A new research project, under the direction of Dr. Janet McLaughlin, reveals an alarming picture. Mother autism Ontario’s autistic children financial inequity than fathers autism, Ont. On average, these mothers pull in just 66 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts. Caregiving burden This pay gap is particularly troubling given the stresses that caregivers now encounter. The study reveals a growing need for systemic changes to better serve families. This is particularly important for underserved communities, like Indigenous and recently immigrated mothers.
Dr. McLaughlin’s research surveyed over 900 mothers of autistic children in Ontario, focusing on their income and the extensive hours they dedicate to navigating services for their children. These findings over-index on mothers, who are particularly challenged as they still shoulder the majority of caregiving burden. This ongoing battle takes a huge toll on their future income potential.
Mothers like Vanessa Coens, who has four children with three diagnosed with autism, share personal insights into how workplace accommodations can make a significant difference. She experiences a sense of belonging, knowing that her needs as a caregiver and employee are with caring professionalism respected. She attributes these changes for allowing that connection to happen.
“It made me feel so seen and understood.” – Vanessa Coens
Amanda Dimilta from Autism Ontario highlights the immense challenge mothers face, stating that it is “extremely challenging, if not impossible, to meet both caregiving and work responsibilities.” Mothers across the country can identify with this feeling. Yet they find it increasingly difficult to reconcile their work responsibilities with the demands of being an autistic child’s parent.
Dr. Mike Moffatt, an Ontario father of an autistic child, recently wrote on an important topic. He explains that when mothers can’t work to their full potential, Ontario is losing the skills that would add economic power to the province. He emphasizes the power of flexible workplace policies. This schedule flexibility lets mothers accommodate the curveballs life throws at them, such as needing to pick their kids up from school.
“I want them to feel some relief that this is not an individual failing. It’s a systemic failing.” – Dr. Janet McLaughlin
The study highlights that many mothers are left feeling a sense of grief and remorse over their inability to practice their trained professions. Dr. McLaughlin goes on to describe how this emotional burden is made worse by the systemic barriers that their criminalization creates in the workplace.
Dr. Moffatt elaborates on the daily realities of caregiving, explaining how he adjusts his own schedule to support his son. He works primarily from home, often completing tasks between 5:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. to accommodate his caregiving responsibilities. He laments how little competition there is among employers to offer that sort of flexibility. The majority of Americans mistakenly view workplace accommodations as a privilege rather than a right.
“I would really like employers to just consider employees as humans, as caregivers – not just someone who shows up at work.” – Dr. Janet McLaughlin
The emotional and financial impacts of raising an autistic child can affect families differently depending on their needs. As Canadian economist Mike Moffatt points out, costs can vary widely. They can stretch from low-level support services to complex needs such as occupational therapy or 24-hour live-in care. Increases in this unpredictability cost even further burdening families who have been financially impacted by the inequities in income.
Mothers’ experiences are symptomatic of a larger, systemic issue that impacts countless others in similar modalities. While Dr. McLaughlin believes that we’ve made progress, she emphasizes that there’s still much left to do to validate these experiences and push for change. She wants her research to spark discussions about the challenges these families go through and what can be done to alleviate their burdens through policy change.
