Supporting Employees’ Families Affected by Autism
With the rising number of children being diagnosed with autism, it is easy to say that at least one or more of your employees are parents of children or young adults with autism. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently released new autism diagnosis rates, with 1 in 31 children identified as having autism spectrum disorder. In Johnson County, the estimated number of school-age children according to Stats Indiana is 30,702, which means around 990 children have autism in our county. The estimated number of young adults in Johnson County is 46,051, according to Stats Indiana, which means 1,485 young adults have autism in our county.
As the employer, what can you do to support your employees’ families affected by autism?
- Employee Benefits – Many states have laws that require insurance coverage for autism services, however, self-funded employers do not have such a mandate. This can be a major issue that provides undue stress when trying to navigate the insurance system for employees trying to ensure their child receives the necessary services. Make sure your health benefits include covering autism services like diagnostic and assessment services, applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, social skills training, psychiatric and psychological care, medication management, and complementary and alternative medicine are offered.
- Creating A Safe Workspace - Parents of children with autism are more at risk for anxiety and depression due to the added parenting demands and ever-changing healthcare maze. Research shows that 46% of children with special needs caregivers need help managing emotional and physical stress, and 40% need help balancing work and family responsibilities. A growing number of employers are responding by offering healthcare plans that include emotional wellness services and coverage for therapy.
- Flexibility, Flexibility, Flexibility – Is the number one request from employees who have children and young adults with autism. This can mean flexible or hybrid schedules to facilitate parents' need to attend their child's appointments and school meetings. In addition, therapies may be spread across multiple providers, increasing time spent on transportation and supervision. Offering employees the option for remote work means they can confidently focus on work and home responsibilities. Flexible scheduling can meet employees halfway. For example, a hybrid schedule or starting a workday early in the morning and ending in the early afternoon may be possible. It's about not being focused on rigid schedules and letting employees experiment with what works, and you'll find you're keeping them happy and engaged.
Businesses and companies that hire parents of children and young adults with autism often find they have exceptional employees. They will get someone who is motivated, engaged, resilient, and not afraid to work hard. Parents with children and young adults with autism know how to navigate systems, be positive, and ask questions. With a little flexibility and support, they easily succeed in any work environment.
Kelli Higgins has been the Executive Director for the Autism Community Connection (ACC) since December 2019. She has considerable experience working for a nonprofit organization over the years, with lots of knowledge and event planning experience. Kelli has two daughters affected by autism and lives in Greenwood with her family. Contact Kelli at k.higgins@autismcc-in.org or call 317-676-4222 x101 if you have any additional questions.