What is public health? Students in the UGA Health & Wellness class are here to help you find out! They have strategically identified examples in the Athens community that they feel represent public health in action. This blog is dedicated to explaining, understanding, and discussing what their interpretations of public health, as well as their reactions to learning about topics of health and wellness.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Reserved Parking




This is a reserved for handicap parking sign outside of the Cane’s dining establishment.
Public health helps improve the health and well-being of people in local communities and around the globe. This reserved handicap parking may not benefit everyone in the local community but it definitely improves the well-being and convenience of people that require handicap assistance. This handicap parking location offers aid in the act of entering and exiting their vehicle while also offering an incline to enter the building with ease. The existence of the handicap parking all over the country offers people with disabilities the opportunity to access food, health care, leisure activities, and everything non disable people have access to.
I chose this example because of the importance and reliance of handicap parking in so many people’s lives. There are currently 13.3 million people living in the United States that are in a wheelchair or require some other form of walking aid. This makes up a huge population of Americans and assists them every day, even if we don’t normally consider it.
It is important for people to see this as public health because of the impact that it has on so many Americans. It may just take up an extra spot in the front of the parking lot for many people but for others it is the means to have a life and to have the freedom to do what they want to do.   

Martina Vis
Morgan Pallimore
Nick Melton

1 comment:

  1. My group feels that handicap parking is an important aspect of public health that most people do not even think about. A lot of us may get annoyed when we cannot find parking spaces at the grocery store, but yet there are tons of open handicap spots. I used to feel this way until I saw how it affected my mom after she had knee replacement surgery. As she was recovering and going through physical therapy, it was hard for her to walk far distances. I also see its importance through my grandmother, as she has feet problems and has to take very little steps while walking. Its important for us to remember the large amounts of people in our country who wouldn't be able to fulfill everyday tasks such as going grocery shopping without the availability of these parking spots. I agree that we should stop and think about these people before we get angry that these are the only open spots in the parking lot!

    Stephanie Perlman
    Mara Steine
    Megan Maziar

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