Raising kids with special needs is an admirable yet challenging commitment for any parent. Just ask my mom.
Between managing therapy sessions, helping with their special education, and caring for them at home, parents of kids with special needs also have to work.
That said, what if there’s a better work arrangement for balancing work and family responsibilities? Enter the online work from home setup.
Remote work offers several benefits like greater flexibility and opportunities for parents of kids with special needs, so they can foster inclusive parenting and grow their careers simultaneously.
Why More Filipino Parents Are Choosing Remote Work
Let’s begin by discussing the various reasons parents of kids with special needs are switching to remote employment.
First and foremost, balancing childcare and work is extremely difficult in itself.
Children with physical disability, learning delay, or emotional and behavioral disorder require specialized care and attention – something parents can’t easily provide due to their time being eaten up by work and the daily commute.
Next, there’s the ever-increasing cost of therapy, special education (SPED), and caregivers for disabled children, which eats away at their monthly income.
A study found that households with children with disabilities incur 40-80% higher costs than those with normal children, depending on the severity of their disability.
Finally, most traditional offices in the country have rigid schedules that prevent parents from attending to therapy or sudden emergencies.
Real Benefits of Remote Work for Families with Special Needs
Now, let’s take a look at how becoming a remote working parent helps address the challenges mentioned above:
Flexible Schedules Help You Manage Therapy, School, and Meltdowns
One of the most important benefits of remote work is greater schedule flexibility, so you don’t have to choose between work and childcare.
Many remote employers offer flexible work hours, greatly improving digital workplace accessibility.
This lets you work in the morning, take a break to go with your child to therapy or attend SPED class, then return home to finish the rest of your shift.
Additionally, this inclusive work policy lets you pause your work to, say, comfort your child when they have a meltdown from sensory overload, and then resume once they’ve calmed down.
That said, always give your employer a heads-up beforehand to avoid misunderstandings.
Reduced Commute Stress = More Emotional Bandwidth
Commuting not only eats up your time, but it also depletes your mental and emotional strength.
By eliminating it from the equation, you’ll have more bandwidth to handle your child’s meltdown, help with school-related tasks, and stay attentive during therapy.
Increased Presence = Stronger Parent-Child Connection
Being more present in your child’s life helps you better understand their verbal and non-verbal cues.
Furthermore, sharing routines like eating meals or doing chores together enhances family cohesion and helps your child feel emotionally closer to you.
Having routines together also reduces anxiety and uncertainty, which is vital for parenting children with autism. Predictability helps them manage their emotions and behavior, reducing outbursts and frustration.
More Financial Control and Less Job Guilt
Finally, another advantage of telecommuting is letting you allocate your commute budget to other matters like attending therapy or purchasing assistive devices.
In addition, working on a flexible schedule reduces the need (and costs) of childcare assistance during workdays.
It also lessens job-related guilt about missing crucial family events or not giving your child enough attention.
Job Roles That Suit Parents With Special Needs Children
Want to take advantage of the various benefits that remote work offers, but don’t know which role/s to apply for?
Here are some of the most common work from home jobs for first-time applicants:
1. Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistant (VA) jobs are one of the most popular online roles for first-timers in this setup.
There are many kinds of VAs, but their responsibilities typically include email management, calendar scheduling, data entry, and handling customer support.
This role is perfect for you because it offers flexible work hours and skill-based progression, letting you earn more based on your skill set.
To succeed in this role, you’ll need:
- Clear written and verbal communication,
- Organization and multitasking,
- Time management and self-discipline,
- Attention to detail and a problem-solving mindset, and
- Tech adaptability and cultural sensitivity.
To find out more about how to become a standout VA, click here.
Additionally, you’ll need the be proficient in using the following:
- Communication: Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.
- Project and Task Management: ClickUp and Monday.com.
- Calendar and Scheduling: Google Calendar.
- File Collaboration and Storage: Google Drive and OneDrive.
2. Online English Tutor
If you have a masterful command of the English language, consider becoming an English as a Second Language (ESL) tutor.
This involves delivering one-on-one or small group English lessons to foreign students (usually from countries like Japan and South Korea) via video call.
Becoming an ESL tutor lets you design your schedule around your child’s needs, plus it’s highly in demand today.
To become an ESL tutor, you’ll need the following skills:
- Language proficiency and teaching knowledge (i.e., lesson planning, curriculum design, and assessment strategies),
- Communication and interpersonal skills,
- Adaptability and classroom management, and
- Technical proficiency with video platforms like Google Meet and Zoom, virtual whiteboards, and teaching software like TutorCruncher and Moodle.
For this role, you’ll need the following tools:
- Video conferencing: Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams.
- Virtual whiteboards: IDroo, Baiboard.
- Classroom and file management: TutorCruncher, Moodle, Canvas, Google Drive.
- Time/data management: Scheduling and progress tracking tools integrated in LMS platforms.
3. Customer Support Agent
Customer support representative jobs are another popular form of home-based online work today.
They serve as the first point of contact for customers and ensure their satisfaction through smooth problem-solving.
This role also offers flexible shifts and career growth opportunities as you can move up to the ranks as a team lead, quality analyst, or technical specialist.
Excellent customer service agents have the following skills:
- Communication and emotional intelligence,
- Problem-solving and technical proficiency,
- Time management and self-discipline, and
- Adaptability and resilience.
For a more detailed discussion of these skills, click here.
Besides these, you’ll need the following tools:
- Communication platforms: Zendesk Chat, Intercom, HubSpot.
- Remote support/desktop tools: TeamViewer, AnyDesk, SplashTop, GoToMyPC.
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM)/ticketing system: Salesforce, Zoho, Freshdesk, Jira Service Management.
- Collaboration and productivity: Microsoft Teams, Slack, Asana, Trello.
- Time tracking tools: TimeChamp, Toggl, Clockify.
- Security and compliance tools: VPNs, password managers, multi-factor authentication.
4. Content Writer or Copywriter
For those with a way with words, there are many online writing jobs available for you to choose from today – the most popular of which are content writing and copywriting.
Although they look similar, the former aims to inform, educate, or entertain readers to build long-term trust and authority, while the latter aims to persuade and drive action.
For a more detailed look at the differences between content writing and copywriting, click here.
These roles usually allow you to set your own hours and allow you to scale your income based on your skills, experience, and niche.
To get started, you’ll need the following skills:
- Writing and editing proficiency,
- Research and idea generation,
- Time and project management,
- Tech and platform proficiency (Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress and Medium), and
- Communication and client management.
Besides these, here are some common tools writers use for their work:
- Writing and editing: Grammarly, Hemingway Editor, Quillbot.
- Time tracking: Toggl Track, Clockify.
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Research: Surfer SEO, Yoast SEO, SEMrush.
- Organization: Trello, Asana.
- Collaboration and storage: Google Docs/Drive, Dropbox.
- Plagiarism checkers: Copyscape, Unicheck, Scribbr.
- CMS / Portfolio platforms: WordPress, Medium.
5. Graphic Designer
If you have an artistic side, you’ll be pleased to know that online design jobs are highly in demand today.
Graphic designers transform ideas into impactful visuals like logos, ads, and social posts, using artistic and technical skills.
This role offers scalable skill growth, allowing you to transition from project-based work to a full-time senior designer or UX/UI (User Experience/User Interface) specialist.
For this role, you’ll need:
- Core design and conceptual skills,
- Software proficiency (Adobe Suite, Figma, and/or Affinity Designer),
- Collaboration and communication skills,
- A keen eye for trends.
Additionally, here are some must-have tools for this role:
- Design software: Adobe Creative Cloud, Affinity, GIMP.
- Vector/UI tools: Figma, Adobe XD.
- Cloud storage: Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive.
- Collaboration and review: Slack, Zoom.
- Project management: Trello, Asana.
For more information about these tools, click here.
How to Begin Your Work From Home Journey
Every journey begins with a single step.
Here’s how you can start your online career and access the benefits of remote work:
Assess Your Schedule and Home Setup
Start by understanding your daily routines, your child’s therapy sessions, and quiet times – as these will reveal your optimal work slots.
Next, establish your remote workspace in a private part of your home, one where your family members can’t easily distract you.
Create a Simple Resume and Online Profile
Once you’ve determined your schedule and have your workspace ready, your next step is creating or updating your resume.
Highlight skills like communication, patience, and reliability – traits you’ve honed while taking care of your child that are invaluable in the remote workplace.
Besides your resume, build up your online profile on remote job platforms and sites like LinkedIn to find more clients.
Use Trusted Remote Job Sites (Like Remote Staff)
There are many scam jobs preying on Filipinos who want to reap the benefits of remote work.
The best way to avoid these is by working with trusted outsourcing companies, like Remote Staff.
We always vet our clients to ensure their job posts are legit and provide enforceable contracts between you and your client.
Expand Your Skillset
Looking to hone your skills or learn new ones?
If so, take advantage of the various online courses available on sites like TESDA online, Coursera, and Udemy.
These courses range from digital marketing and design to tech support, and are either free or low-cost.
FAQ: Starting Remote Work as a Filipino Parent With Special Needs Kids
Here are some of the most common questions parents of kids with special needs ask when starting their online careers:
What Kind of Income Can I Expect From Remote Jobs as a Stay-At-home Parent?
Your income greatly depends on the role and setup, as well as your experience and niche.
For example, the salary range for a full-time, entry-level virtual assistant (VA) ranges from PHP 17,000 to PHP 25,000. Expert VAs, on the other hand, can expect a range from PHP 50,000 to PHP 60,000.
If you want to improve your income, consider specializing in a particular niche to boost your rates.
What Should I Do If My Child Needs Urgent Attention During Work Hours?
When your child needs your help (due to a meltdown, medical concern, or emotional need), stop working and attend to their needs first.
Immediately inform your employer or supervisor and teammates that you need to step away for a while, and reassure them that you’ll return immediately after things calm down.
Additionally, you can alternate caregiving shifts with your spouse or family members so you can focus during critical hours or meetings.
Can I Apply for Remote Jobs Even if I Don’t Have a Degree?
Absolutely.
In remote work, what you can do matters more than where you graduated.
So long as you focus on building the relevant skills and highlighting your relevant experiences for the role, you can land the job.
How Do I Set Boundaries Between Work And Care Time?
Start by setting up a proper remote workstation to minimize distractions and help reinforce the boundaries between your work and personal life.
Next, set a clear schedule for work and childcare and stick to it so you don’t stretch yourself thin doing both simultaneously.
Furthermore, communicate with your boss and family about your schedule, and politely but firmly enforce your boundaries. Don’t be afraid to say “no” to your boss when they give you tasks outside designated work hours, for instance.
Remote Work is Not a Shortcut – It’s a Lifeline
One of the biggest challenges for parents of kids with special needs is balancing work with attending to their children’s needs.
Fortunately, remote work offers several benefits, like schedule flexibility and removing the need to commute, letting you regain control of your time and spend more time caring for your child.
Ready to start working from home? If so, Remote Staff is here to help.
Our jobs list contains plenty of remote career opportunities to choose from, ranging from online transcription jobs to online engineering jobs.
So, what are you waiting for? Sign up here. Good luck!
