3 Things to Consider When Seeking Care for a Special Needs Child

All parents who are in search for child care are looking for someone who provides consistent, loving and quality care for their child. If you have a child with special needs, you may need to ask a few more and different questions to find a situation that meets your requirements. You will want to find a child-care provider who has experience working with children who are special needs. You will want to find a provider that is willing to work with you and meet the needs of your child. The number of special-needs children ages 3 to 5 who are helped under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has nearly doubled in the last two decades. If you are looking for special-needs child care, here are the best places to start your search.

 

The day-care center is expected to evaluate the child’s needs on an individual basis due to the American Disabilities Act. The American Disabilities Act is in place to ensure that day-acre centers are not able to refuse to admit a child because of a disability.

To determine where your child would most benefit, it will be helpful to list out your child’s strengths. If you are unsure of the best fit for your child, parents will benefit from getting a rough estimation by using this formula: Abilities+ Behaviors = Proper Placement.

Once you have decided what day care will focus on special-needs children, start searching by asking around in the special-needs community. Resources such as the National child-care referral agencies, state human services websites or other local organizations that aid children with special needs may be able to direct parents to the appropriate day cares. Realize that a provider that may be appropriate for your child may not be appropriate for another. It is important to take the time to take a tour of the care provider in person, ask many questions and request frequent verification that things are well and on track.

A nanny would be great if you prefer in-home care for your special need’s child. There are child-care search engines such as Care.com, SitterCity.com and SeekingSitter.com that often have filter for find the right nannies or babysitters with experience working with children with special needs. Extensive background checks are recommended for anyone working one- on-one with a child with special needs. Make sure that you can verify the nanny’s personal information and ask for multiple references. There are unfortunate circumstances where the more severe your child’s disability, the greater the chance that abuse will occur by a caregiver at some point in the child’s life. It is recommended to continue yearly background checks, stopping by in the middle of the day and observing interactions with the child and caregiver at the park or with a NannyCam. Look for a solution whether its in-home care or day care that will provide safety, developmentally appropriate stimulation and encouragement that will match your child’s diagnosis and socialization needs.