Respite and day care are separate services. Day care is only meant to help you go to work, school, or training. Respite is supposed to give you a break from caring for your child. This allows you to have time for other things like chores, caring for other children, meeting friends or family, leisure activities, or resting. Respite is being relieved from the responsibility of care when you are doing activities other than work or school.

You can ask for both respite and daycare if you need these services to care for your child at home. Daycare takes care of your child while you go to work, school, or participate in training. Respite gives you a break from caring for your child so you can relax, visit friends, or take a vacation. Actually, you may be more in need of respite if you go from work to caring for your child, and back to work.

Explain to the regional center why and when you need both daycare and respite. Both services may help you meet the overall IPP goal of having your child live at home. Daycare enables you to work or go to school, while respite enables you to have a break from the constant responsibility of care and supervision. In both cases, the regional center must help you find providers who can care for your child fully.