The Supported Living Group

11/27/2025

🧠 Reflections on TBI & the Human Connection: A Powerful New Read from Today Magazine! 🌟
Ever played the word association game with “disability”? What comes to mind for you? In the latest from Today Magazine Online, Editor-in-Chief Bruce William Deckert dives deep into this profound question, exploring how traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) aren’t just a “disability” label—they’re a universal thread in our shared human story of strengths, flaws, and resilience.
This commentary (Part 4 in an inspiring series on our very own Inspire Arts program!) spotlights how creativity becomes a lifeline for brain injury survivors. From the heart of Connecticut’s Farmington Valley, it’s a reminder that healing thrives in community—much like the laughter and artistry we celebrated at our recent Bethany Thanksgiving Feast. Everyone has “abilities and disabilities,” Deckert writes, and art? It’s the bridge that connects us all. 💫
Whether you’re a survivor, caregiver, or ally in the brain injury community, this piece will spark reflection and hope. Check it out now and join the conversation—what’s your one-word association?
👉 Read the full article: Reflections on TBI & Disability Connection
Grateful for voices like Bruce amplifying the transformative power of programs like Inspire Arts at The Supported Living Group. Let’s keep building bridges!

The distinctive Inspire Arts initiative helps TBI survivors pursue the arts as a life calling and shines light on the disability realm — begging a question: What comes to mind when you hear the term "disability"?

11/26/2025

🦃 Gratitude, Creativity & Community: A Thanksgiving to Remember at SLG Bethany! 🎨❤️
Today, our Bethany location was filled with laughter, delicious food, and the magic of creativity as our ABI Waiver participants came together for an unforgettable Thanksgiving Feast + Inspire Arts celebration!

From painting festive masterpieces to sharing stories around the table, our Inspire Arts program once again proved why it’s so much more than an activity, it’s a lifeline. Art has the incredible power to heal, connect, and bring joy, especially for brain injury survivors navigating their recovery journey. Moments like these remind us that healing doesn’t happen in isolation, it happens in community.

The smiles, the artwork, the full hearts (and full plates!) in these photos say it all: together, we are rebuilding lives, one brushstroke and one shared meal at a time.

A HUGE thank you to our incredible management, administrative, and direct support teams who poured their hearts into making this day possible. Your dedication turns ordinary days into extraordinary memories for the people we serve. We couldn’t do this without you! 🙌
Ready to experience the transformative power of community and creativity?

Learn more about our Inspire Arts program and day services for brain injury survivors at the link in bio.

11/21/2025

This week, participants in SLG’s Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut (BIAC) Support Group explored a hands-on expressive arts activity designed to strengthen sensory awareness, support mindfulness, and encourage emotional expression. 🎨✨

After listening to a piece by Herbie Hancock, each member created a unique yarn-art interpretation of what they heard. Together, the individual pieces formed a collaborative sheet of “music” now proudly displayed in our studio, a visual reminder of connection, creativity, and shared experience. 🎶💛

Our monthly Creative Brain Injury Support Group provides survivors with a welcoming space to connect, express themselves, and build a sense of community. No art experience is ever needed, just a willingness to show up as you are.
🌟 All are welcome.

Send us a message to learn more or to join our next session!

11/20/2025

💙 A Critical Conversation: Autism & Su***de Risk 💙

A recent article from the Los Angeles Times highlights a heartbreaking and urgent reality: autistic youth face significantly higher rates of depression, suicidal thoughts, and su***de than their neurotypical peers.
https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2025-11-20/autistic-kids-are-at-higher-risk-of-su***de-why-dont-their-parents-therapists-and-doctors-know-that

Researchers point out that many parents, therapists, and doctors aren’t aware that standard mental health tools may not capture the unique warning signs in autistic children.

Masking, when autistic individuals suppress traits to blend in, can be especially dangerous, contributing to exhaustion, anxiety, and profound distress.

At The Supported Living Group, we’re deeply committed to providing autism-informed clinical support through our Connecticut ASD Waiver services. Our clinicians understand that neurodiverse experiences require tailored mental health strategies, not a one-size-fits-all approach.

If you or someone you care about needs non-medical ASD support, please reach out. You’re not alone, and there are people who understand.

📞 Contact us at (860) 774-3400

***deprevention

Autistic kids are far more likely to think about and die from su***de than their neurotypical peers. Autism researchers and advocates are working towards developing better screening tools, safety plans, therapies and prevention strategies that take neurodiversity into account.

11/19/2025

💖 A Love Story Born from Resilience 💖

We were deeply touched by this incredible story out of Minnesota, where two young people who both survived brain injuries not only healed, but found each other. After waking from comas in the same hospital years ago, Zach and Isabelle recently returned to the place where their journey began… and he proposed.

Their love is an extraordinary example of courage, connection, and hope. They once stood side-by-side in recovery, and now, they’re planning a life together, united by their shared strength.

At SLG, we believe in the power of connection and community-based support. Stories like this remind us why we do this work and how much healing and joy are possible.

Two teens suffered traumatic brain injuries and were hospitalized simultaneously, even waking from their comas around the same time. Seven years later, they're engaged.

11/14/2025

We’re so grateful for the kind words we receive from those we support, their families and friends, and our incredible community partners. 💙

Every message, review, and note of encouragement reminds us why we do what we do — to create opportunities for growth, connection, and independence for individuals living with brain injury.

Your feedback fuels our mission and strengthens the community of care that makes The Supported Living Group so special. Thank you for being part of our journey and for believing in the power of support, collaboration, and hope. 🌿✨

11/11/2025

🇺🇸 Honoring Our Veterans 🇺🇸

Today, and every day, The Supported Living Group proudly stands in gratitude for the brave men and women who have served our country. Their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to protecting our freedoms inspire us deeply.

To all Veterans across every branch of service, thank you.
Your strength empowers our communities, and your legacy of service lives on in the hearts of those you’ve protected.

We honor you. We appreciate you. We remember you.
Happy Veterans Day from all of us at SLG. ❤️🤍💙

11/06/2025

We’re thrilled to share that two of our talented ABI Waiver participants, LH and JM, recently had their artwork purchased by the Kessler Foundation! 🎉🖼️

This incredible milestone is a testament to their dedication, creativity, and the unique perspectives they bring to the world through art. Their pieces will now be part of a larger mission—advancing awareness, empowerment, and inclusion for people with disabilities.

At SLG, moments like these highlight the heart of our Inspire Arts program: providing space, support, and opportunity for survivors to express themselves, grow, and shine.

Please join us in congratulating LH and JM on this amazing achievement! 🌈👏
We can’t wait to see what they create next.

11/04/2025

🧠 Immersive Technology: Transforming Surgery and Brain Injury Recovery 💡

A recent BBC feature, “The Immersive Tech Preparing Surgeons for Lifesaving Surgery”, highlights how virtual reality (VR) and immersive simulation are changing the way surgeons prepare for complex operations.
🎥 Watch here: https://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0m5nhc2/the-immersive-tech-preparing-surgeons-for-lifesaving-surgery

These advances are doing more than improving precision in the operating room; they’re reshaping the future of brain injury treatment and recovery.

By using immersive environments, surgeons can visualize the brain in three dimensions, simulate rare or high-risk procedures, and practice delicate interventions repeatedly before ever entering the OR. The result?
✅ Greater surgical accuracy
✅ Reduced recovery complications
✅ Improved neurological outcomes

At The Supported Living Group (SLG), we see immense promise in how immersive technology can also enhance post-surgical rehabilitation. For individuals living with brain injury, VR-based therapies are already helping retrain balance, cognitive processing, and emotional regulation in ways that feel both safe and empowering.

Our mission is to blend this type of innovation with our non-medical, community-based supports, ensuring that survivors not only recover but also rebuild lives filled with purpose, creativity, and connection.

Learn more about how SLG supports brain injury survivors across Connecticut through the ABI Waiver, private pay programs, and creative clinical supports:
🔗 www.supportedlivinggroup.org

Tech Now meets medical teams using mixed reality environments to rehearse life-or-death operations.

10/31/2025

🎃 This Halloween, We’re Taking the “Scary” Out of Brain Injury Recovery 🕸️

At The Supported Living Group (SLG), we know that life after a brain injury can sometimes feel uncertain, but it doesn’t have to be frightening. 👻

Our community-based, non-medical support services through Connecticut’s Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Waiver program are designed to empower independence, rebuild confidence, and create brighter futures for survivors across the state.

💡 Here’s how we help take the fear out of the unknown:
🧠 Individualized supports built around each person’s strengths and goals
🏡 Residential and community integration programs that promote belonging
🎨 Creative initiatives like our Inspire Arts Program that help survivors express themselves and heal
💬 Compassionate, experienced staff, from clinicians to support professionals, walking beside each participant every step of the way

This season, we’re reminded that courage isn’t about facing monsters… It’s about overcoming challenges with the right people by your side.

Learn more about how SLG’s ABI Waiver services and private pay options can support your journey:
👉 www.supportedlivinggroup.org

🕷️ The Supported Living Group — Helping Connecticut’s brain injury survivors turn the page to a new chapter of independence.

10/30/2025

The Supported Living Group’s Inspire Arts Program continues to open doors for brain injury survivors like GMK, whose stunning mosaic “Royalty” beautifully represents family, nature, and love.

Using paint, yarn, beads, and buttons, GMK spent several months crafting this incredible work—an inspiring example of how creativity can foster healing, confidence, and community connection.

Programs like Inspire Arts provide brain injury survivors across Connecticut with meaningful access to the arts, empowering them to develop their talents, share their stories, and collaborate with local arts organizations.

🖼️ You can still see “Royalty” and other works on display this week at:
Raymond Library
📍 840 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06108
📅 Through October 29th
🕒 Hours:
Saturday 10 AM – 2 PM | Sunday 1–5 PM
Monday & Friday 9 AM – 5 PM
Tuesday – Thursday 9 AM – 8 PM