Tracy Gomes, MA, OTR/L, is an Occupational Therapist and CBT professional at The Supported Living Group (SLG), bringing more than two decades of rehabilitation, clinical leadership, program development, and healthcare experience to SLG's multidisciplinary support model. Tracy joined SLG's clinical team in June 2023 after a career spanning occupational therapy, rehabilitation leadership, skilled nursing, healthcare administration, utilization review, and clinical program development.

Her current work at SLG focuses on supporting individuals with acquired and traumatic brain injuries, with an emphasis on individualized rehabilitation, interdisciplinary collaboration, therapeutic relationships, and functional outcomes.

Extensive Occupational Therapy and Rehabilitation Experience

Tracy began her rehabilitation career in 1999, earning an Associate of Science degree in Occupational Therapy from Lasell College in Newton, Massachusetts. Her early clinical experience included occupational therapy groups for adolescents receiving mental health services at Carney Hospital in Boston.

She subsequently earned a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from Bay Path College and a Master's degree in Education with a concentration in Occupational Therapy from Springfield College in 2005.

This educational and clinical background provides Tracy with a strong foundation in occupational therapy, behavioral health, rehabilitation, and functional skill development.

Occupational Therapy and Functional Independence

Occupational therapy is particularly relevant to community-based disability services because it focuses on helping individuals participate successfully in the activities that make up everyday life.

For individuals with ABI, TBI, autism, and other disabilities, functional challenges may affect:

• Daily routines

• Organization

• Planning

• Community participation

• Social interaction

• Household responsibilities

• Employment

• Independent living

Tracy's occupational therapy perspective supports SLG's broader goal of translating rehabilitation principles into practical strategies that individuals can use in their homes and communities.

Brain Injury Rehabilitation Expertise

Since joining SLG, Tracy has applied her extensive rehabilitation background to supporting individuals with brain injuries. Her current profile specifically describes her as an important clinical resource for brain injury survivors throughout Connecticut.

Brain injury can affect much more than physical functioning.

Individuals may experience challenges related to:

• Executive functioning

• Memory

• Attention

• Cognitive fatigue

• Emotional regulation

• Problem-solving

• Safety awareness

• Community participation

A rehabilitation professional with extensive clinical and program-development experience can help connect these challenges with practical strategies for everyday independence.

Occupational Therapy and the Connecticut ABI Waiver

The Connecticut ABI Waiver supports individuals whose acquired brain injuries result in ongoing functional and support needs in the community.

Effective ABI services often require an understanding of how neurological changes affect practical functioning.

Occupational therapy contributes an important perspective by considering the interaction between:

The individual → the activity → the environment

This can help identify strategies that make everyday activities more manageable and meaningful.

At SLG, Tracy's rehabilitation expertise complements the organization's broader ABI clinical and community support model.

Experience Supporting Individuals With Autism and Learning Disabilities

Tracy also has previous clinical experience working with adolescents with learning disabilities and autism, including providing therapeutic interventions tailored to individual needs.

This background creates a valuable connection between SLG's Connecticut ABI Knowledge Center and emerging Connecticut ASD Knowledge Center.

Autistic individuals and individuals with brain injuries may both experience challenges involving:

• Executive functioning

• Adaptive skills

• Emotional regulation

• Communication

• Routine management

• Community participation

The underlying causes and appropriate interventions can differ substantially, which makes individualized assessment and support particularly important.

Rehabilitation Leadership and Program Development

Tracy's career extends beyond direct clinical practice.

She has held leadership positions including:

• Director of a Rehabilitation Department within a Visiting Nurse Association

• Program Manager within skilled nursing facilities

• Clinical development and mentoring roles

She has also developed specialized rehabilitation programming, including an outpatient amputee program.

This experience gives Tracy expertise not only in providing rehabilitation services, but also in understanding how effective clinical programs are designed, implemented, supervised, and evaluated.

Clinical Training and Professional Development

Throughout her career, Tracy has placed significant emphasis on developing other rehabilitation professionals.

Her experience includes:

• Developing clinical staff

• Creating training programs

• Supervising occupational therapy students

• Mentoring therapists

• Supporting interdisciplinary teams

This background is particularly relevant to SLG because community-based disability services depend heavily on ensuring direct support professionals understand the unique needs of the individuals they serve.

Health Plan and Utilization Review Experience

One of Tracy's less common areas of expertise is her experience working within major health insurance organizations, including UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.

In those roles, she reviewed medical records, assessed medical necessity, evaluated levels of care, and authorized skilled nursing and rehabilitation services.

This provides Tracy with a perspective that extends beyond direct clinical care.

She has experience understanding:

• Medical necessity

• Level-of-care decisions

• Rehabilitation utilization

• Clinical documentation

• Service authorization

• Healthcare system requirements

That background can be particularly valuable when working with complex rehabilitation cases and interdisciplinary teams.

Building Strong Therapeutic Relationships

Tracy's current work at SLG emphasizes the importance of long-term therapeutic relationships and collaboration with interdisciplinary care teams.

This is especially important for individuals with ABI because successful community rehabilitation often depends on consistency, trust, and understanding the individual's unique history.

Rather than focusing exclusively on what a person cannot do, effective rehabilitation looks at:

• Existing strengths

• Functional goals

• Barriers to participation

• Environmental factors

• Strategies that promote success

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Community-Based Rehabilitation

Tracy is part of SLG's broader multidisciplinary clinical model, which brings together professionals with expertise across rehabilitation, neuropsychology, counseling, behavioral support, and community-based disability services.

Her occupational therapy background complements the expertise of other SLG professionals by providing a strong functional and environmental perspective.

Together, these disciplines help connect:

Clinical knowledge → functional skills → community participation → independence

That connection is especially important for individuals transitioning from institutional or clinical rehabilitation settings into everyday community life.

Why Occupational Therapy Matters After Brain Injury

A person may successfully complete a hospital-based rehabilitation program and still experience significant difficulty managing everyday life.

For example, someone may physically be able to prepare a meal but struggle with:

• Planning

• Sequencing

• Organization

• Time management

• Safety awareness

Similarly, someone may physically be able to return to work but require strategies for:

• Cognitive fatigue

• Scheduling

• Task organization

• Workplace communication

Occupational therapy helps bridge the gap between ability in a clinical environment and successful participation in real life.

Tracy Gomes and the Connecticut ABI Knowledge Center

Tracy's experience makes her an important professional authority supporting SLG's educational focus on brain injury rehabilitation.

Her expertise is particularly relevant to Knowledge Center topics such as:

• Community Reintegration After TBI

• Brain Injury Executive Dysfunction

• Brain Injury and Driving

• Returning to College After Brain Injury

• Supported Employment After Brain Injury

• Housing After Brain Injury

• Independent Living After Brain Injury

These topics all involve the central occupational therapy question:

How can an individual successfully participate in meaningful everyday activities after injury or disability?