little more effort on your part. This truth is not diminished when you decide to relocate.
There are many reasons why people move. You may want a new and bigger home, or perhaps you’ve received a job opportunity too good to pass up. Then again, there may be a reason beyond the normal expectations–maybe you just feel like it!
Whatever the rationale behind this major life change, you are going to need help. Below are a few of the things people living with a disability should consider before moving.
Money, Money, Money
There’s never really enough of it, is there? If you are moving for a job that will pay for relocation expenses, consider yourself lucky. For the rest, you are going to need to either save or find financial assistance to fund relocating.
- Consider downloading an app that helps facilitate savings. Companies like Acorns, Digit, Qapital, and Chime all automate your savings based on your financial goals and the capital you have.
- Cut down on the items you plan on moving. The cost of a bigger truck and the gas it takes to move it might be more than what it costs to just buy a new couch, table, or other replaceable furniture.
- Americans living with disabilities can apply for financial aid for relocating through organizations like the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, National Institute on Life Planning with Disabilities, and ADAPT. All you have to do to apply is calculate the total costs of moving before applying for a grant.
Healthcare and Relocating
One of the most difficult things you have to do when you relocate is rebuild your entire network of healthcare providers. As a person living with a disability, it’s important that you begin this process before you move. Talk to your current physicians about your decision, and ask if they have recommendations in your new area. If not, tap into your inner Sherlock Holmes and do some internet research to find reviews and data that can help inform your decision. Remember: just because you go to one appointment doesn’t mean you have to stick with a physician. You can schedule a meet-and-greet appointment when you get there to get a sense of their practice style and ask questions before you decide to go with that particular doctor. You are your most important advocate for your health, after all.
The Moving Process
The actual day of moving can be a nightmare for anyone. If you are limited in mobility, the feeling of helplessness can make it worse. Your best bet is to find a moving and packing company that has experience working with people with disabilities. Ask your friends, neighbors, and healthcare professionals for recommendations. You can also use the internet to find companies with good reviews and price comparisons. The best moving companies will arrive on time, pack with care, load in an organized manner, and communicate with you throughout the entire moving process.
Living with a disability means you have to put in a little more effort to do things everyone else does. Moving is no different. Your relocating costs may be a little more, but with savings and disability grants for moving, you can make it work. Begin research on finding new healthcare professionals before you actually move. Talk to your current doctor about recommendations and transferring files. Finally, find a reputable moving company that has experience working with people with limited mobility. The best companies are going to be reliable and communicative throughout the process.
mage from Pixabay