A mother raising an autistic child stood up to address a crowd of more than 300 at Women Creating Change’s State of NYC Women’s Conference earlier this month. The experience she shared unfortunately isn’t unique.

The end of the school day often brings challenges many families face: finding an after-school program equipped to meet her child’s needs and her schedule. Without appropriate options, parents often must weigh leaving work early, sacrificing income, or piecing together care arrangements that leave the family and its finances stretched thin.

This mother wasn’t simply describing a problem. She was identifying a policy gap that lawmakers have the power to address. Her experience should help inform how New York expands after-school programming, supports children with disabilities, and makes convenient, high-quality childcare accessible to working families.

As Election Day approaches, organizations like........

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