A mother's work is never done: A critical analysis of low-income women's roles as financial provider and caretaker of children with special needs

Using a qualitative research methodology, this study examined the experiences of transitions from welfare to work for low-income women who cared for children with special needs. The author focused on attitudes and experiences towards caretaking, work and welfare for women who care for children with special needs, and as a standard of comparison, it also examined the experiences of low-income women on welfare who did not care for children with special needs.; The research findings demonstrated that there were differences and similarities in the way that these 31 women navigated their lives. All of the women in the study took proactive measures when attempting to organize their lives around Temporary Assistance to Needy Families work and training mandates and caretaking. Differences in the group experiences centered around the amount of time spent on caretaking tasks; the range of family and community support available to assist with transitions from welfare to work; the amount of time spent negotiating other appointments with welfare agencies, childcare, medical, and educational facilities; and employment barriers such as the lack of paid vacation, sick leave and employer flexibility. Implications for policy, practice, and research are also offered.