Who can refer to REACH?

Referrals to REACH can only be made by school personnel.

Who is eligible for REACH?

REACH eligible students have one of the following Alberta Education Exceptional Student Codes 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 55, 56. Consideration will be given to students coded 47 if there is evidence that the child has severe special needs that are not reflected by the current code.

How much does REACH cost?

REACH charges $50.00 per hour (as determined by Alberta Education). Schools/jurisdictions are not charged for travel time or expenses. On-site visits, report writing, planning, meetings with teachers, staff and parents, contact with medical personnel and other follow-up activities related to the student's education are chargeable services.

What is a Service Agreement?

The purpose of the service agreement (contract) between REACH and a school jurisdiction/school is to identify the specific support services requested as well as the number of hours.

The service agreement, in the form of a letter of agreement, is forwarded to the superintendent (or designate) or principal for approval and signature prior to provision of service.

REACH services will be initiated once our office has received the signed Service Agreement.

Who is on the REACH Team?

Our team consists of Psychologists, Speech-Language Pathologists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Educational Consultants for the Visually Impaired, Educational Consultants for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing, Special Education Consultants, Orientation & Mobility Specialists, and an Educational Audiologist.

When should I contact a REACH consultant working with a student in my classroom?

Should you have questions, concerns, feedback, or require additional information, never hesitate to call the REACH consultants at the office (403-777-6983). Every consultant has confidential voice mail that they access on a regular basis.

What should I think about when a REACH team member schedules a visit to my classroom??

• The REACH team member will want to see the student in their natural learning environment, in other words, your classroom.
• The REACH team member will want to observe the student participating in academic areas relevant to their discipline, e.g. the physical therapist will probably want to observe gym class, the occupational therapist may want to see the student writing, the speech language pathologist will want to see your student communicating with others, etc.
• If the visit involves an assessment, a quiet room will be needed. • Inform others working with the student about scheduled REACH visits.
• Arranging a time to speak to the REACH consultant will allow time to discuss your student and any of your questions.
• During the initial visit, you may want to discuss the following:
- What are your expectations/needs? Example, what do you hope to gain from REACH's involvement; number of visits….
- When is an appropriate time for REACH consultants to visit? for the student? for yourself?
- Do you have any specific requests? Example, attendance at IPP meetings. - What type of documentation/reports will be helpful to you?
- Who is the school contact for scheduling visits?

We look forward to our work together!

October 24, 2009