Advocating for Parents With Kids on the Spectrum

The remote and hybrid work arrangements of the past two years have brought our jobs into our homes. For better or worse, our colleagues have seen and heard the challenges that can arise when work and home life intersect.

Balancing working from home alongside virtual schooling has been challenging for many parents and kids. Audra Jones, a general manager in Human Resources, can relate. For Jones and 11-year-old Max, who has autism, it introduced a new wrinkle.

“I should have had stock in electronics because in the early months of the pandemic, Max broke five TVs, four computers, and two phones. Other times, I would be in a meeting and Max would run away. He would just walk out of the house, and I would have to jump off the meeting and go find him,” says Jones. “Lots of special needs kids can’t learn virtually. They are tactile and they learn by doing. Trying to manage a special needs kiddo requires a lot of direction and sensory support.”

“Everybody knows about Max, and I’m grateful to be able to bring my whole self to work. It’s never affected my job,” Jones continues. “Honestly, I’ve had days where I couldn’t pull it together, especially at the beginning of the pandemic. But you just get work done when you can. My boss now, and all my other bosses, have been supportive.”

Dealing With a Diagnosis

Jones has been raising Max for almost the entire time she’s worked for T. Rowe Price. Max was diagnosed with autism at 2½ years old and was nonverbal until age 7.

 “I didn’t run in to work immediately and tell people I was a single parent. I kept it to myself. And if you say you have a special needs kid, people think you’re taking care of someone who is sick,” Jones says. 

Jones recalls the day Max was diagnosed with autism. He was put in a room with a doll and a toy birthday cake on a table. He was supposed to sing “Happy Birthday” to the doll, but instead, he sat there silent.

“The specialist said—and I will never forget this—’Your son is very odd. He will probably never talk, he’ll never be social and never have friends,” Jones recalls.

Determined to find Max the best care, Jones researched the benefits at T. Rowe Price as well as autism therapies. At the time, applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy was not covered and was a very expensive option. At the urging of a colleague, she appealed to management and presented to Jim Kennedy, the firm’s then CEO. As a result, T. Rowe Price became the first private company in Maryland to provide ABA therapy.

“The firm listened to me, and it has had an impact on my life financially, my child’s well-being, and my retention,” Jones says.

Part of being a special needs parent is paying it forward to others in the same situation. In her role as general manager in our Human Resources Department, Jones reaches out to both current associates and job candidates to discuss the firm’s health benefits as well as information about local doctors, legal advocates, and other resources. “I get called a lot to talk about the benefits we have because they are really critical for kids on the spectrum,” Jones says. “For one job candidate, our special needs parents’ groups and the relationships we have in the medical community was a differentiator. It made the difference for them to move here.” 

Support, Self-Care, and Safety

Jones has also leveraged our employee benefits for in-home care and tutoring programs, which are available to all associates. Because Max struggles with virtual learning, Jones was able to have someone come to her home who could help Max with his individualized education plan schoolwork.

Jones also prioritizes self-care and uses her health benefits for acupuncture, massage, chiropractic, and therapy appointments. There is also a Special Needs/Learning Differences Awareness group with over 130 members. Jones has found “her posse” thanks to support from her colleagues and some online forums.

“People don’t think they know someone who’s like us. You definitely want to support special needs parents. We are a special breed of people,” Jones says. “Autism moms are tough as nails. We can do pretty much anything.”

“You definitely want to support special needs parents. We are a special breed of people."

Ensuring a Safe Future for Max

Safety is also a concern for most parents with autism. Jones is passionate about neurodiversity education and helping others understand how Max’s brain functions differently.

“My son is biracial and very big for his age. A large Black man who is scripting or flapping his hands in public is not optimal,” Jones says. “We work on community engagement and education for the police.” Planning for Max’s future is also front of mind for Jones, who is conscious of saving for retirement while planning for Max’s long-term needs.  

“I’ve had people ask me if I worry about what is going to happen to Max when I’m not around,” Jones says. “Our retirement plan is a big benefit that helps people accumulate wealth. That’s what I need to do for my kiddo, so if he needs more support, he can live in a comfortable, safe way.”  

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