Walking Alongside: Chinese Mothers' Lived Experiences of Supporting Autistic Youth on the Journey to Employment

Mothers' persistent involvement is a critical but underexplored area of autistic youth's transition to employment. Using a qualitative research design, this study interviewed five mothers, two fathers, five autistic youth, and seven teachers to explore the lived experiences of Chinese mothers who supported autistic youth towards employment. By foregrounding mothers' voices, five interconnected themes were developed and represented in a spiralling model: (1) navigating educational pathways, (2) preparing for employment from childhood, (3) building a long-term support system, (4) balancing hope and uncertainty in lifelong planning, and (5) redefining motherhood over time. These findings highlight that maternal support for autistic youth evolves across the lifespan, revealing the dynamic strategies and roles mothers adopt to foster their children's development and work preparation, unfolding progressively as children move towards adulthood. These insights underscore the need for coordinated, lifelong autism services and targeted parent training programmes that strengthen family-centred and gender-sensitive support.Lay AbstractSupporting a child with autism as they grow into adulthood and enter the workforce can be a long and challenging journey. Mothers usually play a key role in helping autistic youth prepare for work. Yet, we don't know much about how mothers support autistic youth as they prepare for work. This study aims to explore the experiences of Chinese mothers who have supported autistic youth towards employment. Through interviews with five mothers, two fathers, five autistic youths, and seven teachers, the research identifies five key aspects of mothers' support: (a) helping children access schooling and manage their learning, (b) preparing them for future jobs from an early age, (c) building long-term support networks for autistic youth, (d) balancing hope and worry about the future, and (e) adapting their multiple roles as mothers over time. The study shows that maternal support is not limited to a single stage of autistic youth's lives but evolves continuously from childhood into early adulthood. These findings reveal the various strategies and roles that mothers adopt to help their children, while also highlighting the need for services and programmes that can better help families. Understanding mothers' experiences can help schools, policymakers, and service providers design support that prepares autistic young people for work while also caring for their caregivers' well-being.