DSPs Using and Supporting Technology Use

When the smartwatch detects an increase of stress or a big emotion, it sends an alert to a mobile phone.

Imagine this: You begin to support a young woman who has been labeled as someone who is “difficult to support” and has “challenging behaviors.” You’ve been given the care plan binder filled with restrictive measures, and the team expects it may take years before they can help her fully get settled in her home. She seems anxious, and the plan advises giving her space when she escalates. But you want to do more than just follow the script — you want to understand her better.

Using a real-time stress monitoring platform, you start to see what’s going on beneath the surface. You notice patterns in her stress levels, and more importantly, you realize that she feels more comfortable with certain approaches. One of your colleagues seems to calm her down better than anyone else. You adjust your support based on this new information, stepping in before she gets completely overwhelmed.

This data allows you to be proactive, offering support before stress builds up. No more guesswork. You can see exactly when someone starts feeling overwhelmed and responding in the moment.

Within just a few months, she’s no longer the person described in her old care plan. She feels understood. She trusts you enough to ask for help when she needs it. The real breakthrough? It didn’t take years to get here — it took the right support at the right time.

Why Real-Time Stress Monitoring Makes a Difference

The tool that helped in this transformation was developed by Awake Labs, a company that supports people by tracking stress and strong emotions in real-time. Their platform uses a smartwatch to monitor changes in biometrics, giving you insights that help you step in when someone needs support—before it escalates.

“We measure a baseline for each person and track changes throughout the day,” explains Andrea Palmer, Co-Founder and CEO of Awake Labs. This data allows you to be proactive, offering support before stress builds up. No more guesswork. You can see exactly when someone starts feeling overwhelmed and responding in the moment.

The Awake Labs platform has three main components – a smartwatch app, a mobile app, and a web dashboard.

How You Can Build Trust with Real-Time Data

The real power of this technology is that it helps you build trust. When you step in early and offer help before a situation escalates, the person you support knows you’ve got their back. They no longer feel isolated in their stress — they feel understood.

Just like in the story above, it’s not about waiting for an outburst to react. When the app alerts you that stress levels are rising, that’s your cue to act. Over time, you’ll start to see patterns in what triggers anxiety or distress, and you’ll be able to offer more personalized, meaningful support.

The stress curve shows how someone’s stress increases over time after something triggers them.

Tips for Using Stress Monitoring to Improve Your Support

Here are a few practical ways you can use real-time stress monitoring to offer better support:

1. Recognize Early Signs and Discover Triggers: The data helps you notice when someone is getting agitated or overwhelmed so you can step in with support before things escalate.
2. Build Stronger Relationships: By offering help at the right moment, you show the person you support that you understand their needs. This builds trust and strengthens your relationship.
3. Share Insights with the Team: If you see patterns in someone’s stress, share that knowledge with others who support them. It helps everyone provide better care.
4. Empower Independence: Over time, the person you support might start to recognize their own stress patterns. With your help, they can learn to ask for what they need before feeling overwhelmed.

A Tool That Puts People First

Awake Labs started with a simple idea: Could technology help people with disabilities better understand their emotions? Building on clinically validated research from Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Palmer and her team developed a solution that tracks stress and gives you the tools to respond in real-time. Today, Awake Labs is helping DSPs across North America offer better support by understanding when and how to step in, reducing the need for intrusive measures, and building trust with the people you support.

“We’ve seen a reduction in hospitalizations and the use of chemical restraints, as well as supporting people as they look for jobs, and they can try new things that may make them uncomfortable, knowing they will be able to exit the situation with dignity,” says Palmer. “The data helps you respond earlier, building more natural and positive relationships.”

By using this technology, you can move from reactive care to proactive, person-centered support. It’s about meeting people where they are and helping them feel understood.

In some states, Awake Labs is covered by Assistive Technology waivers, making this tool easier to access for people receiving support, families, and organizations. Please reach out if you want to learn more or have any questions. We’re here to help.

For more information, visit Awake Labs

Resources

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. (2018). From clinical trial to community pilot: Ontario-based groups collaborate to help manage anxiety in autism. [News release].

Awake Labs. (2021). Improving transitions into care with technology: A case study with Community Living North Bay [blog post].

Awake Labs. (2021). Wearables can give your team superpowers [blog post].

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