Parents of children on the autism spectrum are much less likely to have a job, new research shows.
The US study looked at parents of children with autism, asthma or neither condition.
Over a year, parents completed three online surveys in the ‘r-Kids study’ to measure job outcomes.
The surveys focused on economic impacts, quality of life issues and symptoms of autism.
Less likely to be working
The findings showed that parents of children with autism were ‘significantly less likely’ to be working than those of children with asthma or neither condition.
The proportion of parents of children with autism not working was 8.9 per cent.
In comparison, the surveys found 1.4 per cent of parents of children with asthma were not working.
Meanwhile, all the parents of children with neither condition had jobs.
Problems with work and productivity
Parents of children on the autism spectrum were also more likely to have problems with work and productivity.
Dr Frances Lynch, of the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Oregon, led the study.
Her team concluded that ‘public and employer policies to help mitigate these impacts could aid families in managing care for youth with autism’.
Though the research focuses on US families, parents in the UK also struggle to balance work and full-time care.
Research by charity Carers UK last year showed that 75 per cent of working carers worry about continuing to juggle work and care.
Poor teacher training impacts parents’ job
Beth Morrison, campaigner and mother to Callum, who is autistic, highlighted the way poor training of staff in schools and colleges can impact on carers’ ability to hold down jobs.
Morrison is not the only carer to say she had to leave work numerous times to pick up their child because school staff didn’t have the training to deal with difficult situations, which were rarely serious.
She said: “Too many parents have no choice but to give up work because of the lack of support from school. Many families have to claim benefits and are criticised for this. It’s a massive problem. So many are affected.”
Morrison cited the impact this has on family relationships when one but not both parents can pursue careers due to caring duties. Many experience relationship breakdowns as a result.
‘Never had time to do anything’
Sarah Ziegel is an author and mum of four autistic sons. She has twins aged 23, and two younger boys aged 21 and 14.
She said all her boys had “severe autism” in childhood and she found it impossible to work.
Author of Marching to a Different Beat, Ziegel, 61, from London, said she “never had time to do anything” once her twins were diagnosed and her 21-year-old son was born.
Dr Lynch and her colleagues published their research findings in the journal Autism Research.
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Published: 19 January 2023
