Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Early learning advocacy: No childcare for kids with disabilities

This is part of a series of legislative updates on the state's 2022 General Session. See also:

Image of woman holding child; they are smiling and touching nosesHave you struggled to find childcare? 

For years in disability circles, families have reported high rates of refusal or removal, or requests to provide 1:1 support themselves. In terms of childcare research, this creates a desert, or absence of support for a particular community. 

Substitute House Bill 2082 - Assessing Child Care Access, focuses on childcare deserts for children with developmental delay or disabilities.

Why is this important? Because the Department of Children, Youth & Families has left out this demographic when assessing gaps in childcare access. The bill was rewritten in committee but still focuses on the developmental disability community and still tries to gather information the state needs to resolve lack of access. The bill:

  • Requires the Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) to conduct competitive procurement as necessary to conduct a statewide assessment of child care access for families of children with developmental delay or disabilities

  • Requires DCYF to partner with the Office of the Developmental Disabilities Ombuds and the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to review the statewide assessment and make recommendations to increase the availability, affordability, and accessibility of childcare for families of children with developmental delay or disabilities.

The bill is waiting for a vote in the state House of Representatives. If approved, it moves over to the state Senate for committee action and possible vote.