Child care, disability, and family structure: Use and quality in a population-based sample of low-income preschool children

Abstract

The National Survey of America's Families (NSAF) was analyzed to examine the use and quality of child care of low-income preschool children with disabilities as contrasted to low-income nondisabled children. Family structure is a stronger predictor of child care use than disability status. Disabled and nondisabled children living with single parents show similarly elevated rates of participation in child care. Important differences were found in the use and quality of child care. Our findings related to the extremely low cost of care for disabled children living with single parents may suggest particularly deleterious developmental outcomes for these children. These findings suggest the need for child care subsidies directed at low-income disabled children and their families. Further, the protective enforcement of minimum standards of care may require further analysis.