Working from home puts you close to your kids, which is a gift and a challenge. When your child has a disability or extra care needs, the juggling gets harder: therapy appointments, IEP meetings, and care that can’t wait until your call ends.
Start by mapping your week below. Then use the tips that follow to fill the gaps.
Map your work week
For each weekday, pick who’s watching your child while you work. “Just me” means you’re working with your child at home. You’ll see where the gaps are.
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Build the day around their routine
- Set a firm stop time each day. Close the laptop and put the work phone away for meals, homework, or bedtime.
- Save calls and focus work for school, therapy, nap, or quiet time.
- Give kids a “work station” of their own with a quiet activity, and use a picture schedule if it helps them know what’s next.
- Let them help with simple chores. It’s time together, and it builds skills.
Line up backup
- Trade childcare with family or friends on your busiest days.
- A few paid hours a week can make a big difference. Search caregivers on IHSS Connect for free.
- If your child gets regional center services, ask about respite. Our respite care guide
Set up a space that works
- Clear the floors and keep cords, supplies, and medications out of reach.
- Pick a spot where you can see your child and still take a call.
- Noise-canceling headphones and a “on a call” sign go a long way.
Know your rights at work
If your job can’t flex enough, California law may give you time off to care for your child.
Worth knowingCalifornia has two separate programs, and many parents can use both at once.
Talk with HR before you need it, and see the Civil Rights Department guide.
Could you be paid to care?
If your child has a disability and qualifies for Medi-Cal, IHSS may pay for help at home, and in most IHSS programs a parent can be the paid provider. For some families, that makes a career change or reduced hours possible. Start with What Is IHSS?. If your child needs constant watching to stay safe, read What “Non-Self-Direction” Means in IHSS Protective Supervision.
Read more
More guides from IHSS Connect
- Raising a Child With a Disability Without Enough Help: Where California Parents Can Turn
- The Benefits of Enrolling Children in Organized Sports
- Caring for Kids and Aging Parents at the Same Time
- Fall Activities for Autistic Kids and Adults: A November Guide for California Families
- IHSS and Regional Center in 2026: New DDS Data Sharing Explained
- Respite Hours Through the Regional Center — And How to Actually Use Them
Sources
Sources
- California Civil Rights Department — Family Care and Medical Leave Quick Reference GuideCFRA: 12 weeks; employers with 5+ employees; 12 months and 1,250 hours; intermittent leave; job protection
- California EDD — Paid Family Leave Benefits and Payments FAQsPFL: up to 8 weeks; about 70–90% of wages; can be broken up; doesn’t protect your job
- CDSS — IHSS for ChildrenChildren’s IHSS eligibility; when parents can be paid providers
- DDS — Options for Regional Center ConsumersRegional center respite
State agencies are the primary authorities. Leave rules depend on your employer and work history; check with HR or the agency for your situation.
About this article
This guide helps California parents juggle remote work and kids at home, with extra help for families of children with disabilities. Leave and program details come from California state agencies.
IHSS Connect is an independent, free registry for families and caregivers. We are not part of any state agency, county, or regional center, and this article is general information, not legal advice.
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