Bridging the Divide: Clinicians, Service Providers, and the Future of ASD Waiver Support in Connecticut
In Connecticut’s ASD Waiver Program, a growing divide is emerging between clinicians and service providers, creating frustration among parents and service agencies alike. Families and providers report that their input is often undervalued or dismissed when behavioral strategies are developed, leading to support plans that fail to account for the realities of day-to-day support needs. As a result, children, teens, and young adults with ASD are being set up for failure by overly reductionist and impractical approaches that do not align with their needs or the capacity of those responsible for implementing them.
The Disconnect: When Theory Meets Reality
Clinicians play a vital role in shaping behavioral strategies, but too often, these plans are developed in isolation from the individuals who must carry them out—parents, direct support staff, and agency leadership. The frustration is twofold:
Parents feel unheard. They bring years of lived experience and firsthand knowledge of their child’s needs, yet their insights are often overlooked in favor of rigid clinical methodologies.
Service agencies struggle to implement impractical strategies. Providers frequently face staffing shortages, time constraints, and training limitations, making it difficult to execute clinical recommendations that fail to consider real-world challenges.
This disconnect can result in support plans that are ineffective or unsustainable, causing frustration for everyone involved—including, most importantly, the individual receiving services.
The Way Forward: An In-house Multi-Disciplinary Approach
To bridge this divide, agencies offering an in-house multi-disciplinary approach may provide the best path forward. Rather than operating in silos, clinicians, agency management, direct support staff, the individual receiving services, and their families must collaborate to ensure that supports are:
✅ Person-focused and person-first – Strategies should be individualized, recognizing that no two people with ASD are alike.
✅ Practical and sustainable – Support plans must be realistic, acknowledging the limitations and strengths of those responsible for implementation.
✅ Collaborative and flexible – A team-based approach allows for ongoing communication, adjustments, and problem-solving to ensure long-term success.
When clinicians work hand-in-hand with providers, families, and individuals, the ASD Waiver Program can become a truly effective and empowering system—one that supports not just clinical ideals, but real people in real situations.
Join the Conversation
At The Supported Living Group, we believe in fostering genuine collaboration to create meaningful, achievable support strategies for individuals with ASD via our array of in-house support options. If you are a family member, ASD Waiver participant, or service provider who has experienced these challenges, we want to hear from you. How can we work together to build better, more inclusive supports?