One of the major obstacles that providers of intellectual disability services face in adopting enabling technology is the limitation of resources. Due to tight budgets, these organizations often struggle to invest in technology solutions. The cost involved in implementing and maintaining such solutions can be a significant barrier for them.

On a positive note, the impact of 2020 has highlighted the need for remote monitoring solutions, especially with the current staffing shortage. As a result, many states are now prioritizing efforts to incorporate enabling technology into their budgets and waivers.

However, until enabling tech becomes a common inclusion in state budgets and waivers, there are still a few options available to secure funding for your provider organization like state and federal grants that specifically support enabling technology initiatives.

Challenge #2: Limited Awareness and Training in Enabling Technology

Another challenge faced by providers in the intellectual disability services sector is a lack of awareness about the available technology solutions and the potential benefits they can bring.

Many providers may not have the knowledge or expertise to evaluate and select the right technology for their specific needs. However, there is positive progress in this area.

States and Managed Care Organizations are actively working to improve their communication efforts and educate providers about the benefits of enabling technology by increasing tech-centered email communications, implementing training programs, and developing internal and external websites and resources to distribute critical information. These resources also include approved vendors who can assist providers in their search for suitable technology solutions.

Despite these efforts, there is still a knowledge gap between the implementation of enabling technology and its adoption by providers. This is where a reliable enabling technology vendor or partner can make a difference. Enabling technology vendors  can provide hands-on training, offer resources to help providers access their technology solutions, and offer guidance to increase adoption. 

Additionally, they should have a dedicated support team in place to assist providers in overcoming any challenges they may face, ensuring that they get the maximum benefit from their technology solutions throughout the entire term.

Challenge #3: Resistance to Change/Fear of Technology.

The disability services sector has traditionally relied on manual processes and face-to-face interactions. There may be resistance to adopting technology due to concerns about job security, fear of the unknown, or a preference for familiar methods of service delivery.

To address this, let us share our guiding principle with our valued clients…

While technology is a powerful tool in the IDD and TBI sectors, it will never replace the essential role of human support. We want to emphasize this point. 

In reality, there may be a brief “ET learning curve” as you familiarize yourself with the new technology, but rest assured, it won’t take more than a few days before you surpass your previous level of operation. (You may even find yourself wondering, “Why didn’t we embrace this sooner?”)

In conclusion, to overcome the challenges posed by enabling technology, it is crucial for providers of intellectual disability services to receive the necessary support and guidance in fully understanding the benefits it brings. Providers should have access to funding, comprehensive training resources, and expert guidance on how to successfully adopt and integrate these innovative solutions.

Remember, this process is an evolution! Collaboration between service providers, technology providers, industry associations, and government agencies plays a significant role in driving the widespread adoption of enabling technology in this sector.

If you’re new to enabling technology and need assistance navigating the process, don’t hesitate to reach out to our experienced team at 317.728.6670. We’re here to help!

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1. Enhanced Communication: Enabling technology, such as communication apps and assistive devices, can improve communication between service providers and individuals with intellectual disabilities. This can help in understanding their needs, preferences, and goals, leading to more personalized and effective support.

2. Streamlined Documentation and Reporting: Technology solutions like electronic health records (EHR) and case management systems can automate and streamline documentation and reporting processes. This reduces administrative burden, improves accuracy, and allows providers to focus more on delivering quality care.

3. Remote Support and Telehealth: Enabling technology enables remote support and telehealth services, allowing providers to reach individuals in remote areas or those who have difficulty accessing in-person services. This expands the reach of services and improves convenience for individuals and their families.

4. Personalized Care Plans: Technology can facilitate the creation and management of personalized care plans for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Providers can leverage data and analytics to develop customized (and proactive) care plans and tailored interventions. They can continually track progress, and make data-driven decisions to improve outcomes.

5. Training and Professional Development: Technology-based training platforms and e-learning tools can enhance the skills and knowledge of service providers. This ensures they stay up-to-date with the latest research, best practices, and interventions, ultimately improving the quality of care provided.

6. Data Analysis and Insights: Enabling technology allows providers to collect and analyze data on various aspects of their service delivery. This can help identify trends, measure outcomes, and make data-driven improvements to service models which in turn, results in better outcomes for individuals served.

Overall, enabling technology empowers providers of intellectual disability services to deliver more personalized, efficient, and effective care, ultimately improving the value they provide to individuals and their families.

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The post Top 5 Ways Task Prompting Helps Minimize Stress and Anger for People with Intellectual Disabilities and Traumatic Brain Injuries appeared first on CreateAbility Inc.

For Providers 
Significant enhancements in user scheduling and set-up:  
Care providers, job coaches, residential staff and parents can now make talking picture, audio, sequences, and full video task prompts quicker and easier. All task creation tools are in the palm of their hands, using an intuitive interface that is the result of 7 years of feedback from customers and study participants. 

Additional, QR-code driven task formats:  
While audio-only, talking pictures, and full video demonstration features are still included, a QR code-driven task format has been added for those who are new to technology and need instructions delivered in the simplest of formats. This also provides an upgrade path to users of QMinder, CreateAbility’s entry level task prompter that uses QR codes to initiate tasks. 
 
At-a-Glance feature:  
Allows Care Providers and Job Coaches the ability to view all individuals served on a single dashboard, identify who is accomplishing goals and who is experiencing setbacks, and allocate resources accordingly.

Replication of task list feature:  
Affords Care Providers and Job Coaches the ability to copy elements of in individual’s task list into a another’s; saving more time and manpower.   

Integration with other CreateAbility Apps:  
MeMinder 4.0 provides better data visibility as it now integrates with other CreateAbility Apps. This integration will benefit reporting and person-centered plans.   
 
For the Individuals Served  
More intuitive user interface: The modern, “card layout” interface ensures a seamless and user-friendly experience, making it easier than ever to navigate daily responsibilities.   

Accessibility for individuals without Wi-Fi connectivity:  
MeMinder 4.0 seamlessly checks for WI-FI or cellular internet access, and then automatically downloads all the materials and schedules needed to prompt the individual for the next 7 days. This means that task prompting can happen at the precise time, even when the device is offline for extended periods. 
 
New messaging feature for increased engagement:   
Individuals can now receive personal messages from care providers and loved ones that seamlessly integrate into their daily schedules.  
 
“The release of MeMinder 4.0 reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation and inclusivity, and we believe it will make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals served.” said Steve Sutter, President of CreateAbility. “Equally, it reflects our dedication to continually striving to make technology easier and more effective for Care Providers, who are taking on extra workload, typically without extra pay.”  

MeMinder 4.0 is available now for download from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. 

For more information about CreateAbility and MeMinder, please visit www.createabilityinc.com.  

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Enabling Technology Specialist Responsibilities

1.) Assessing the needs of the individual.
Often times, Enabling Technology Specialists sit in on meetings with the individual’s care team and technology vendors to listen in for challenges experienced by the individual that enabling technology can help them overcome. In reporting, they can work with the vendors to lay out the benefits and risks involved with different technologies to help the individual and team make informed decisions on which solution is best.

2.) Training, support and education.
Enabling Technology Specialists are generally trained by technology vendors on all solutions that are offered to the people they serve. While enabling tech providers should always be there to support the Enabling Technology Specialist, the Enabling Technology Specialist is the point person for the organization and relieves in-home coordinators and DSPs of the role of technology training, troubleshooting, and continuing education.

3.) Implementation of technology.
Enabling Technology Specialists oversee the implementation process to ensure that the individual served and their support staff understand the technology and fully adopt it through routine check-ins and usage assessments.

4.) Monitoring enabling technology usage and reporting to care team.
While sometimes DSPs and in-home coordinators monitor technology usage, often times organizations will utilize their Enabling Technology Specialist to monitor enabling technology dashboard data to analyze the individuals progress and/or setbacks. In these instances, the ETS will alert care team members of possible actions that need to be taken in regards to the individual served.

5.) Maintenance of the technology.
Technology typically evolves; therefore, leaving critical technology updates that need to be performed.
Enabling technologist are the point-of-contact for technology vendors’ update alerts. They gather necessary information from vendors to push out to those in need of updates.

Another key component to maintaining technology is to evaluate both current and new technologies on an annual basis; ensuring that the organization stays up-to-date with new solutions that serve the unique needs of the people they serve. This requires as ETS to actively attend events, research and request demos from new vendors and/or new solutions.

6.) Assessing the outcomes of enabling technology.
The Enabling Technology Specialist will regularly revisit the goals of the individual served and assess the effectiveness of the technology’s role in reaching their goals. They assess whether or not the technology is improving their quality of life and collect feedback from stakeholders to make necessary adjustments that will enhance outcomes.

With over 20 years of experience working with providers for people with intellectual disabilities, the CreateAbility team prides themselves in serving as your enabling technology partner. (Not just a technology vendor!) Whether you are new to enabling technology who needs assistance getting started – or a seasoned pro with a few niche questions, please don’t hesitate to call us at (317) 728-6670 or emails us by clicking here.

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At CreateAbility, we believe that the power of enabling technology is best described in a real-life scenario of our solutions.

Here is the story of Nancy (job coach), Kevin (residential care provider) and Alvin (individual served) and an example of the benefits of having task-prompting that makes a seamless transition from home to work each day.

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Kevin is a residential staff at a small provider in the Northwest. Kevin has been baffled as to how to support Alvin and remind him when and how to perform typical ADL in his home. 

His job coach, Nancy, who is picking up the slack for staffing shortages, finds that she has too much to do – and not enough time in a day to do it. On top of feeling like she can’t seem to get everything done, she struggles to create prompts for Alvin to remember the specific sequences needed to perform his job correctly. 

Then they tried MeMinder for both home ADLs, as well as on the job. Both Kevin and Nancy found that the extensive library of pre-created tasks on MeMinder’s cloud were a great starting point and after making a few tweaks, the prompts were pushed to Alvin’s device in real time to support him.  

Alvin immediately feels more confident at work. On days when Alvin feels sharp, he only needs the the talking pictures mode on MeMinder. Other days, Alvin only needs audio sequences. Alvin really likes how he can just slide his phone into his bicep jogging strap and listen to prompts on his earbuds. He simply taps on the display to advance his MeMinder to the next prompt. When he’s learning something new, has tasks that he only does occasionally, or has a more complex task, Alvin likes how some of the prompts can provide full video modeling. 

As Alvin gains independence with the MeMinder App, Kevin was able to fade his previous level of support in the residential setting, and Nancy was able to fade her job coaching responsibilities.  

Both Kevin and Nancy love how that they can consult the dashboard to see the timestamped verification that the right things are being performed by the right time. They can also get picture verification; allowing her to remotely monitor the end result of Alvin’s completed tasks.

Learn more about MeMinder task prompting for people with intellectual disabilities and traumatic brain injuries, click here.

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Isaak’s mom and Christy, his in-home care provider, had tried a variety of approaches to remind Isaak on basic ADLs, oral hygiene, and medication usage. After several failed attempts, exhausted staff efforts and multiple different “reminder” formats, they discovered CreateAbility’s Qminder App for easy task-prompting.   

They were thrilled to learn that after downloading the app, it only took a matter of minutes to record video and/or audio prompts for Isaak, assign them to a QR code, print the code and stick it in the appropriate locations where he need prompts or information!   

Isaak takes to the App and adopts it in no-time-flat. He loves how he just aims his app at the special QR code and it starts playing his special task instructions or personal messages without even needing to tap on any link.  

At work, Isaak’s productivity has soared since he started using Qminder to locate himself in the warehouse, to get reminders on how to use equipment, and the safe usage of various chemicals required in his duties. 

At his home, Isaak’s mom frequently leaves him uplifting personal messages to keep his content fresh and engaging. (She also finds it fun and entertaining!)

Mom and Christy love that they can see when Isaak scanned a code; a cue to let them know he’s working on his to-dos.  

Christy is so enamored with the ease of Qminder that she develops special QR codes for her colleagues to scan when entering individuals’ residences that informs them of policies and procedures. 

Positive outcomes for the individual served – positive outcomes for parents and providers. (Win-Win-Win!)

For more information about Qminder, click here.

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Juanita never really felt like she was part of her plan until she started using her Flourish App 6 months ago. Now she can carry her plan in her pocket! As it serves as a talking vision board of sorts, Juanita feels more engaged with her plan each day. Flourish houses multiple places on the app where she conveys her likes, dislikes and goals. She can even store pictures of her family, friends, pets, or anything else that gives her joy and keeps her motivated to achieve her goals.   

Just like everybody else, Juanita is thrilled that she can now create quick to-do items! Not only does she know what her near-term, mid-term and long-term goals are, she loves that she is prompted each day on exactly what steps she needs to do to work towards the accomplishment of her goals. 

Jack and his colleagues like that they can track Juanita’s engagement with the app. The to-do items, as each task that she has accomplished are all presented via the dashboard. Jack takes a PDF snapshot of her plan and adds it to her electronic health record. 

Positive outcomes for the individual served – positive outcomes for providers. (Win-Win!)

For more information about Flourish, click here.

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The post What is the Difference Between Assistive and Enabling Technology? appeared first on CreateAbility Inc.

• Purchase enabling technology solutions that cover an array of intellectual disabilities.
  If enabling and assistive technology providers are telling you that 100% of the people served will adopt the technology…use caution! (We find that a more realistic number of 82% as reflected in our MeMinder pilot study with NIDDELR.) 
  
• Purchase enabling technology solutions that are able to monitor the feedback and provide reporting capabilities. You will need this functionality to simplify the grant reporting process.

• Choose an enabling technology vendor that offers enabling technology solutions on a cafeteria style basis. This way you are not “stuck” with a huge (and expensive) technology platform that will overwhelm some of your staff members as well as the people you serve. In addition, cafeteria style technology enables you to remain true to an individual’s person-centered care plan.

• Choose a technology provider that can partner with you to provide “back up plans” for those who do not “take” to the technology. For example, when our clients purchase MeMinder task-prompting, we expect that there will be a few folks who may not take to it. CreateAbility then provides our simpler, QR-code-driven task-prompting technology for those individuals.
  
  When all levels of intellectual disabilities and personalities are covered – the odds for positive outcomes in your reporting increase dramatically!

• Choose an enabling technology partner who provides evidence-based technology solutions. That’s important as it equates to third-party verification of outcomes. In most cases it also means that the development of the technology is partially covered by grants; decreasing some of the costs for providers.
  

CreateAbility has 20+ years of working with grant providers in the area of enabling and assistive technology. Should you have any questions on how to get the most out of your grant funding, don’t hesitate to reach out to us here!

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