Healthcare Educational Resources

Healthcare Educational Resources Paper

More than seven million people in the United States depend on assistive technologies to aid them in everyday activities (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). Assistive technologies is define as any items, piece of equipment or product system that is used to increase, maintain or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities (Georgia Department of Education, 2004). Every state has different means of providing assistive technology and educational resources, but they all have one in thing in common the priority of making these resources available to special needs population in the easiest and most efficient manner to ensure that the needs of each and every individual is met, this is all made possible with the aid of the American Disability Act of 1990.

Although, every state has different means of providing assistive technology and educational resources they all also have many things in common. For example Virginia, California and Florida are three states that offer a wide variety of assistive technology devices. These three states have available devices such as listening and visual aids, mobility and voice aids and transportation vehicles equipped with lifts. Each state like many others also has healthcare educational resources available. Florida has family support, children and youth counseling available. California has AT Network, which informs, communicates and provides loans for equipment and the Center for accessible technology. Virginia has The Virginia Assistive Technology System (VATS), both the Old Dominion University and George Mason University sites have a hands-on demonstration center. They both also provide short-term equipment loans, training, and public awareness courses. Another thing that these three states have in common is that each state provides a comprehensive database of and technologies available.

The way that each state provides access for these types of services is not exactly the same, but their process is very similar. Individuals will go through a process to be able to access the assistive technologies. They will go through an evaluation which will be done by an assessment team. The assessment team will be created will be based on the individuals age, disability, and goals. The assessment team is used to define of the individual based on cognitive and physical ability, but keep environmental factors that the individual has. After the team evaluates, they determine what technology should be used and deliver. Special needs population have access to more information on these type of services online, they also have the option of calling to obtain more information if they feel more comfortable talking to someone or they can make an appointment to discuss their concerns or questions and speak to an agent.

Although many states have many or most assistive technologies available having all is nearly impossible. Both Virginia and California are states that seem to have most of not all assistive technologies available, but just in case there is a technology that is not available there are ways in which you can obtain them and there is agency that specialized in helping you obtain them. Unfortunately this cannot always be the case, In Florida assistive technologies within schools have become a tool that offers a process for an individual with special needs to participate in a classroom. The challenge to implementing the technology is trying to find resources and funding to assist the educational department. There are different ways to better assist the special needs population with bettering their education. Educational department can locate way to implement higher education to individuals with special needs, so they can gain education on the same level as individual without disabilities.

Waiting to receive services for obtaining assistive technology can be a lengthy process, but thankfully there are laws such as the American Disability Act of 1990 that aid in providing you with information about disability benefits, healthcare, housing programs, finding a job, access transportation and get the services and support to live independently ( Disability.gov, 2004). The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 allows for disabled employees to be legally protected from discrimination within the United States. According to the EEOC, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to all private businesses that employs 15 or more worker and to all local and state government businesses despite of size. When concerning small businesses they do not have to abide by the ADA law under this limit. The ADA act was created to protect individuals with special needs within their work environment, state and local government services, places of public accommodation, and telecommunications for individuals who have hearing or speech impairments through telecommunications relay services. It