Respite care is someone that will come in and give the regular caregivers a break. Whether it is for the parents to get out for an evening, for you to get some rest or to spend time with other family members. Caring for a person with disabilities can really drani a person after time and it is important for the caregivers, the other family members and the child for the caregivers to get away and do things that have nothing to do with the life of the child.
I had a daughter with a heart condition and I was the sole caregiver. For the longest time I did not accept help because it was my child and I felt I was the one who needed to care for her. I knew her needs, likes, medications etc. But I did find out that my daughter was going to live with her special needs for a long time and if I got burned out...things would be worse. When I signed up to get some respite care...it made a huge difference. I highly encourage you to look into it. (Also, if you have other children...it takes a toll out on them with a lot of your attention going towards the special needs of the other child. They will come to really appreciate the time that can be spent with them, which in turn makes it easier for them to deal with the day to day life that often revolves around the other child).
If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask.
Lorie