Director of Home Care Services | Connecticut ABI Waiver & Vocational Support Specialist

Brittany Ritter serves as Director of Home Care Services at The Supported Living Group (SLG), bringing more than 15 years of progressive experience supporting individuals with acquired brain injury, developing independent living services, building vocational programs, and providing leadership within Connecticut’s community-based disability service system.

Brittany began her career with The Supported Living Group in June 2010 as a Companion-level staff member supporting individuals participating in Connecticut’s Brain Injury Waiver Program. She subsequently became certified as an Independent Living Skills Trainer, advanced to Program Coordinator, and later became Vocational Manager before assuming her current leadership role.

This progression from direct support professional to senior organizational leadership gives Brittany a perspective that is unusual within disability services: she understands ABI services from the perspective of the individual receiving support, the direct support professional delivering services, the program coordinator managing services, the vocational professional developing employment opportunities, and the organizational leader responsible for service implementation.

More Than a Decade of Connecticut ABI Waiver Experience

Brittany’s career at SLG began with direct support to participants served through Connecticut’s Brain Injury Waiver Program.

As a Companion-level professional, she developed social and recreational schedules for ABI participants while gaining first-hand experience understanding the everyday challenges associated with community living after brain injury.

She then became an Independent Living Skills Trainer, expanding her responsibilities to instructional services designed to help individuals with brain injury develop practical skills and strategies for greater independence.

This experience gave Brittany direct knowledge of the functional challenges that may follow acquired brain injury, including the need for individualized support with:

• Daily routines

• Community participation

• Independent living

• Problem-solving

• Skill development

• Social participation

• Vocational goals

Her career demonstrates the importance of understanding brain injury not only from a clinical perspective, but also from the perspective of how individuals actually live and function within their communities.

Independent Living Skills Training and Brain Injury Rehabilitation

One of Brittany’s early areas of specialization was Independent Living Skills Training (ILST).

ILST is particularly important for individuals with ABI because brain injury can affect the cognitive and organizational skills required to manage everyday life independently.

Individuals may require support with:

• Planning

• Organization

• Initiating tasks

• Time management

• Household responsibilities

• Community navigation

• Problem-solving

• Safety awareness

Brittany’s experience as an Independent Living Skills Trainer gave her an early foundation in helping individuals translate rehabilitation goals into practical, real-world skills.

This experience continues to inform her leadership approach at SLG.

From Direct Support to Program Leadership

In 2011, Brittany was promoted to Program Coordinator, where she developed a reputation for field-based problem-solving and managing the changing needs of ABI Waiver participants and support staff.

This progression is particularly significant because community-based disability services require leaders who understand what happens beyond the service plan.

Participants may experience:

• Changes in health

• Changes in housing

• Staffing challenges

• Behavioral concerns

• Employment opportunities

• Community safety issues

• Changing independence goals

Brittany’s direct-service and program-management background has allowed her to develop practical experience addressing these challenges within real-world community settings.

Vocational Rehabilitation and Supported Employment After Brain Injury

A particularly important area of Brittany’s professional expertise is vocational rehabilitation and supported employment.

In 2013, she became SLG’s Vocational Manager, helping build and manage a vocational program contracted with the Connecticut Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS).

Her work included developing and implementing vocational programming for ABI Waiver participants and individuals referred through DORS/BRS.

This placed Brittany at the intersection of:

Brain injury rehabilitation → vocational assessment → job development → employer relationships → employment success

Connecting ABI Survivors With Meaningful Employment

Returning to work following a brain injury can be complicated.

Individuals may experience challenges related to:

• Executive functioning

• Memory

• Processing speed

• Cognitive fatigue

• Emotional regulation

• Communication

• Workplace organization

• Social interaction

A successful employment plan must therefore consider much more than whether someone can perform the physical components of a job.

Brittany’s vocational work has included developing relationships with businesses throughout Eastern Connecticut to identify employment opportunities that align with individual participants’ goals and abilities.

This community-based approach reflects an important principle of Supported Employment:

Employment should be matched to the individual—not the individual forced into an available job.

Building Employer Relationships Throughout Connecticut

Vocational rehabilitation is most effective when providers understand both sides of the employment equation.

Individuals need opportunities that align with their:

• Interests

• Abilities

• Experience

• Goals

• Support needs

Employers need confidence that they are receiving an individual who can contribute meaningfully to the workplace.

Brittany’s experience developing relationships with businesses and networking throughout Eastern Connecticut provides a practical understanding of both perspectives.

Her work contributes to SLG’s broader commitment to helping individuals with disabilities move toward meaningful employment, increased independence, and greater participation in their communities.

Community-Based Employment After ABI

Employment after brain injury can be an important part of community reintegration.

Work may provide:

• Income

• Structure

• Social connection

• Purpose

• Confidence

• Identity

• Independence

For many ABI survivors, however, returning to work involves rebuilding skills and confidence rather than simply finding an open position.

Brittany’s experience across ILST, ABI programming, and vocational rehabilitation allows her to understand these challenges within the context of the individual's broader recovery journey.

This creates a natural connection between SLG’s Supported Employment, ABI Waiver, and Community Reintegration services.

Understanding the Individual Behind the Employment Goal

A strong vocational program begins with understanding the person.

Brittany’s experience has focused on identifying employment opportunities that meet individual participants’ job goals rather than simply placing individuals into available positions.

This reflects SLG’s broader person-centered philosophy.

Employment planning should consider:

• Personal interests

• Previous work experience

• Cognitive strengths

• Functional challenges

• Transportation

• Schedule preferences

• Workplace environment

• Long-term goals

The goal is not simply to place someone in a job.

The goal is to help create a sustainable employment experience.

Leadership in Community-Based ABI Services

Brittany’s career progression gives her extensive knowledge of how community-based services operate at multiple levels.

She has worked directly with:

• ABI Waiver participants

• Families

• Direct support professionals

• Program coordinators

• Employers

• Rehabilitation professionals

• Vocational referral sources

This provides a broad perspective on the systems required to support successful community living after brain injury.

Today, as Director of Home Care Services, Brittany applies this experience to organizational leadership and service delivery.

Design and Communication Background

Brittany earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design from Marietta College, with concentrations in Public Relations and Development.

This background adds an additional dimension to her professional skill set.

Communication and relationship-building are particularly valuable within community-based services, where success often depends on connecting:

• Participants

• Families

• Staff

• Employers

• Referral partners

• Community organizations

Her background in public relations and development complements her experience in direct service and organizational leadership.

Brittany Ritter and the Connecticut ABI Knowledge Center

Brittany’s professional experience makes her an important authority for SLG’s Connecticut ABI Knowledge Center, particularly around topics involving functional independence, vocational rehabilitation, and community reintegration.

Her experience directly supports educational resources addressing:

• Supported Employment After Brain Injury

• Community Reintegration After TBI

• Independent Living Skills Training

• Choosing an ABI Provider

• Housing After Brain Injury

• Returning to College After Brain Injury

• Brain Injury and Driving

Her professional story demonstrates how ABI rehabilitation extends beyond the clinical setting into the practical realities of employment, housing, transportation, and community participation.

Brittany Ritter and Supported Employment

Among SLG’s professional team, Brittany provides a particularly strong connection between ABI services and employment outcomes.

Her experience developing vocational programming and establishing employer relationships provides practical expertise in helping individuals translate rehabilitation gains into meaningful employment opportunities.

This makes her profile a valuable internal authority page for searches related to:

• Supported employment after brain injury

• Returning to work after TBI

• Vocational rehabilitation Connecticut

• ABI employment services

• Brain injury employment support

• Connecticut ABI Waiver employment supports

A Career Built Around Progression and Opportunity

Brittany’s professional journey reflects the progression that SLG seeks to create for the individuals it supports.

She began by providing direct support.

She developed expertise in independent living.

She progressed into program coordination.

She developed vocational programming.

She built relationships with employers.

She moved into organizational leadership.

That progression gives Brittany a unique perspective on the importance of creating opportunities for individuals to develop skills, confidence, and greater independence.