A Challenging Fit: Employment, Childcare, and Therapeutic Support in Families of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Studies of families with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have documented substantial concerns at the intersection of work and family life. Using a phenomenological study design with intensive interview and survey data from parents of 37 children with ASD diagnoses, the authors explore families' experiences prior to, during, and soon after their child's ASD diagnosis. Drawing from parents' narratives, the authors identify and discuss 3 obstacles to a satisfactory and sustainable degree of work-family life fit: performance pressures, demands of care coordination, and concerns about caregiver quality and accessibility. Recommendations derived from parent-reported strategies for addressing these obstacles include: improving the quality of and access to care management, developing and making accessible a variety of options for combining therapy and care, and expanding awareness of and access to family leave policies and other work flexibility options. As states and locales develop innovative care management strategies, intervention options, and family support programs, additional research is needed to assess effectiveness in reducing parental stress and enhancing well-being for children and families. This research suggests that incorporating the voices of both parents and children in future research efforts is important to a full understanding of social service system success.