Empowering Independence: How AngelSense Aligns with the HCBS Final Rule
Updated on November 30, 2025A New Era of Choice and Autonomy
The Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Final Rule was created to ensure that every individual receiving support has the right to live, work, and participate fully in their community — with freedom, dignity, and control over their own lives.
But as agencies interpret the rule, some have grown hesitant to use safety technologies — worried that GPS or alert systems may be considered “restrictive.” Unfortunately, this has led to missed opportunities for people with disabilities to experience real-world independence.
AngelSense was built to change that.
Our assistive technology empowers individuals to explore their communities safely, with confidence and control — fully aligned with both the spirit and letter of the HCBS Final Rule.
AngelSense supports the right to independence, dignity, and inclusion — not through supervision, but through self-determination.
Respecting Rights: Consent, Autonomy, and Dignity
Every AngelSense user over 18 uses the service by choice — with full informed consent.
They decide how and when to use AngelSense, which features to enable, and who is part of their support network.
AngelSense technology can be customized to each person’s comfort level:
- Location sharing is optional and limited to trusted contacts.
- Smart Voice and emergency alerts can be turned on or off.
- Data is private, secure, and used only for the purpose of safety.
This approach ensures that the individual — not the caregiver or provider — remains in control.
Every adult using AngelSense does so because it helps them feel safe, not because someone else needs to monitor them.
Supportive Safety, Not Surveillance
The HCBS Final Rule calls for balancing safety with personal rights. The difference lies in intent and implementation:
- Passive surveillance restricts freedom.
- Supportive safety technology enables it.
AngelSense allows people with I/DD and related disabilities to navigate their communities independently — without requiring constant staff supervision. This promotes dignity, privacy, and natural inclusion in everyday environments like workplaces, volunteer programs, or recreation centers.
Restricting such tools can unintentionally create new barriers — replacing institutionalization with constant oversight. AngelSense, instead, helps people move confidently and safely through the world, reducing the need for intrusive human monitoring.
Empowerment in Action
Adults who use AngelSense often share the same story: they finally feel free — not watched.
They can go to work, take public transportation, and reconnect with friends — all while knowing that if they need help, their support network is just a button away.
With AngelSense, I can go out alone again. My parents don’t worry, and I don’t have to check in every hour. It’s my independence — just safer.
That sense of empowerment is at the heart of the Final Rule: real inclusion, not just compliance.
Built for Respect and Privacy
AngelSense was designed around ethical use and privacy protection:
- Informed consent documentation ensures users understand and approve the technology.
- Configurable alerts and access controls ensure that only chosen supporters receive notifications.
- Respectful communication features like Smart Voice allow for direct connection only when needed.
This level of personalization supports person-centered planning and aligns directly with HCBS expectations for autonomy and dignity.
Partnering with Agencies for True Inclusion
Agencies that embrace supportive technologies like AngelSense are leading the way toward genuine compliance — and real independence.
AngelSense offers resources for ethical implementation, including:
- Templates for person-centered plan language.
- Example consent forms tailored to adult users.
- Training webinars for staff on HCBS-aligned use of technology.
- Case studies showing measurable increases in independence and community participation.
The Final Rule isn’t about restricting tools — it’s about empowering choice. AngelSense is how that choice becomes safe and achievable.
Conclusion: Technology That Protects Freedom
AngelSense represents what enabling technology should be: a tool that enhances self-determination, safety, and inclusion — without compromising rights.
It is used with respect, guided by consent, and designed to support independence in the most human way possible.
Get peace of mind from AngelSense, the groundbreaking AI-based assistive technology designed to enhance safety and peace of mind for individuals with special needs and their families. Our solution ensures you stay connected with your loved ones, empowering a higher level of independence while maintaining safety. Learn more about how AngelSense can make a difference for your family.
