Special Needs Respite, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charity operating in the state of Georgia that pays qualified caregivers or agencies to provide respite childcare for children with special needs so their parents (the usual 24/7 caregivers of the child) can get a break.

Special Needs Respite does not provide caregivers or render actual care; we have no caregivers on staff or on contract. We do have relationships with approved respite care providers in case parents do not already have a caregiver for their child.

Good question!

In a nutshell, SNR will pay for childcare while you get a break.

The application process - a picture is worth a thousand words:

When a family is "Awarded," they are allocated a set amount of funding that can be used to pay caregivers. The funds are set aside for 3 months, during which time the caregiver submits invoices to SNR as care is rendered. Once the funds are exhaused or expired, the award is complete. Families can get up to 4 awards per calendar year.

Special needs is indeed a broad category, ranging from mildly autistic to fully paralyzed and on a feeding tube. Special Needs Respite will consider any child along this continuum for consideration. As such, there is no "approved list" of diagnoses. For the purposes of a scholarship, if you consider your child special needs, by all means fill out an application. Part of that process involves listing your child's diagnosis, and a narrative portion where you can describe your situation.

Currently, Special Needs Respite serves the metro Atlanta area. Areas outside of that, while the needs are just as great, unfortunately are out of our scope. We are not a large organization, and with limited funds available we need to limit the areas we serve. Our vision would be to expand our service areas as we grow.

Special Needs Respite relies on donations to fund it's scholarship fund, and often the best way to spread the word is for scholarship recipients to reach out to their friends, families, and co-workers. This isn't just paying it forward, but will help prevent any scholarship freezes due to low funding.

Yes - Special Needs Respite, Inc. is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We are also listed on Publication 78, which means any fundraising platform or program, such as through your company, or via Facebook, to include us in the list of where you can donate funds. Funds donated to SNR are therefore tax-deductible (depending on your tax situation). You can see us on Guidestar/Candid for access to demographics, statistics, 990 filings, and more.