As the parent of a child with special needs, you not only have to factor in the cost and location of a child care center, but you also have to consider whether or not the staff is capable of meeting your child's needs. There are many child care centers that do have programs and staff in place to work with special needs children, but there are some that do not. To help you with your search, here are some factors to consider.  

Staff Training

A compassionate spirit is not enough when it comes to taking care of a child with special needs. The staff needs to have the proper training to handle any situation that should occur while your child is in their care. The best way to determine whether or not the staff has the training necessary is to ask the child care director for detailed information on the qualifications of each staffer who will be working with your child.  

In addition to being trained, you need to know how open the director and staff are to the idea of you spending at least one or two days at the center. During your time there, you can help train the staffers on any special care instructions that your child will need. The additional training can help assure you and the staff that your child gets the care he or she needs.  

Class Size

If your child requires additional attention and care, you want to be sure there are enough trained professionals in the classroom who can not only care for your child, but also the other classmates. Therefore, you need to know what the staff to child ratio is in the room.  

Ideally, the ratio should be low enough that each child is receiving the attention he or she needs. If your child is an infant or toddler and in a room with others that age, the ratio should probably be no more than one adult to every four or five children. If it is higher, the staffer could face challenges with caring for every child. 

There are many other factors that can influence which child care center is right for your child, whether your child has special needs or not. Your child's pediatrician and other caregivers can help you determine what those factors are. Once you have determined which are most important, you can narrow your choices and find the right child care center for your child, keeping in mind that a traditional child care program at a place like Kaye Kare Child Care Center may still work. 

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