How to Find Quality Child Care
Learn how to find the right people to care for your child.
Learn how to find the right people to care for your child.
Choosing child care is a difficult decision for any family. You want to be sure that your child will be safe and well cared for. Talking to other parents of children with disabilities will help you find trustworthy, high-quality child care centers or homes. But don’t stop there. Do your homework and learn as much as you can. The resources in this article can help.
Almost all child care programs must follow Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This means they cannot discriminate against children with disabilities. Child care programs that are run by a religious institution such as a church, synagogue, or mosque are the exceptions. They do not have to follow Title III of the ADA, though some may comply anyway.
Once you have a list of licensed or registered child care options, it is important to visit the programs in person. Talk to the director of the program about what you are searching for and ask how they can respond to your child’s needs. The resources that follow can help you become a wise child care shopper.
Download 5 Steps for Selecting Care for Your Child (PDF) from Little Texans, Big Futures. It covers the different types of child care programs, tips for searching for child care (including for children with disabilities), and forms you can use to keep track of information as you research and visit different programs.