Bridges to Independence

What Bridges to Independence does

Bridges to Independence, Inc. is a privately held, founder-owned developmental disability services provider headquartered in Delaware, Ohio. Founded in 1999 by Chris Ritchie and Bunny Ambro, the company delivers Individual Options (I/O) Waiver, Supported Living, and Level One services funded through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) Medicaid waiver programs. It serves approximately 97 individuals across Crawford, Delaware, Franklin, and Marion Counties, with service intensity ranging from a few hours per week of community and skill-building support up to 24-hour daily living assistance. Bundled transportation to medical appointments, shopping, and recreation is offered alongside the three core service lines.

Operations are supported by a standard, non-AI technology stack centered on compliance and billing: the Anywhere Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) platform tracks and documents caregiver visits with location verification, while Sandata handles billing submission to DODD. The back office is built on common SaaS tools including JotForm for DSP recruitment applications and WordPress for the corporate site and blog. No proprietary software product, mobile app, or AI/ML capability is disclosed.

The business model is a fee-for-service human services provider paid by a single public payer — Ohio DODD — via Medicaid waiver reimbursement rates. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer: families and individuals with developmental disabilities who qualify for DODD waivers are the end customers, served in homes and community settings by employed Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) starting at $16/hour under the supervision of seven supervisors with 46 years of combined experience available 24/7. The company has no parent organization, no institutional or private equity backing, and no subsidiaries; ownership and management remain concentrated in the Ritchie family, with Scott Ritchie (Director) handling compliance and operations oversight.

Name

Bridges to Independence

Legal name

Bridges to Independence, Inc.

Website

https://bridgestoindependence.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Bridges to Independence, Inc. is a Delaware, Ohio-based developer and operator of DODD-funded I/O Waiver, Supported Living, and Level One services for approximately 97 individuals with developmental disabilities across four Ohio counties, employing 51–100 staff under founder family ownership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Accessible Transportation & Paratransit Services (EDALAKAH)

Keywords

• Developmental disability services
• Supported living services
• Medicaid waiver services
• Individual options waiver
• Direct support professionals

Headquarters

HQ city

Delaware

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. DODD Waiver Services: The organization generates revenue through Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) waiver programs including I/O Waiver, Supported Living, and Level One services. Services are billed to DODD for individuals with developmental disabilities who qualify for Medicaid waiver funding.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Bridges to Independence is a Delaware, Ohio-based service provider founded in 1999 that delivers Individual Options (I/O) Waiver, Supported Living, and Level One services to approximately 97 individuals with developmental disabilities across Crawford, Delaware, Franklin, and Marion Counties in Ohio. Services are funded through the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD) Medicaid waiver programs and range from a few hours per week of community-engagement assistance to 24-hour comprehensive daily living support, including transportation to appointments, shopping, and recreation.

Product overview

Bridges to Independence offers a coordinated suite of developmental disability services in Ohio, comprising three core service lines: I/O Waiver Services (Individual Options Waiver), Supported Living Services, and Level One Services. The organization serves approximately 97 individuals across Crawford, Delaware, Franklin, and Marion counties, providing support ranging from a few hours weekly for community activities to 24-hour daily living assistance. Transportation services are bundled with core offerings. The organization also operates an Online Application System for efficient DSP recruitment, supported by a JotForm-based web application and a company blog for operational communications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• I/O Waiver Services
• Supported Living Services
• Level One Services
• Transportation Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 97 individuals receive services ranging from few hours weekly to 24-hour comprehensive support

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DODD)coreOthers · 1 January 1999Bridges to Independence is a certified service provider under the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities waiver programs. The organization provides I/O Waiver, Supported Living, and Level One services that are funded and regulated by DODD. Services are billed through DODD's systems including Sandata for electronic visit verification and billing submission.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BrightSpring Health Services: Public, Louisville-headquartered home and community-based services provider that delivers I/DD and waiver services across Ohio alongside pharmacy, hospice, and home health lines. Directly comparable as a multi-state DODD-equivalent waiver provider serving the same developmental-disability population in overlapping geographies.
• Dungarvin: National provider of residential, in-home, and community-based supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with programs across multiple states including Ohio. Comparable as a mid-sized DD waiver services agency serving the same disability population with similar waiver-funded revenue model.
• Easterseals: Federated national nonprofit providing services to people with disabilities including developmental disabilities, autism, and seniors across all 50 states. Comparable as a multi-state disability services organization delivering community living, in-home supports, and waiver-funded services to similar populations.
• The Arc: National federation of state and local chapters serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities through case management, residential support, employment, and advocacy. Comparable as a community-based DD services organization serving very similar populations through Medicaid waiver programs in some markets.
• I Am Boundless: Ohio-based non-profit provider of I/DD waiver services, behavioral health, residential, and employment supports headquartered in central Ohio. Direct comparable as a state-only DD waiver provider delivering I/O, Level One, and Supported Living services to overlapping DODD-eligible populations in some of the same counties.
• RISE Services, Inc. Multi-state provider of in-home and community supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, offering waiver-funded residential and supported living. Comparable as a similarly positioned DD waiver agency with analogous Medicaid-funded service lines and DSP-driven delivery model.
• VIP Management, Inc. Ohio-based provider of I/O waiver, supported living, and residential services to people with developmental disabilities across multiple Ohio counties. Direct comparable operating in the same DODD system and serving the same waiver population with virtually identical service lines.

Broad incumbents

• Sevita Health (formerly The MENTOR Network / REM Ohio): National operator of I/DD residential and day services, formed from the 2023 combination of The MENTOR Network and RHA Health Services. Operates REM Ohio within Bridges' footprint, offering very similar I/O waiver, supported living, and community-based supports to the same DODD-eligible population.
• Help at Home: PE-backed, multi-state personal care services provider serving Medicaid waiver populations including older adults and people with disabilities. Comparable business model (Medicaid waiver-funded in-home support delivered by DSPs/paraprofessionals) and overlapping payer relationships with state Medicaid agencies.

Regional players

• LifeSkills (Community Employment & Habilitation) / LifeSkills of Ohio: Ohio-based provider of developmental disability waiver services including supported living, day habilitation, and community employment. Comparable as a state-only regional DD services agency competing for the same DODD waiver population in overlapping Ohio counties.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Bridgestoindependence
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bridges-to-independence-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bridges to Independence