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Healthcare Educational Resources Summary
Over the United States, different countries have different ways of handling the special needs population. However, some of these ways are similar because of the assistive methods and policies they have, as well as the educational resources. The use of assistive technologies is the same in all the states despite the slight differences in the list of the equipment employed. A good example is Pennsylvania and Tennessee that use computer aids and software that help the special needs population. However, there are slight differences in the equipment used by each of the states. Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Tennessee, all use modified transportation equipment. However, the difference is that Pennsylvania uses adapted vehicles while Tennessee uses motorized wheelchairs.
At the same time, most states provide comprehensive databases of their services to special needs groups as well as technologies. The state of Pennsylvania uses the database named AHRQ, unlike the states of South Dakota and Tennessee, which use a different system. The Pennsylvanian AHRQ is a searchable database full of the information about the assistive technology and educational resources. In addition, Pennsylvania has a federally funded program, PIAT, which seeks to increase the awareness access and acquisition of assistive technologies in the state. This is unlike the states of South Dakota and Tennessee that use a different system. At the same time, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Tennessee, all use technology to facilitate their services and keep track of the technologies adapted.
Despite the similarities in the use of technology to develop assistive technologies, there are fundamental functional differences in different states. The difference in the provision of the technological assistive services is the details and the specific needs solved by the technologies. While Pennsylvania uses a comprehensive database for the assistive technology services, South Dakota does not have any assistive matrix. On the other hand, South Dakota has a Nationally Certified Technology Specialist who evaluates the services needed in the state. This is done in through four statewide demonstration centers situated in the state.
The educational resources that each of the states have for the special needs population. Pennsylvania has the Intellectual Disability Programs that seek to promote provision of educational services through the “gold book” understanding. Tennessee on the other hand operates the Tennessee Family-to- Family Health Information Center. This is a center where Tennessee families with children with special needs requirement can share information relating to their challenges and needs, as well as know the services that are available. This way, the state trains the families and supports the programs that seek to provide educational resources. In a similar way, South Dakota has the South Dakota Parent Connection, which is an educational group for the parents to share educational resources. Additionally, the educational services lie with the Department of Human Services, which coordinates the services for the special needs population.
The access of services by the special needs population is similar in different states, with slight differences in the states. Most of the states have the same access points for the people with special needs. In Pennsylvania, web services and human service professionals are the main ways of accessing services. In South Dakota and Tennessee states, the web platforms as well as the professional institutions also the majority of access points for the services. In addition, there are state departments that coordinate the access of the services for the special needs population.