Established in October, 2005, in response to the need for adequate and appropriate rehabilitation services for less privileged people with disability (PWD). Its aims are to rehabilitate and assist differently-abled individuals to achieve their optimum potential to facilitate community integration. The foundation is anchored on the principles of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR), which fosters P
eople Empowerment and Community Integration through various training activities. Community Based Rehabilitation, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is a strategy within general community development for rehabilitation, equalization of opportunities and social inclusion of all children and adults with disabilities. In CBR, the differently-abled person, the family, the community, and health professionals collaborate to provide needed services in non-institutional and direct community settings where services for differently-abled persons are limited or totally absent. At the heart of the foundation’s programs are lay community volunteers who skillfully render free therapy services in depressed communities. One of the REACH Foundation Inc.’s milestone projects is the Project Therapy, Education and Assimilation of Children with Handicap (Project TEACH). This is a Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Program in Mandaluyong City jointly implemented with the local government of Mandaluyong City since September 2007. Project TEACH developed an innovative framework that effectively streamlined pertinent and comprehensive services for individuals with special needs in Mandaluyong City.
