The Story of REACH
REACH grew out of the dream of a group of local families who wanted to organize activities for their children with disabilities. In 1977, REACH opened its doors in the basement of the Resurrection Lutheran Church in Juneau.
What started out as a small, family-run group meeting in a church basement has developed into an agency employing 200 people and serving 400 individuals.
Initially, REACH focused on providing job opportunities for adults with disabilities. REACH's custodial services began with a contract to clean the Federal Building. This program eventually expanded its contracts to other federal facilities in Juneau as well as Ketchikan, Sitka and Skagway. REACH also ran a bulk-mail business, staffed by people with disabilities. In the 1980s, REACH ran several group homes for adults and children with developmental disabilities. In 1988, the Infant Learning Program and respite were added to the REACH umbrella.
In the 1990s, following national trends, REACH closed its two children's group homes and provided home-based support so children could live with their families. As the State of Alaska changed the way it addressed the needs of people with disabilities via Medicaid waivers, REACH responded and developed its Support Services. In 1995, REACH opened its office in Haines.
In 1997 the supported work department was renamed Juneau Works in an effort to meet employers on their own terms and to market the program as an employment service for people with disabilities. By this time, REACH Custodial had contracts to clean over one million square feet a day.
Again, responding to national trends, REACH closed its bulk-mail business and opened a Day Habilitation program in May 2002. This program provides an alternative to employment for those few individuals who are not able to be employed in the community, and to enhance living skills and life experiences of other people.
The organization has grown in the past twenty years but the mission of REACH has stayed the same - to promote the independence and well-being of persons with disabilities in the community of their choice.
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REACH 213 Third Street, Juneau, AK 99801
Phone (907)586-8228 Fax(907)586-8226
