Parents, who have the deepest understanding of their child's needs, should be prioritized for compensation when providing care. For many children with special needs, the safest and most beneficial environment is with their parents. Our child requires catheterization every three hours and a daily bowel program, making it logical for us, the parents, to manage these needs directly.

If caregiving compensation is to be provided, it should be directed toward the parents who are consistently meeting their child's daily needs. Children often respond more positively and feel more comfortable with their parents, which underscores the importance of supporting parental caregiving.

Limiting parental caregiving hours to 40 per week and favoring external care options often proves challenging, as finding external caregivers who can deliver the same level of care is difficult. It is also hard to balance working outside the home while managing the constant needs of a special needs child. We request that parents be permitted to utilize the full range of approved caregiving hours to ensure their child receives comprehensive care, including attending medical appointments, therapy sessions, and school activities. This approach would better support both the parents and the child.