Empowering Families with Autism Support

Attendant Care (ATC) is a vital support service offered through Arizona's Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). It is designed to help children with developmental disabilities — including autism — complete daily living activities that they are not yet able to do independently.

These daily activities, sometimes called Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), include:

• Bathing and personal hygiene
   
• Dressing and undressing
   
• Toileting assistance
   
• Feeding and meal support
   
• Mobility (moving around safely in the home)
   
• Medication reminders
   
• Basic safety supervision
   

ATC is not instructional — it’s hands-on help. Providers step in to physically assist with these needs, creating a safer, calmer, and more manageable environment for both the child and the family.

ATC can look very different from home to home, depending on a child’s abilities and your family’s needs. Here are a few real-life case-style examples to bring this support to life:

🛁 Case Study: Sofia (Age 6, Non-Speaking)
Sofia struggles with transitions and sensory sensitivities that make bath time very difficult. Her Attendant Care provider helps her follow a calming routine, prepares the bath, supports her during washing, and helps her safely out and dried. The family reports significantly reduced meltdowns, and bath time is no longer a daily stress point.

🍴 Case Study: Eli (Age 9, Moderate Autism)
Eli can eat independently but has difficulty preparing food and cleaning up. His ATC provider assists with meal prep (pouring cereal, heating food, cutting fruits), supervises mealtime to ensure safety, and supports cleanup. Over time, the family sees Eli gradually participate more in these routines.

🚶‍♂️ Case Study: Noah (Age 11, Autism with ADHD)
Noah is prone to elopement and has poor safety awareness. His ATC provider offers constant supervision during after-school hours, ensures all doors are secured, and supervises him during outside play. The provider also helps him change clothes after school and settle into his evening routine.

This is one of the most common points of confusion — and for good reason. Attendant Care and habilitation often happen in the same home, sometimes even at the same time. But they serve very different purposes:

• Habilitation (HAB) is designed to teach new skills and promote independence. For example, a habilitation provider might create a visual routine to help a child learn how to brush their teeth.
   
• Attendant Care (ATC) is designed to help with tasks that the child cannot yet do on their own. The ATC provider would brush the child’s teeth for them or assist them directly.
   

In simple terms:

🧠 Habilitation builds skills.
👐 Attendant Care supports needs.

Many families receive both services at different times of the day or week — for instance, ATC in the morning to help get ready for school, and habilitation in the afternoon to work on communication or social goals.

Attendant Care can be delivered by:

1. An external provider hired through a Qualified Vendor Agency (QVA)
    
2. A parent or family member (as long as they meet eligibility guidelines)
    

Many parents choose to become paid Attendant Care providers for their own child. This option can be life-changing for families who need flexibility, consistency, and a trusted presence in their child’s care.

To qualify as a Parent Provider, you must:

• Be a biological, adoptive, or kinship parent or family member
   
• Be at least 18 years old
   
• Pass a Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance Card
   
• Complete CPR and First Aid training
   
• Enroll with a Qualified Vendor Agency (QVA) as an employee or contractor
   
• Complete required training modules, including Abuse/Neglect Prevention and Incident Reporting.
• You must also complete your Level 1 DCW course certification
   

Before Attendant Care hours are authorized, your DDD Support Coordinator will complete an Attendant Care Assessment with you. This is often part of your child’s annual Individual Support Plan (ISP) review, or whenever new services are being requested.

During the assessment, you’ll be asked about your child’s abilities in each ADL area. 

For example:

• Can your child bathe independently?
   
• Do they require supervision or physical assistance during meals?
   
• Are they safe when left alone for short periods?
   

Your honest answers help determine how many authorized hours your child may receive per week or month. The focus is on need, not income — so don’t be afraid to advocate for support that will benefit your child and your family.

👉 Pro Tip: Track your daily routines before the assessment. Note where your child needs help and how long tasks take. This helps you give accurate, clear information during the evaluation.

After the assessment, the Support Coordinator will submit the request to DDD. If approved, you’ll receive an authorization for a set number of hours per week or month.

These hours can often be scheduled:

• Before and after school
   
• On weekends
   
• Evenings or mornings (depending on your family’s schedule)
   

You can split hours between multiple caregivers, or one provider can use all hours. For example, a parent might provide ATC during weekdays, and an outside provider may take over on weekends.

Caring for a child with complex needs can be exhausting — emotionally and physically. Attendant Care is here to help lighten that load. It’s not about replacing you — it’s about supporting you, so you can breathe, rest, and spend more meaningful time with your child without burning out.

Whether you choose to become a parent provider or bring in a trusted professional, you deserve help — and your child deserves care that meets them right where they are.

At Parent Pathways, we’re here to walk with you:

• 💬 Understand your child’s eligibility
   
• 📝 Prepare for ATC assessments
   
• 🤝 Connect with Qualified Vendor Agencies
   
• 📣 Support you in advocating if services are denied or unclear