How Respite Care Supports Caregivers of Children with Paralysis

 For families of children with special needs, time away can mean time to rest and recharge.

Even one overnight can allow caregivers to step back from daily demands, strengthen emotional wellness and potentially build supportive relationships with others who understand the journey.

“More than anything else, caregivers say they need a break,” says Amy Bonham, executive director of A Special Purpose, an organization in Broken Arrow, OK, that provides resources for families caring for children with special needs. “Caregivers dedicate time to the everyday needs of their child as well as coordinate medical and therapeutic services and advocate for educational services. Many also work full-time. This can leave a serious strain on relationships as well as health.”

To support caregivers, A Special Purpose offers programs that proactively strengthen families by providing opportunities and resources that improve the quality of life. In 2022, the organization received a $10,000 Christopher & Dana Reeve Quality of Life grant to support its caregiver respite program.

“Our respite program is best characterized as a short retreat for caregivers,” says Bonham, who is also the parent of a child with disabilities. “We provide a nice, calm, peaceful place to go to unwind and refresh. Somewhere that is far enough to feel like you got away but close enough to get home quickly if needed.”

The program started by renting weekend Airbnb’s on a local lake or other serene environments. A couple of locations had been rented before the grant, but to grow, Bonham knew they needed to be more strategic.

“The Reeve Foundation grant really helped to catapult us to create new systems around our approach,” says Bonham. “The grant laid the foundation for where the program is today. We went from a $29,000 annual budget for the program to $90,000.”

The grant funding enabled A Special Place to provide a one- to two-night respite stay for 37 caregivers of children with paralysis. During the grant year, the organization rented multiple homes, mostly for couples or small groups of moms. Now the caregiver scope includes adoptive and foster parents as well as able-bodied siblings and grandparents.

“We now see larger groups of 4-8 moms or dads going together,” says Bonham. “These larger groups allow caregivers to share stories and ideas. They form relationships and help each other with resources."

Last year, A Special Purpose was able to lease a home for a few months to use exclusively for respite. They also hosted programs for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day weekends. In 2025, 100 total individuals, including 27 caregivers of children with paralysis, benefited from the respite program.

One participant stated, “A Special Purpose came to me when I needed them most. As a mom of three children who have many special needs (32 separate diagnoses in total, including paralysis) and as a speaker whose job it is to encourage others, I needed time to be still and take a moment to rest. I left that place of respite at peace in mind, in body, and in spirit.”

For another couple, this was only their second opportunity in 16 years to spend time away with no kids. They shared that, “This has really been nice considering this is not something we could afford financially and would not have been able to do on our own.”

A Special Purpose has partnerships with over 20 organizations that nominate caregivers for the respite opportunities. The program is also promoted through disability networks and on social media.

“Caregivers are on all the time, and respite allows them to be still, relaxed, laugh and share,” says Bonham. “Everyone needs that break to reframe and refocus on what’s important.”

In the next five years, A Special Purpose hopes to buy a property and build a permanent respite house.

“These families have a special purpose, which is how we derived the name of this organization,” says Bonham. “When we help support a healthy family structure, the individuals they are caring for will thrive.” 

You can learn more about our Quality of Life program by visiting here.