Respite in NY is funded through grants from OMRDD, but charitable organization usually get those grants and sponsor the programs. When my son was in preschool, the school got a grant for half day respite EVERY Sat. He LOVED it and so did we. My 16yo won't GO to respite programs anymore. Many programs give vouchers for babysitters, too, but he won't stay home with a sitter, either (he did when he was younger). We send him to one week of sleep away camp in the summer. We pay 5/wk. and the rest is picked up by the Rotary. They've started renting out the camp during winter weekends to a local non-profit that runs a weekend respite once a month. Our son is willing to accept that. The camp is in the town next to ours, so it's comfortably close by and he is very happy to go. Last weekend was the first overnight and my husband and I felt like we won the lottery! Go for it!
Do other states have after school support and respite services? It is called CAPS here in NC.
Just interested in knowing if other states have this support and if so what it is called and how helpful is it? Thanks.
Concernedpa.
I don't think we do here in Florida - I figured I would've found it by now....I found a great daycare though.Respite is offered through OMRDD here in NY. I have my meeting on Friday! I'll be finding out all about it then.
The area I live in has respite available through the regional center. I have heard some very mixed reviews on the regional centers country wide but the one I worked through, SF bay area, California, was always good. There is one respite care center that is offered for my area and to be honest we never used it because of the spread for the ages, 2-25! It is supposed to be great but I had a wonderful support system in my family and until my father passed away 3 years ago he took care of Shawn.
In NJ The Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) gives us money toward respite, we have to actually find the someone to provide the respite. DDD also gives grants toward recreational programs like summer camp, horseback riding lessons, gymnastics, ect.
My son's special ed. school also has after care but I've never looked into it so I'm not sure how much it costs.
Not here in Florida!Have you checked out nonprofit organizations like United Cerebral Palsy and Catholic Charities? They have grants for respite up here and are likely to have them in lots of states. ALso, check with the social worker in your son's school. They keep lists of organizations that offer respite. It is not as rare as you think. Good luck.Florida Respite