Yep, the parent of a special needs child can collect money from the state for taking care of her kid. It’s the California In home Support Service (IHSS) program. Also, special needs community can collect social security at the age of 18, or probably earlier, depending on the income level of the parent. I imagine this woman probably gets all sorts of services provided by the state. As the parent of a child with DS, I have slowly had my eyes opened as to how much help is out there, some of it which I feel should not be funded by the taxpayers.
Same thing in NC. Our neighbors were paid to care for their own daughter. I assume it is cheaper than providing institutional placements.