A mother from Trebanos, Swansea, has revealed she was repeatedly advised to give up her career to care for her autistic twin daughters due to the lack of affordable childcare.
Betsan, 49, juggles raising her “fabulous and sassy” eight-year-old twins, Bowann and Brielle, who both require one-to-one care, alongside caring for her elderly mother and working in TV production.
Despite the challenges, she insists that working gives her a sense of identity and mental relief.
“When I do things for me, it helps me be a better mother,” she said. “I want to work, I want to feel that I’m contributing.”
Both girls attend school during term time, but during the holidays, specialist childcare costs approximately £300 per day – an expense Betsan describes as unaffordable.
Faced with these financial pressures, she said “friends, social services, councils [and] charities” have all suggested she quit her job.
However, Betsan believes leaving work is not the solution.
“I want to give my children the best life I can. That doesn’t mean luxury – it means giving them a full life,” she explained.
Sarah, a solicitor from Monmouth, faces similar challenges raising her five-year-old son, Ivor, who was diagnosed with Angelman syndrome – a rare genetic condition causing severe physical and learning disabilities.
Despite the complexities of her daily routine, Sarah says work provides her with a necessary balance.
“Work wouldn’t work if it wasn’t flexible,” she said, crediting her employer’s support for allowing her to manage her responsibilities.
However, she highlighted that holiday care remains “practically non-existent,” adding to the ongoing strain on families like hers.
A Senedd report revealed that many children with disabilities are being denied the right to education, with inadequate childcare affecting parents’ ability to maintain employment.
Sioned Williams, Plaid Cymru MS for South Wales West, raised Betsan’s case in the Senedd, calling the situation “heart-breaking.”
“The constant battle parents face just to access basic support must stop,” Ms. Williams said.
A Welsh government spokesperson acknowledged the challenges and said local authorities receive funding through the Children and Communities Grant to address childcare gaps.
The Welsh Local Government Association welcomed additional funding but warned that financial pressures and staff shortages continue to affect the sector.
Families like Betsan’s and Sarah’s say they want to work, but without better childcare support, they are forced to make impossible choices.
