My state handles it through the Regional Centers. There are two programs. One is the In Home Supportive Services, and that is designed to help with daily living tasks while the parent is there. The impairment has to be fairly extensive to qualify for IHSS. There is also respite care available to all Regional Center clients. That is designed to provide childcare while the parent is out, like on a date night or whatever. DD does not qualify for IHSS because she's too high functioning but we could get respite hours. I don't take them because the cost-share is too high and it only covers just the disabled child. So on top of my cost share, I'd have to pay a supplement for the respite sitter to watch my other two kids.

Thank you for the responses, all were extremely helpful. I well begin my journey searching for some of these agencies in my city and state.

I have medicaid waiver for my son and I belong to an agency that provides respite services. Look into getting a medicaid service coordinator.

In my state you go through the Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services. I would suggest going to your state government page and doing a search there. Wishing you the best!

all states handle respite different (& even within the counties) in my state you go through Health & human services. You find a person to do the respite & then they do a background check on that person & qualify them. you get a certain amount a month, I work out a price per hour per child with my caregiver. that's how my state does it. sometimes they have a list of caregivers already on hand. I would start with health & human services (& like all government programs it can take a little while to get approved, so the sooner you start to apply the better) they will not pay for caregiving while your working, but like I said different states have different rules & I know that there are other programs to help if you qualify (in some states) good luck hun