A major Australian study published this week found that parents caring for young children with disability are twice as likely to experience psychological distress, and 50 per cent more likely to feel that parenting is demanding — compared to parents of children without disability.
Those numbers are striking. But for many families we work alongside, they are not surprising.
What does feel important to say is this: the exhaustion is real, it is documented, and it is not a sign that you are doing something wrong.
At Care For Welfare, our therapist works in your home, your child’s school, your community — not in a clinic waiting room. That means we see the full picture. We see the school mornings that took everything you had. We see the sensory meltdown that happened before we arrived. We see you.
OT does not fix the hard parts of caring. But when therapy is consistent, when the same person shows up and already knows your child, the load of re-explaining, re-introducing, and starting over is one thing less to carry.
If you are a parent reading this on a hard day — your experience is valid. If you are a support coordinator supporting a family who is stretched thin, this research is worth keeping in mind when reviewing what continuity of care actually means for a family.
General information only. Not personal advice. Speak with your NDIS planner, support coordinator, or allied health provider for advice specific to your situation.
For parents in this community — what is the one thing that has made the biggest difference to your week, even a small one?
