July 6, 2023, CBS 21, Harrisburg, PA: Families of children with special needs experience unique challenges while trying to find child care https://local21news.com/news/local/families-of-children-with-special-needs-experience-unique-challenges-while-trying-to-find-child-care
A survey by Pennsylvania’s Office of Children Development and Early Learning shows in February, over 35,000 children were on child care waitlists.
However, for families of children with special needs, the search for adequate daycare can be even more exasperating.
Lobna Remington lives in Central PA and her son was diagnosed with autism nearly four years ago when he was nearly two-years-old.
She said she quickly realized the average daycare wasn’t properly equipped to help her son’s needs. She said over four years, her son had gone through four different day cares….
Her son is now five-years-old old and is enrolled in a specialized school for children with autism.
However, she said the process for finding and enrolling her son in that specialized school took nearly two years.
“It took a lot of phone calls, a lot of paperwork, a lot of ‘no’s’, and it was devastating,” Remington said.
Another woman living in Central PA, Joanna, said she had a similar experience to Remington.
Her son was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and was kicked out of three different day cares until he was old enough to attend public school. …
“If your child’s not of school age, I don’t know what you do. You’re kinda stuck,” Joanna said. Joanna said there are many challenges while navigating day care options that are particularly unique to families of children with special needs….
A recent study by the University of California, Riverside found one in six children with autism are expelled from their preschool programs.
Fregm said her daycare center received calls from frustrated and exhausted parents every single day.
“We’re one tiny little niche in the community that needs so much more support for these children,” Fregm said….
Under Pennsylvania Law, the requirements to work in an early child care center do not include unique education or training to care for children with special needs. Joanna believes that shouldn’t be the case.
“I think they need to have some sort of autism training, or maybe have a specific classroom just for autism,” Joanna said.
The Office of Child Development and Early Learning told CBS 21 News in a statement that they work with the early childcare community to reduce suspensions and expulsions. They said their goal is for children with disabilities is to participate and succeed in the same learning environment as children their same age.
Fregm said she believes community partners need to begin working together in support of children with special needs.
“Our therapeutic resources, out child care resources, our interventionists all need to come together and collaborate as one,” Fregm said.
Harnett said she would like to find a funding source to help provide more one-on-one staffing for children with special needs.
Overall, Remington said she believes parents of children with special needs are just looking for change.
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