Caregivers of individuals with disabilities serve an important role as part of the care team, providing support with daily activities and in many cases serving as a coordinator of other support services, like healthcare. Caregivers themselves need supports to prevent them from burning out. This article provides details about programs that help educate caregivers, give them breaks from providing care, and connect them with other caregivers to provide mutual support.
Resources are available to help parents and caregivers understand and navigate the special education system:. This document describes the state and federal laws affecting the provision of special education to help parents understand their rights in the special education process.
A Child Study Team is a multidisciplinary group that provides parents and teachers with a variety of learning-related services, including consultative, evaluative, and prescriptive services for students who are experiencing academic difficulties. For students with hearing loss or who are deaf or blind, the New Jersey Specialized Child Study Team provides resources. For more information, see our article on Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired resources.
The Office of the Special Education Ombudsman at bottom of page offers valuable resources and information to support parents, students, and educators regarding special education rights and services. Services can include adult day care, home care, companion services, campership, or a short stay in a facility. There is a caregiver directed option, which allows the caregiver to pay for and be reimbursed for services or items that make caregiving easier.
The day centers provide higher staffing ratios and dementia-specific care. There are co-pays based on income. Personal care services are services that support people who are unable to perform activities of daily living on their own.
