4 Takeaways from Rooted in Purpose: Advancing Whole-Person Care for Individuals with IDD & Autism

Supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and autism requires more than access to services, it requires coordination, empathy and innovation.  

In the recent presentation with ANCOR, “Rooted in Purpose: Advancing Whole-Person Care for Individuals with IDD & Autism” experts discussed how whole-person care, built on purpose-driven technology, can elevate outcomes and reduce the burden on overstretched providers. 

From staffing shortfalls to the complexity of care coordination, the field faces serious challenges. But as this session demonstrated, integrated, intelligent technology can help organizations thrive by centering the individual, simplifying workflows and supporting the people who deliver care every day. 

Here are four key takeaways from the session hosted by Tricia Zerger, Sr. Director of Human Services Strategy at Netsmart. 

 

1. Addressing Challenges in Autism and IDD Through Technology 

Rising demand for services is running headfirst into a shrinking labor force. Direct support professionals (DSPs), behavioral clinicians and administrators alike face rising caseloads, frequent policy shifts and a constant lack of resources. Many DSPs spend as much time documenting care as they do delivering it. 

This is where purpose-built technology makes a meaningful difference. Designed with real-world challenges in mind, these solutions streamline operations and enable more consistent, person-centered support without burning out the people tasked with delivering it. 

Why it matters: 

• 70% of individuals with autism have a co-occurring mental health condition 
• 50% of people with IDD live with at least one chronic medical condition 
• 95% of IDD providers have reported moderate to severe staffing shortages 
• DSP burnout rates have reached 77% in some organizations 
   

How technology helps close the gap: 

• Automates clinical and behavioral documentation across programs 
• Replaces fragmented systems with one streamlined digital experience 
• Allows mobile, point-of-care documentation that saves time and boosts accuracy
• Reduces time spent on audits, billing and administrative work 

This kind of tech-assisted infrastructure supports compliance and restores time and energy to the work that matters most while preventing care providers from experiencing undue burnout. 

2. The Power of One Platform 

In far too many organizations, staff rely on disconnected systems and manual workarounds just to get through the day. Support plans may reside in one system, behavior tracking charts within another, and medication administration records elsewhere or even on paper files. This fragmentation creates frustrating blind spots, duplicative work and unnecessary frustration. 

A unified platform that spans autism, IDD, behavioral health and social services can eliminate those barriers—bringing everything into one view and creating a single source of truth. 

Why it matters: 

• Reduces the number of systems staff must learn, manage and switch between 
• Consolidates documentation and support plans for individuals with multiple needs 
• Minimizes risk of error by ensuring information is always up to date and accessible 
• Empowers teams to collaborate more easily across disciplines 

What to look for in a unified platform: 

• Role-specific dashboards for DSPs, BCBAs, RNs, case managers, other providers and supervisors 
• Support for integrated ABA, HCBS, residential and day program workflows 
• Configurable documentation that fits regulatory requirements and support plans 
• Mobile access and offline capability to support fieldwork 
• Real-time reporting and analytics for quality improvement and funding compliance 
  
  

3. AI in Action 

Augmented intelligence is already changing how teams work. Rather than replacing people, AI tools are designed to support them: eliminating manual processes, assisting with decisions and making work more manageable. 

The session highlighted how AI is being applied to some of the most time-consuming and repetitive functions, from intake, documentation and behavior tracking to billing and even quality and compliance. When implemented with intention, AI extends staff capacity organization-wide and creates space for deeper, more impactful care. Because our AI goes beyond documentation and direct care, it drives clinical, organizational and financial impact across the entire enterprise. 

AI is already assisting with: 

• Clinical documentation: Virtual scribes and AI-powered notes reduce after-hours work 
• Behavior tracking: Automated graphing tools replace manual charting for ABA and Positive Behavioral Support 
• Revenue cycle: AI assists with claim prioritization, error prevention and faster payments 
• Workforce onboarding: Gamified AI interfaces guide new staff through real workflows, speeding up learning and retention 

What’s possible with AI-powered support: 

• Significantly reduced burnout 
• Higher quality and compliant data 
• Greater staff satisfaction 
• Better outcomes for the people served and organization  
  
  
  

4. Co-Creating the Future of Technology 

Technology should never be built in a vacuum. The most effective solutions are those developed with providers and care teams—ones shaped by daily workflows, use cases and frontline feedback. This session emphasized that innovation is strongest when it's grounded in the real needs of those delivering care. 

The Netsmart EDGE Partnership program, for example, allows early adopter organizations to provide hands-on feedback during the development process. This kind of co-creation partnership ensures tools intuitive, usable and aligned with everyday workflows. 

How collaborative design drives stronger outcomes: 

• DSP-informed interfaces eliminate guesswork and reduce training time 
• Providers shape workflows that match their regulatory environment and payer needs 
• Partnerships (like the RethinkFirst integration) make it easier to complete ABA workflows, data collection and graphing.
• Continuous feedback loops help software evolve as policies, populations and services shift 

A good tech partner doesn’t just deliver a product—they share ownership of your mission. 

 

Final Thoughts 

Whole-person care for individuals with autism and IDD requires technology that is flexible, connected and deeply human. With the right technology at their fingertips, providers can overcome today’s challenges while strengthening capacity for tomorrow. 

From digitizing complex workflows to embedding AI that boosts rather than burdens your staff, it’s clear: the future of care is one that’s built together, where individuals are seen fully and supported holistically.