Workplace stigmas, discrimination add to their woes

By Maggie Jackson in the Boston Globe:

An excerpt:

Largely hidden from view in workplaces across America are millions of parents … struggling with a herculean work-life challenge: caring for a special needs child. Because they often suffer discrimination or have to cut back on work, these families are more likely to be poorer than those raising children without disabilities. Alongside all the intangible rewards and the bountiful love in these families, there is hardship: careers are cut short, finances are put in disarray, life is chaotic.

Nearly 14 percent of kids up to age 17, or about 10.2 million children, have special healthcare needs, which is defined as a chronic problem that limits activities or demands extra healthcare, according to 2006 government data.

In any given company nationwide, 8.6 percent of employees care for such children, according to Massachusetts General Hospital’s Center for Child and Adolescent Health Policy. And this population is growing, due to rising rates of childhood asthma, diabetes, and other chronic health problems.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 15th, 2008 at 12:31 pm and is filed under chronic illness, diabetes, discrimination, employment/jobs, families, NOT2BEMISSED. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.