REACH employees are spreading awareness about the company’s services by appearing on KTOO’s Juneau Afternoon. In February, Laurel Stafford, supported employment director and Paul Spaulding, support services director, spoke with host Bostin Christopher about how REACH plays an integral role in supporting Southeast Alaskans experiencing disabilities, as well as their families.
“Our services help people maintain a healthy home life and help them build the skills they need to be more independent in their homes,” Spaulding said during the interview.
Stafford said they love the variety of their workdays as they help train people in their new jobs. For many of REACH’s clients, these jobs are a first. From stocking the shelves at Fred Meyer to flipping beds at the hospital, they enjoy watching people learn job skills. “Helping people become independent in their workplace and lets them live the successful lifestyle they want,” Stafford said.
Stafford said many companies in Southeast Alaska are wonderful partners to REACH and help further the company’s mission by offering jobs to REACH clients. Both Spaulding and Stafford have worked at REACH for nearly 10 years. They said working at the nonprofit allows them to make a difference in the community they care about.
To listen to the interview click here. It starts at about the 11-minute mark.
In April, members of REACH’s Infant Learning Program appeared on Juneau Afternoon to speak with Christopher about ILP’s services. Christine Wick, music therapist and Anna Mattox, occupational therapist, stressed the importance of working with young children in a home or comfortable setting and how it’s beneficial for their development and their families.
“How they interact and how therapy progresses is quicker in the home as opposed to outside the home and it allows parents to be heavily involved,” Mattox said.
For children, occupational therapy involves everything from eating to sleeping and walking to playing. Early intervention is pivotal to a child’s future success.
“Being a part of those shared moments of joy, whether that’s a first that’s happened, like the first time they’re standing by themselves or the first time they are exploring their voice, being there and witnessing that is powerful,” Wick said.
To listen to the interview click here. It starts at about the 5-minute mark.