🌟 What Agency Means to People with IDDs & TBIs

The word “agency” is more prevalent these days. By agency, we don’t mean it in terms of a physical location; we’re speaking in about agency as the power to make choices, take action, and shape your own life.

For individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs), claiming agency means moving beyond dependence and being recognized as decision‑makers in their own right. It’s not just about completing tasks — it’s about owning the process, the timing, and the outcome.

📱 Assistive Technology as a Catalyst for Independence

Enabling technology doesn’t just support daily routines, it amplifies agency. At CreateAbility, we design assistive technology solutions that help individuals with IDDs step into their own independence:

• MeMinder: A wearable app that delivers task prompts via Apple Watch or smartphone, empowering users to manage their own schedules. Instead of relying on staff reminders, individuals receive real‑time guidance, reclaiming control over their day and building confidence through repetition.
• QMinder: A QR code‑based task system that allows individuals to initiate tasks independently. By scanning a code, they access step‑by‑step instructions, shifting the dynamic from “being told what to do” to “choosing when and how to do it.” This simple act of initiation reinforces self‑direction and autonomy.
• Employment Pathfinder: A career exploration tool that helps individuals identify strengths, interests, and potential job paths. It transforms employment from something assigned to something chosen, reinforcing agency in the workplace and opening doors to meaningful participation in the economy.
• Flourish – Flourish is a person-centered planning app that provides a structured platform for individuals to define their own goals, routines, and aspirations. It also allows them a voice to express their likes, dislikes, and how to/how not to work best with them. These factors shift the focus from provider‑driven care to self‑directed living.

⚡ Shifting Power Dynamics Through Enabling Technology

When individuals use these tools:

• They decide when to act (MeMinder).
• They initiate tasks independently (QMinder).
• They choose career directions (Employment Pathfinder).
• They establish their own goals and aspirations (Flourish).

Caregivers and providers become partners rather than directors, and independence becomes tangible. The relationship shifts from one of oversight to one of collaboration, where the individual’s voice leads the way.

📊 The Bigger Picture: Empowering Lives with Assistive Technology

Claiming agency is about dignity, self‑worth, and inclusion. With enabling technology for intellectual disabilities, individuals can:

• Navigate daily living with confidence.
• Explore meaningful employment opportunities.
• Participate fully in community life.

CreateAbility’s suite of assistive technology tools makes independence not just possible, but sustainable as it turns agency into lived reality. By embedding choice and control into everyday routines, technology becomes more than a support system; it becomes a pathway to empowerment.

🚀 Empower Independence with CreateAbility

At CreateAbility, we believe independence begins with agency. Our mission is to design enabling technologies that give individuals the power to choose, act, and thrive. Whether it’s setting their goals with Flourish, managing daily routines with MeMinder, initiating tasks with QMinder, or exploring career paths through Employment Pathfinder, our solutions are built to foster dignity, confidence, and self‑direction.

👉 Discover how CreateAbility can help you, your family, or your organization empower independence through assistive technology. Learning more, exploring our products, and joining us in building a future where everyone can claim their agency starts with a simple conversation!

Schedule an exploration call or tech demonstration here.