Resources, Education and Community Help


The Mission of REACH

The mission of REACH is to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities and their families. REACH wants to assist families in identifying and navigating the social, community and faith-based services within their community.  We also promote the importance of a more inclusive and accessible environment for all through collaboration with similar organizations and work to ensure that individuals with disabilities and their families have equal access to all areas of our community.  Our focus is also on the well-being of caregivers of individuals with disabilities.  We are effectively supporting caregivers of individuals with disabilities with our Bridging the Gap: Behavioral Healthcare Initiative.


We Are Here for You!

HOW WE SERVE

Identifying and Navigating services

We offer individualized support in helping you find the resources and supports you and your family need.  We help you find the information, education, and supportive services within your community.  We collaborate with organizations within the community that provide services to individuals with disabilities and their families with the goal of providing a seamless approach for families.   We will provide support for you and your family in the area of adult services (ISP), school age children (IEP),  early intervention, preschool, (IFSP).  Parent support information, along with education and training workshops.  Our supports are culturally sensitive to the unique challenges that individuals of color experience as caregivers and families of individuals with disabilities.

Promoting Inclusion and Accessibility for all

We also work in partnership with individuals and similar organizations to in ensure an inclusive and accessible environment for all. We bring awareness, education and support to organizations, businesses, and churches to demonstrate the importance of them becoming more inclusive and accessible to individual with disabilities and their families within the community. We uses our platform for individuals with disabilities and their families to share their insights, information, and experiences, along with ideas, suggestion, and solutions to promote a more inclusive and accessible community.    What makes a community inclusive and accessible (choice, partnerships, communication, policies, opportunities, access, and attitude).  We are committed to changing the world one community at a time.

Caregivers Count Too

Disabilities not only impact the individuals but also the entire family.  Caregivers and parents of individuals of disabilities often provide life-long care.  The supports that these caregivers receive can be minimum, sporadic, or nonexistent.  The challenges that caregivers face can negatively impact their well-being.  Many caregivers have not identified the importance of behavioral healthcare services and suffer in silence.  REACH Services is addressing this concern with the Bridging the Gap: Behavioral Healthcare Initiative with the goal of effectively supporting caregivers of individuals with disabilities.  The partnership between Hope Behavioral Health Services and REACH will provide culturally sensitive behavioral healthcare services along with family supportive services with the goal of providing seamless supports to caregivers and families of individuals with disabilities.


“Part of the problem is that
we tend to think that equality
is about treating everyone the
same, when it’s not.

It’s about fairness.
It’s about equity of access.”

~ Judith Heumann

About the Executive Director


Patricia Parker

Patricia Parker has been an Advocate for individuals with disabilities and their families for thirty-three years.  She is the Executive Director of Resource, Education and Community Help Services, Inc. (REACH) a Non-Profit Organization founded in May 2012.  She is also the parent and advocate of her son who is an adult with Autism and Epilepsy. 

She is an author and  Co-Author of “We Dare Be Brave” The emotional journey of three African American Moms raising children with disabilities.  This book can be found on Amazon.com.  She earned her Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts from Cuyahoga Community College in addition to a Bachelor’s Degree in Nonprofit Administration from Cleveland State University. She has combined her education and experience to assist families in navigating within the challenging systems of special education and adult services in Cuyahoga County. 

Ms. Parker’s professional background includes, special education assistant, project coordinator for Special Education Attorneys, Family Information Network supporting families of children birth through five.  She was awarded the Family Tribute Award from Milestones Autism Resources in 2022 and the 2022 Champions Award from LiveSpecial for the book “We Dare Be Brave”.

We Dare Be Brave:

African American moms and
the emotional journey of
raising children with disabilities.

Grab your copy today!

Call or Email Us
for more information

Cleveland, OH
Phone: 216.220.7194
Email: reachservices4@gmail.com

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