Seven of our MCH students attended the 2019 annual meeting of the American Public Health Association(APHA), held November 2-6, 2019, in Philadelphia, PA. What follows is a post from one of the attendees.
by Megan Schoonveld, BS
My experience at the APHA conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is one that I will never forget. This conference ensured me that others are passionate about the same issues as me. In the world of public health, many individuals aren’t familiar or interested in issues surrounding the health of those with disabilities or disability culture, but at APHA, I met several individuals who were working in the field of disability and public health. These leaders in the field were able to give me advice on my future plans, and several gave me recommendations on organizations and connections to contact for my practicum.
The experience of the conference occurred our first night during the disability section forum. Charles Brown and Mark Fenton lead a walk audit around the convention center to see how accessible and navigable the area was for those with and without disabilities. In the group I was in, there were a variety of people with and without disabilities, from those who were able-bodied, to those in a wheelchair, blind, or limited in mobility due to age. The experience was eye-opening for me and many others throughout the group, even those who have studied disability for years, as there were structural features that were inaccessible in unique ways, such as the newly renovated Love Park. The area was completely covered in cement, except for small patches of sand on some of the edges. For someone who is not blind, this is not noticeable, and the park itself seems like a beautiful place to be. However, those in the group who were blind pointed out the issue right away. Overall, this was one of the best experiences of my graduate career so far, due to the number of connections I have made and the friendships that were created.
Megan Schoonveld, BS, is a first-year MPH student, concentrating in Maternal and Child Health. She plans to graduate May 2021. Her interests include access to care for children with autism spectrum disorders and reproductive and sexual health for people with disabilities.
