Since March of 2011, Night Lights has provided free respite care in Littleton for children (ages 1 month to 13 years) who have special needs and their neuro-typical siblings, giving parents or caregivers time to refresh, regroup, and take time for self care.
Trained and background checked volunteers provide an evening of respite care and fun through pre-planned activities including arts and crafts, movie time, free play, sensory play, and music. During a Night Lights evening, each child with special needs has their own “buddy”. This one-on-one attention ensures the safety and personal attention for the entire evening!
Things to know about Night Lights
- Night Lights is 501c3 nonprofit organization
- A registered nurse is on-site for all Night Lights events to tend to medical needs that might arise during the night
- Night Lights is held in Littleton once a month on Friday evening from 6:30pm to 10:00pm at Waterstone Church
- Everyone is welcome... you do not need to be a member of Waterstone to attend
- Night Lights also offers respite evenings in Arvada, Parker, Grand Junction, Colorado Springs, and Broomfield
Volunteer
Thanks to volunteers and donors, Night Lights has provided over 67,000 hours of free respite care to families of children with special needs and their neuro-typical siblings over the last thirteen years. This level of respite care would cost the state just over $1.2 million if all of the Night Lights families accessed this service through the state of Colorado. They are looking for volunteers with all levels of expertise. Apply today!
Donate
There are several ways to provide much needed support to Night Lights. Find out how!
Bring Night Lights to your community
Night Lights is expanding and they would love to partner with you. Find out how!
Who does Night Lights serve?
While the children are considered to have special needs, they are also talented and capable. They simply have additional needs beyond those of a neurotypical child. Children that frequently participate at Night Lights typically have needs that are in one of four categories:
- Physical needs such as muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, chronic asthma, epilepsy
- Developmental needs including but not limited to down syndrome, autism, dyslexia, processing disorders
- Behavioral/emotional needs such as ADD and ADHD
- Sensory impairments including blindness, visually impairment, deafness, and limited hearing
Not only does Night Lights provide respite care for the children with special needs, but their siblings as well.
About Nights Lights
Night Lights was founded by Kristin Steadman and based on her own experiences as a parent of a child with special needs. Navigating waivers to attain special treatments for her son as well as the costs associated with his needs inspired her to create a nonprofit organization that provides a much-needed break to parents at no cost so they can have time to themselves. Caring for oneself enables a parent to provide better care to the children who depend on them.
Night Lights provides valuable time away so that parents can refuel and nurture an overall sense of well being. With approximately 13.5 million children in the United States (under 18 years old) with diagnosed special health care needs (National Survey of Children’s Health, 2020), respite care is in high demand.
