Looking for work after 6 years of caring for ASD son

I wouldn’t include the ABA

Either they don't know what ABA is in which case it won't mean much.

Or they do and you risk coming across someone who won't look admirably on someone who puts their poor ASD kid through it

It depends whether you are looking to go back to an engineering/science type career or something completely different.

If engineering/science then I would simply say “career break to look after family”. You could say a bit more about what you have learned from the last 6 years at interview perhaps but I wouldn’t lead with it personally.

Have you looked into returner programmes? If not, try googling engineering returnships or STEM returnships and you may find some interesting opportunities. These are set up with women with career breaks/children in mind, so are often hybrid wfh/office and may be part time.

If you’re looking to go into something different especially involving caring or children or therapy then of course you can and should spell out more about what you have learned from the last 6 years.

Not an expert so this is just my take!

Generally speaking, it's not appropriate to put that sort of stuff on your CV. It's not really a selling point for employers and highlighting that you have a high needs child will make you come across as potentially less reliable than others. Focus on work stuff.

This 😬

If you’re going for an engineering or other professional job then don’t put that on your cv, you need to focus on your relevant work experience and skills. It’s fine to put career gap as that’s what it is.

Don’t fall into the trap of putting ‘full time mum’ or similar and trying to map across transferable skills from being a stay at home mum. It’s not looked at favourable in professional jobs and just makes you look a bit silly to be honest. Keep it professional and work focussed.

Big support wave from over here. As the mum of two autistic kids I know what you’ve been through.

6 years is ok in terms of a gap.

what would you like to do? That would help a lot to give more advice.

Also if you do work in engineering again I’m not sure autism and ABA may be so unknown to them. Engineering attracts people who may very likely have autistic traits. I wouldn’t think in this day and age there are many who wouldn’t know about it. Autism is so common these days.

ABA therapy is controversial now but you’ll get no judgement from me for going through with it.

in the end we live in a neurotypical world and you may well have helped your DC lead a much more independent life, something no one ever mentions when it comes to discussing the pros and cons of ABA.

This.

I would be embarrassed, not looking to include it on my CV.