In homes across San Diego, long before the school day begins, many parents of children with autism are already at work.
A morning might begin with preparing a child for sensory challenges, coordinating therapy schedules, reviewing communication strategies, or planning how to navigate a school environment that may or may not be fully prepared to support their child.
Much of this work is invisible.
Behind every child with autism is often a caregiver quietly managing a complex network of therapies, school services, medical appointments and daily routines designed to help their child succeed. These responsibilities rarely fit into predictable hours. They stretch into mornings, evenings, and the small moments in between.
Autism caregiving does not begin when a therapy session starts or end when the school day is over. It can mean helping a child regulate overwhelming sounds or lights in public spaces. It can mean supporting communication in ways that others may not immediately understand. And it often means advocating — again and again — so that a child receives the support they need in school and in the community.
As a San Diego caregiver raising a daughter with autism, I have seen how deeply this responsibility shapes family life. Caregivers become many things at once: teachers, therapists, advocates, organizers and emotional anchors.
Progress is measured in moments that may seem small from the outside — a new word spoken, a successful transition between activities, a calm response to something that once caused distress. For families, those moments represent extraordinary effort and growth.
Yet autism caregiving can also bring quiet isolation.
Social outings require planning around sensory needs, routines and environments that may not always be inclusive. Invitations can become harder to accept. Public misunderstandings about autism can turn ordinary moments into stressful ones.
Across San Diego County, families often rely on support systems such as services coordinated through the San Diego Regional Center, special education programs in local school districts, and in some cases In-Home Supportive Services that help families provide essential care. These services are critical, but caregivers still carry much of the daily responsibility themselves.
Despite the challenges, San Diego’s autism community is strong and growing. Parents connect through support groups, educators are expanding inclusive practices, and advocates are working to improve access to services and understanding.
But meaningful inclusion requires more than awareness.
It requires communities that are willing to listen, schools that are prepared to support diverse learning needs, and public spaces where neurodiverse children and families feel welcomed rather than judged.
Recognizing autism caregiving is not simply about acknowledging the effort of parents. It is about understanding the foundation that allows children with autism to grow, learn and participate in the life of our city.
Much of this work happens quietly, behind closed doors, without recognition.
Yet every day across San Diego, caregivers are building stronger futures for their children — one moment of patience, one act of advocacy and one step forward at a time.
Their work may be invisible. But its impact reaches far beyond their homes and into the future of our entire community.
Shikha Bansal is a San Diego parent and caregiver.
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