As a parent of a special needs child for 14 years, I can attest that our lives are extremely stressful, difficult and challenging 24/7.  For the past 14 years, I am unable to go back to work full-time as a nurse because it is impossible to find caregivers for my disabled daughter with severe seizures.  At times, it is taking six months for even a single applicant to apply to watch her.  Then, they can only work for 2-3 months and then the search continues again and again.  Myself Being able to be a paid caregiver for her is extremely important and necessary because of this. Please don’t decrease our hours. It is Difficult enough as a special needs parent.  You can only imagine the stress and difficulty if you live it everyday like us -so please listen .  Not allowing your spouse to be the EOR would be extremely difficult. I do not have any family closer than 150 miles and they are my  elderly parents.  They would not be capable of taking on the EOR role.  Living in NOVA area, it is extremely common to not have family close by due to high cost of living.  I don’t have any friends that I would feel comfortable taking on that role at all.  It is private and personal information . Please listen to all of these important comments.