July 9, 2008, 9:52 amPosted by Cybele Weisser
Balancing a full-time job with the demands of taking care of healthy children is certainly challenging. But having an autistic child can impact the juggle on a whole other level. According to a new report by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 39% of parents of autistic children have had to change their employment situation in order for their child to attend specialized school programs and receive adequate childcare. (Tip of the Juggle hat to Working Dad at SeattlePi.com.)
A toddler participates in an experiment on autism diagnostics
Autism has been on the rise in the last few decades. An article in yesterday’s WSJ about new diagnostic techniques for autism reports that one out of every 150 kids has the disorder, a tenfold increase from the 1980’s. There’s no known cure, but intensive treatment has proven effective. The article quotes one parent, Debbie Page, who says that her autistic son Gabe greatly improved after undergoing 250 hours of behavioral therapy.
Perhaps it’s not surprising, then, that the AAP report found that parents with an autistic child earn an estimated 14% less than their demographic counterparts.
Do any of you have an autistic or special needs child? How has it impacted your family’s finances and your career?
ED: for more on this see the original story in the Wall Street Journal.
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