Juggling and Struggling: A preliminary work-life study of mothers with adolescents who have developmental disabilities.

A focus group study was conducted to develop an undertanding of the experiences of mothers who are trying to balance employment with caring for an adolescent with developmental disabilities. Mother reported facing considerable difficulties balancing work and caregiving responsabilities because support service rapidly declined when their child reached adolescence. Service cut were related to the fact that adolescents are expected to be able to care for themselves, despite the fact that for many adolescents with disabulities, this is not possible. The mothers also reported that the preponderance of the respinsibility for arranging care for their children was theirs and was not shouldered by their partners. Policy implications are discussed