Sarah Speers serves as a Program Manager at The Supported Living Group (SLG), bringing a diverse professional background in healthcare, education, advocacy, strategic leadership, and community-based disability services to her work supporting adults with complex needs.

Since joining SLG in 2024, Sarah has worked with individuals living with acquired brain injury (ABI), physical disabilities, and co-occurring behavioral health needs, providing program leadership and coordinating individualized services designed to promote safety, independence, dignity, and quality of life.

In her current role, Sarah manages a diverse caseload, coordinates 24-hour staffing, supports the implementation of individualized care plans, and serves as an important liaison among participants, families, clinical professionals, care teams, and state funding partners.

Her approach is grounded in the belief that effective disability services should recognize the individual voice, promote self-determination, and create opportunities for people to participate meaningfully in their communities.

Experience Supporting Individuals With Acquired Brain Injury

Sarah's current work at The Supported Living Group includes supporting adults with acquired brain injury and complex support needs.

Brain injury can affect many areas of everyday functioning, including:

• Executive functioning

• Memory and organization

• Emotional regulation

• Judgment and decision-making

• Communication

• Physical functioning

• Community participation

• Independent living

Many of these effects may not be immediately visible. An individual may appear physically capable while continuing to experience significant challenges with planning, organization, decision-making, emotional regulation, or managing the demands of everyday life.

Effective ABI services require professionals who understand how these challenges affect the whole person and how individualized supports can be incorporated into daily life.

Sarah's program-management role allows her to help coordinate the people, services, and resources necessary to support individuals living successfully in the community.

Coordinating 24-Hour Community-Based Supports

One of Sarah's important responsibilities is coordinating 24-hour staffing for individuals with complex support needs.

Around-the-clock support requires careful coordination to ensure that participants receive consistent assistance across different shifts, staff members, and environments.

Strong staffing coordination can promote:

• Safety

• Consistency

• Predictability

• Communication

• Continuity of care

• Familiarity with individual routines and preferences

For individuals with acquired brain injury or other complex disabilities, consistency can be particularly important because changes in routines, staff approaches, or expectations may create additional challenges.

Sarah works to ensure that support teams understand the individual and the goals outlined within their individualized care plan.

Person-Centered Care Plan Implementation

A care plan is only effective when it is translated into meaningful support in the individual's everyday life.

Sarah works with participants, families, direct support professionals, clinical team members, and other stakeholders to help implement individualized plans based on each person's:

• Goals

• Strengths

• Preferences

• Functional needs

• Safety considerations

• Desired level of independence

The purpose of person-centered planning is not simply to document services.

It is to create a framework for helping an individual achieve the life they want.

For someone living with ABI, this may include goals related to:

• Independent living

• Employment

• Education

• Community participation

• Relationships

• Transportation

• Daily living skills

Supporting the Participant's Voice and Choice

A central part of Sarah's professional philosophy is the importance of participant voice, dignity, and self-determination.

Individuals receiving disability services should have meaningful opportunities to:

• Express their preferences

• Participate in service planning

• Identify their own goals

• Make choices about their daily lives

• Advocate for themselves

• Raise concerns about their services

For individuals with ABI or other complex disabilities, advocacy can sometimes require additional support.

Cognitive, communication, or emotional changes may make navigating complex service systems more difficult.

A strong program team helps ensure that the individual's voice remains central to decision-making.

Collaboration With Families and Interdisciplinary Teams

Community-based disability services rarely involve a single professional.

A participant's support network may include:

• Family members

• Care managers

• Program managers

• Direct support professionals

• Neuropsychology professionals

• Occupational therapists

• Behavioral specialists

• Counselors

• Medical providers

• State funding partners

Sarah serves as an important liaison among these groups, helping maintain communication and coordination around the individual's needs and goals.

Strong collaboration is especially important when an individual has complex medical, behavioral, cognitive, or physical support needs.

Advocacy and Special Education Experience

Sarah brings a particularly valuable background in special education advocacy.

For many years, she has helped families navigate educational systems and understand processes involving:

• Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)

• Section 504 Plans

• Educational accommodations

• Special education services

• Transition planning

• Family advocacy

This experience has given Sarah a strong understanding of the challenges families may encounter while trying to navigate complex service systems.

Advocacy often requires helping families understand:

• What services are available

• What questions to ask

• How to participate in planning meetings

• How to communicate effectively with professionals

• How to advocate for appropriate supports

Supporting Transitions Into Adulthood

Transitioning from school-based services into adulthood can be particularly challenging for individuals with disabilities.

Young adults may need to navigate new systems related to:

• Employment

• College

• Vocational training

• Independent living

• Transportation

• Housing

• Adult disability services

Sarah's experience with special education advocacy and transition planning provides a valuable perspective on helping families prepare for these changes.

Effective transition planning should begin with the individual's goals and consider the skills, services, and community resources needed to pursue those goals.

Experience With Complex Healthcare and Behavioral Needs

Sarah's professional background includes experience supporting individuals with medical, behavioral, neurological, and other complex needs.

Individuals receiving community-based disability services may experience multiple overlapping challenges.

For example, someone living with ABI may also experience:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Behavioral health challenges

• Physical disabilities

• Chronic medical conditions

These needs can interact with one another and affect an individual's ability to maintain independence.

Effective program coordination requires understanding these interactions while ensuring that the person remains at the center of the service plan.

Healthcare and Strategic Leadership Experience

Before joining The Supported Living Group, Sarah developed experience in healthcare and strategic leadership roles.

Her professional background includes work involving:

• Strategic planning

• Relationship development

• Organizational growth

• Communication

• Stakeholder engagement

• Systems coordination

Although these experiences occurred outside traditional disability services, they provide useful skills for program leadership and community-based care coordination.

Successful disability services depend on strong relationships among participants, families, professionals, organizations, and community partners.

Supporting Community-Based Independence

The goal of community-based disability services is not simply to maintain an individual's current situation.

It is to help people participate meaningfully in the communities where they live.

For an individual with ABI or another complex disability, this may mean working toward:

• Greater independence

• Stable housing

• Employment

• Education

• Recreation

• Social relationships

• Community involvement

Sarah's role helps coordinate the services and people necessary to support these goals.