How To Balance A Career While Raising A Child With Special Needs

Everyone is continually learning how to balance a career with their personal lives. However, not many people know what it is like to be a working parent to a child with a disability. Fortunately, there are several resources that parents can take advantage of that may accommodate their child.

By Timothy Mably?

Working parents are familiar with the challenge of raising their kids while pursuing a career. It can be additionally difficult navigating the professional realm while raising a child who has special needs. However, resources exist for moms and dads to make it more manageable to be in the workforce.

According to the U.S. Consensus in 2019, 4.3% of children had a disability including impaired vision, hearing, memory, or walking. This also accounted for children who were unable to do activities such as dressing and bathing, as well as teenagers who were unable to run various errands. Special needs diagnoses include autism, Asperger’s syndrome, Down syndrome, dyslexia, ADHD, cerebral palsy, and more.

Although finding childcare may seem like an efficient method of being a parent while working, many have found it challenging to receive necessary accommodations. This struggle carries over into the classroom, as educational settings can require some adjustments for children with special needs. Parents often have these situations in mind on top of pursuing their careers.?

A study conducted by Washington State University found that 326 families throughout Washington and Oregon work fewer hours than average parents to account for their children with special needs. The study also showed that 3 out of 5 parents who have children with autism chose not to work. In the Social Science Journal, lead author Dana Baker comments on the mundane work conflicts which parents face, relating to school and daycare. Baker says these are “things an employer could work around. Instead the mother gets reprimanded at work and that causes additional stress.”?

The study also showed that 3 out of 5 parents who have children with autism chose not to work.

Baker and co-author Laurie Drapela go on to address the need for better structures to support working parents. “Understanding how to adapt programs and policies to better fit the more intractable challenges of these parents represents a vital responsibility of the twenty-first century.”?

As employers are continuing to look for ways to better accommodate employees with children, working parents are learning how to balance their career with life at home. Some policies intended to support working parents may be relevant but are not offered at every company.??

Communication at Work and Company Policies

Maintaining openness in the workplace about your responsibility to your children can be important. It can be especially impactful to establish from the beginning of your employment that you are a parent to a child who requires additional assistance. Some employers offer accommodation to employees with kids who have special needs.

Potential benefits include assistance programs, flexible schedules, additional paid time off, healthcare, and childcare services. Whether or not a company offers such accommodations, it is important to convey how your boss can assist you and other parents with similar needs.

Even if an employer does not provide specific benefits, a request for a flexible schedule may result in remote work. It could also involve a hybrid model, in which an employer works from home and in the office on certain days. This can allow time for therapy sessions, school, or other activities.?

Resources

In California, the Department of Social Services offers In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) for eligible children with disabilities. The program pays for services so that a child can be safe in their home without regular parent supervision. This pertains to meals, grocery shopping, housekeeping, bathing, grooming, and other services to care personally for a child, including general supervision to appointments that a parent may not be able to attend.?

A child qualifies for IHSS if the household receives low income or parents are unavailable at home for several reasons, including work and other responsibilities. However, IHSS only pertains to California residents and similar programs may vary based on your state.

Support Systems

Other resources exist, specifically for children with Down syndrome and their parents, as listed on the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) site. NDSS has over 300 Down syndrome organizations throughout the U.S. ranging from small initiatives to major operations that offer various services to those who have Down syndrome. Most of those affiliated with NDSS include parental support. GiGi’s Playhouse, Hope Story, and Jack’s Basket are a few of the organizations which aim to assist families with education and general support.?

Kandi Pickard, president and CEO of NDSS, has experienced motherhood to a child with Down syndrome while pursuing a career. She says, “I think balancing parenthood and work is always challenging. I’ll be the first to say that it’s tough.”

Pickard goes on to share her perspective from years ago, reflecting on how she changed career paths due to the birth of her son. “I look back at that time now and I think, I was in this transition mode as a professional and wanted something new and different, and then that shifted the trajectory of my career. When I look at Mason and him being ten years old, and me having the opportunity to lay groundwork for education and employment opportunities, it’s very fulfilling.”?

She recommends that parents who have children with disabilities utilize conferences as a means of networking and relationship-building. “Conferences are a great way to participate and get to know other people, even if it’s just other parents who are within the community or professionals to build relationships with.”??

Pickard also advocates for Facebook and LinkedIn groups intended to connect and provide support for parents. Online groups can both lead to job opportunities and make work life easier to balance, as moms and dads share resources. “Asking the questions is the biggest piece. ‘Where do I go?’ ‘How do I make this happen?’”?

Lastly, nonprofit groups within your community can provide an opportunity to build your professional skills and add to your resume. Similarly, becoming a volunteer whether in an organization related to disabilities or otherwise may lead to part-time or full-time work opportunities in the future. A smaller time commitment as a volunteer may also be beneficial for flexibility.?

Although being a working parent may feel isolating at times, it does not have to be a lonely experience. Moms and dads with children who have special needs may have access to resources that will accommodate them.?

Top Takeaways

How can working parents pursue a career while raising a child with special needs?

• Maintain openness in your workplace and be straightforward with your boss about your child’s needs.
• Ask your boss if company benefits exist to accommodate you as a parent. These benefits may include paid time off, flexible schedules, healthcare, and childcare.
• Research resources provided by your state which may provide support.
• Look into local support systems and online groups on sites such as LinkedIn or Facebook.
• Volunteer at a nonprofit to build your professional skills and potentially lead to a work opportunity.