Why finding childcare for kids with disabilities is so difficult in the U.S.

William Brangham:

More than a quarter of all parents of children with disabilities say they struggle to find appropriate childcare for their kids. And even for those who do, many say their kids routinely encounter discrimination, like being excluded from field trips and some classes.

Judy Woodruff reports for our series Disability Reframed.

Judy Woodruff:

In many ways, Caine Harris is a typical young boy. He loves Curious George and watching videos on his mom's iPad.

So tell me about this young man that we're sitting here talking with. He's 4 years old. Is that right? And…

Jasmine Watkins, Mother of Caine Harris: Yes, that's my 4-year-old son, Caine.

Judy Woodruff:

And he is a bundle of energy.

Jasmine Watkins:

Yes, he's very hyper.

(Laughter)

Judy Woodruff:

But Jasmine Watkins says, when her son was around 18 months old, he began falling behind some of his peers.

Jasmine Watkins:

I recently, within these last three weeks, have gotten him diagnosed with autism. But that's, like, a very new diagnosis. Prior to that, I would say he has a speech delay, a cognitive delay.

Judy Woodruff:

On top of that, Caine is not potty trained, common for children his age with autism. All this has made it incredibly difficult for Watkins, a single working mom in Silver Spring, Maryland, to find childcare.

Jasmine Watkins:

They ask you about your child's personality. They ask if there's any diagnosis. And they will ask you that. And if you're like, oh, my child, he doesn't talk or he's still in diapers, these are things that they're putting into perspective when they're trying to enroll you in a program.

Judy Woodruff:

She says, earlier this year, after looking at several childcare centers in the area that couldn't meet Caine's needs, a spot opened up at Easterseals, a national nonprofit that provides day care to all children, including those with special needs.

Chyrlette Crump, Easterseals:

We get calls every day with families looking for space for their child with special needs. And, sometimes, the families don't want to share that information over the phone because they're afraid that they're going to hear that answer no.

Judy Woodruff:

Chyrlette Crump is the director of the child development center at this Easterseals, which serves about 60 kids ages 5 or younger. The organization relies on both public and private funding, including grants and donations, to offer these services.

Parents pay based upon their income. Caine is one of about 12 children here with special needs.

Chyrlette Crump:

I think what sets us apart is, we're not afraid to work with children with disabilities. Sometimes, for educators or programs, it's fear of the unknown. We're not afraid. We need to meet children exactly where they are, so if there is ability or disability, we can help support them.

Judy Woodruff:

But finding that support isn't easy.

Elizabeth Curda, U.S. Government Accountability Office:

Our analysis showed there's over 2.2 million children in the United States with disabilities who are aged 5 or younger. And their parents are having a very difficult time finding childcare for them.

Judy Woodruff:

Elizabeth Curda is a director at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, which released a report last year. It showed many childcare centers often put up barriers for children with special needs, including requirements for potty training by the age of 3. Their parents can face yearslong wait-lists and sometimes even be forced to move to access childcare.

Elizabeth Curda:

And what we heard from providers is, they need training, they need additional staff and funding for accommodations and for making the physical environment accessible.

Nakisha Urbina, Teacher, Easterseals:

They learn the routine. They learn the consistency.

Judy Woodruff:

At Easterseals, teachers like Nakisha Urbina do receive extra training and instruction on how to interact with students like Caine Harris.

Nakisha Urbina:

Just having an open mind that not to take the behavior personal, because sometimes they're not going to be in compliance.

Judy Woodruff:

She says this training has been crucial and that she now enjoys having special needs children in her classroom.

Nakisha Urbina:

It helps me teach the other children that everyone is learning differently. So, it helps me create the lesson plan that includes Caine and the other children. So it's not challenging. It just helps me become better at what I'm doing and how I'm teaching both children with special needs and children that do not have special needs.

Judy Woodruff:

Some staff here are also trained on even more medically complex needs, like how to properly feed 1-year-old Miracle Wynn.

Robert Wynn, Grandfather of Miracle Wynn: I have never seen a baby like this, so independent. She's a fighter.

Judy Woodruff:

Grandfather Robert Wynn raises Miracle, who's relied on this tube attached to her stomach to be fed ever since surviving open-heart surgery at birth.

Robert Wynn:

I could show you pictures where she had tubes all over. I cried every day because I didn't know if she was going to make it, but God is good.

Right here. Right here.

Judy Woodruff:

While some parents pay up to $2,500 a month for childcare at Easterseals, Wynn received a grant from Montgomery County in Maryland that allows him to send Miracle here for free.

What would it be for you, what would it mean for you if this place didn't exist?

Robert Wynn:

I have no idea. I would be lost. I'm going to be honest with you. I would be lost. They allow me to go to work. I hadn't worked in almost a year. They allow me to go to work. I mean, boy, they do my baby's hair. I'm dad. I mean, I have got five girls, but I have not learned how to do hair.

Judy Woodruff:

You're not good with hair.

Robert Wynn:

Not at all. And they do it for me.

Judy Woodruff:

That level of care is what Jasmine Watkins says has made Easterseals a good fit for her son, who now also gets picked up five days a week for additional speech training at a local school.

Jasmine Watkins:

I just want Caine to be happy. I want him to be able to articulate himself. I want him to be a kind, loving person that's thriving. And to be able to do that, he needs extra help. And that's OK.

Judy Woodruff:

Extra help that still remains out of reach for so many parents across the country.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Judy Woodruff in Silver Spring, Maryland.