When it comes to the jobs of the thousands of Canadian parents caring for a child with a disability, it's mothers – not fathers – who pay the price, a new report says.
Three out of five parents of children with disabilities say their employment was affected by their children's condition, according to a survey, released Thursday, by Statistics Canada.
However, when asked whose job was affected most, 64 per cent of parents reported it was the mother. Only 8 per cent of survey participants said the father's job was most affected. About 25 per cent of mothers and fathers believed their jobs were equally affected.
"The adjustments to their employment was the largest way they were impacted," said Statistics Canada spokesperson Krista Kowalchuk.
Kathy Payne-Mercer, 47, mother of two and occupational therapist from Port Perry, Ont., can relate. Her oldest daughter, 19-year-old Laura, has Down syndrome.
"I couldn't work full-time and meet all her needs," Payne-Mercer said. "The meetings at the school, the arranging for things, the extra appointments."
During the study, conducted in 2006, there were about 200,000 Canadian families caring for a child with disabilities.
Almost 30 per cent of Canadian students with an intellectual disability must attend special classes or segregated schools.
