Overview
The way we support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is changing, and for the better. While person-centered care has always been the goal, the systems surrounding that care haven’t always kept up. Staff are overburdened, documentation is often a headache, and agencies are asked to do more with less.
IDD software is helping shift that story. But this shift isn’t only about going digital, it’s about improving care. The right tools don’t just make things faster or more efficient. They make care more connected, more consistent, and more human.
Purpose-built platforms
For decades, IDD agencies have relied on paper records, binders, spreadsheets, and a patchwork of tools to run their programs. Those systems work on a small scale but run into a lot of inefficiencies as agencies add more clients.
Paper-based processes slow teams down, increase risk, and often create more work for staff who are already stretched thin. Technology is helping providers leave those burdens behind by moving to platforms built specifically for the IDD field. These platforms don’t just digitize paperwork, they rethink how the work gets done, with individuals at the center.
Support DSPs
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are the heartbeat of IDD care. But they’re often handed tools that make their jobs harder, not easier. Complex systems. Redundant paperwork. Endless documentation.
Modern technology is giving DSPs something they’ve long deserved: tools that support them. With mobile platforms, documentation becomes faster, easier, and more accurate. That means less time at a desk and more time supporting individuals directly. When DSPs feel supported, they can show up fully for the individual they care for.
Giving more visibility
Person-centered care means more than checking a box. It means building systems that reflect the goals, preferences, and preferred experiences of the individual being supported.
New platforms allow agencies to track progress on individual goals, include personal outcomes in service planning, and highlight what makes each person unique. When individuals can see their own progress, or when families can stay informed and engaged, it reinforces the idea that this work is about lives, not just logistics.
Connecting in real-time
Care doesn’t happen in silos. It’s delivered by teams—DSPs, supervisors, case managers, clinicians, and families working together. But traditional tools often leave individuals disconnected.
Modern IDD software bridges that gap. Teams can communicate in real time, track updates from anywhere, and coordinate care seamlessly. Whether someone is working in the field or reviewing progress remotely, everyone stays on the same page. That connectedness makes the work smoother, but more importantly, it helps individuals feel less isolated in doing it.
Make compliance easy
Let’s face it, compliance will always be a part of the job. But it doesn’t have to be so painful.
IDD software systems can now include built-in compliance checks, audit trails, automated billing, and alerts for missing information. That means staff can focus on care, not just checklists. When compliance is built into the daily workflow rather than being added on at the end, it makes things easier for everyone: staff, leadership, and the individual they support.
Turning data into action
In the IDD space, data has often been something collected after the fact, documentation for audits, billing, or compliance. But IDD software is changing that. When data is accessible, real-time, and visual, it becomes more than a requirement, it becomes a resource.
Modern platforms help agencies spot trends, track outcomes, and make proactive decisions. That could mean identifying when someone needs more support, noticing gaps in service delivery, or improving staff training based on data driven insights.
This kind of visibility doesn’t just help leadership, it helps everyone feel more confident, informed, and aligned around the same goals: delivering high-quality, person-centered care.
Giv
We believe technology should serve individuals, not the other way around.
That’s why we built our platform specifically for IDD agencies, with tools that support every role—from DSPs to directors. Our mobile-friendly interface makes documentation easier in the moment. Supervisors get real-time insights, not piles of paperwork. Leadership has the data they need without chasing it down.
But most importantly, Giv gives time back to the individual doing the work, so they can focus on care, connection, and the moments that matter most. Learn more by exploring our product here.
