When you’re caring for a child with autism, as their guardian or parent, you want what’s best for them! However, being at home with them all the time isn’t always a viable option, and many parents need daycare for their child in order to go to work, complete tasks outside of the house, or even just to spend some adult-only quality time with friends or loved ones. If you’re looking for daycare for your child with autism, you may be overwhelmed with figuring out where to start and how to find the right daycare for your child. Figuring out which daycare providers have the ability to offer accommodations for a child with autism, which ones specialize in autism support or care, and which ones are not suitable for your child can be difficult! That’s why ACES ABA has gathered tips on finding the right daycare for your child with autism, so keep reading to learn more and contact us today to start with our services.

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Figure Out What’s Right For Your Family

First, and most importantly, you need to figure out what kind of care is best for your family, your child, and your daily schedule. Do you need care Monday through Friday so you and your spouse or co-parent can both go to work? Maybe you just need care one or two days a week so you have time to get chores done around the house or run errands around town. In addition to figuring out how often you’ll need daycare for your child with autism, you also need to figure out what kind of care they will need from daycare providers. Factors to take into account are if your child has sensory sensitivities or issues, if they require specific activities to stay calm or engaged, or if they will only eat certain foods outside of the home. When you’ve considered all of these factors, you’ll have a good idea of what kind of daycare your family needs and can move forward with selecting a provider.

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Ask Other Parents or Community Members

Once you have a good idea of what kind of daycare your child with autism needs, you can start the search for providers. A great way to begin is by asking other parents or community members with children. Of course, if you know other parents of children with autism, try asking these individuals first to get recommendations on daycare providers that are able to provide compassionate and supportive care.

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Check With Support Programs for Verified Providers

As you gather information and daycare provider options from other parents and community members, you can continue your search or widen your search by checking out lists of verified care services. If your child has a Medicare autism waiver, you may be able to obtain daycare through Patient Assistance and Care services, though there may be some restrictions when taking this route. Otherwise, you can find resources on lists of providers from autism care groups on social media or even ask your child’s care/therapy team.

Meet With Potential Providers and Trust Your Gut

One of the most important aspects of finding the right daycare provider for your child with autism is ensuring that they’re going to be the right fit! Whether you’re meeting with them in person, over the phone, or even virtually through platforms like Zoom or Skype, getting a feel for the daycare provider before working with them is key. Ask questions about their experience in caring for children with autism, ask them about accommodations they make for autism-related restrictions, and get to know how they handle challenging situations. Of course, trust your gut and go with the provider who seems to know what they’re talking about and who will care for your child the way they deserve.