Foggyrock
Beta
"When autism is your mountain, you will never have to climb alone"
Feel free to browse around and get to know Foggyrock. However, you will need to login/register in order to fully participate

FoggyRock Blog
Autism is Financially Devastating Posted By: shannonj
Posted On: 03/03/2008
Science Daily just published news of a study indicating that raising a child with autism can be financially devastating to families. The study said:

"Some families quoted in the study reported skipping meals to be able to afford therapy for their children. Others talked about robbing their future by depleting savings, emptying their 401K plans, selling stocks and even filing for bankruptcy. More costs are added to some families who need counseling and medication for themselves in order to cope with the stress of raising a child with autism, further straining the family budget."

What are some of the other costs of raising a child with autism that you have experienced? The added expense of hiring "trained" personnel for babysitting or respite care. Special equipment, special needs toys, expensive foods for special diets, travel to medical specialists, un-reimbursed medical expenses......What else do you spend money on?

How do you save for the future and also provide financially for the current needs of your child?

What are parents to do? What do you think?
Tags:  finances,  saving,  debt
       
AWETISM wrote this reply on 03/03/2008
I do sooo agree with you. This is why I answered the way I did tonight about the Lottery question. I am so blessed to have met my friend who stated GLAD . Her heart is to not charge families for INFO that should be free. The cost of conferences is nuts alot of the time too. I feel somtimes like the Austim world is becoming a industry.With so much out there it's not always easy to make the best choices.

carmel66 wrote this reply on 03/03/2008
It is unimagible to think that people don't understand how expensive it is to have a child on the spectrum...how services are so expensive, schools don't have the money or expertise. Doctors don't have the expertise and the ones that do don't take insurance. Just the expense of diapers for years and years is immense. Forget the money or time for counseling for other family members...!We spend money helping to support our schools, DAN visits/calls, supplements, TD secretin, special therapies. Luckily we have some sort of income. I cringe when I think of families with little or no income and have to choose whether to treat their ASD child beyond what school will offer. I think advocacy and financial support are key to getting this generation through this hump. We need to find someone who have time and money b/c it, unfortunately, often is not us (the ASD families).

6boys1hfa wrote this reply on 03/04/2008
I for one have seen the pocket book depletion! I had to cancell our childrens insurance since they were not covering anything! say for example an appointment cost $300....My cost a month to PAY for this insurance is $180.... $30 co-pay for this visit. Well they were covering only $150!!! So I with 30 co-pay and insurance cost was paying more than each appointment!!! Plus since my sons HFA diagnosis they dropped my sons prescription coverage. his meds cost $65 a month! His neurologist says it will only get more costly as time progresses! SOOO I am now seeing if I can get him on MC for kids. My son needs food therapy, and sensory integration therapy (Doc recommended) but the old insurance wouldn't cover therefore his doc wouldnt' reccomend a therapist for him. He said it would break us! My son also has sleep issues he is 5 and never has slept through the night! A weighted blanket was suggested by his doctor with pollyfill beads so as to be non-toxic. YEAH! They cost a BUTTLOAD!!! LOL!!! I have 5 other boys to provide for and our money is going to one child! I feel so guilty!!!!!!

Simranmg wrote this reply on 03/04/2008
WOW this is sooo true. I know alone we have the DAN doctor, the special ed attorney, suulements, special foods, toys. meds and the list goes on. I'm trying really hard not to deplete everything. I have another child and she deserves the best too! But I am already conteplating getting another job or my husband will.

cjkellie wrote this reply on 03/04/2008
I do know the hardship of being a low income family. I am a single mom that has raised two boys on my own now for many years. I work around Chad's needs so my hours are limited. I have been able to find grants and scholarships for many of his therapies. Also my boyfriend has paid for many sevices for Chad. My dad is wonderful and will pay for the things I feel I have to have for Chad. As far as saving money I just can't. Don't have it to save but I do have life insurance and hope I don't have to use it soon...lol..

Ladylawlawyer wrote this reply on 03/05/2008
It's amazing. I'd just written to someone else expressing this very reality that exists for so many parents challenged with autism. It is very expensive providing the treatments that would and, in many cases, could make a tremendous difference in the lives of our children. And so many people/parents are being forced to make very unfair choices. Many times the choice is only - no treatment. You ask what are some of the costs...? For some, there is no cost because there simply is no money. For many people you don't save for the future because your only choice is to provide for the here and now. Don't forget that many people don't have insurance, work low income jobs, don't have support, can't stay home to assist with the needed services and therapies. Many people don't have time go to support group meeting because they have to work. We forget that everyone doesn't have the financial ability to help their children. We are blessed, many of us to be able to do something for our children. But there are so many people that are really fighting this battle alone.

janneane7 wrote this reply on 03/07/2008
If we were wealthy I would take Andy to NY, Florida or Texas to one of the TOP NOTCH DAN Doctors and spend at least a month there getting him evaluated and tested and developing a treatment plan. I truly believe that with the right medical interventions Andy's life could be improved dramaticly.BUT with no money (I mean I am driving a 1989 rust bucket) we can't help him. I SO WISH health insurance would cover the medical treatments for our kids. I don't much care about medical insurance covering educational treatments like ABA but at the very least they should cover the medical testing and at least some of the treatments!

Calliesmom wrote this reply on 03/08/2008
Sadly, I have to work ourside the home to have the income to support Callie's needs...I know she needs me at home, but there is no other way to provide the needed tutoring and therapies without me working..Mu husband does the best he can, it just takes too and lets not forget the expenses of the sibling who is in College...it is only fair to her to have what she needs too.....Monies to help would be greatly appreciated and believe me only used for the right care.....If I could just locate the grants and income, but so far, I have been unsuccessful....Kimberly

Danyell4 wrote this reply on 03/25/2008
Well I have become a coupion clipper,sale hunter alonge with all my other more important jobs, "taxie driver"(I have a teenager), I could go on, Last night on the news "The rising cost of health care , how covering these Autism therapies would cost everyone to have higher premiums", GOOD, maby everyone will relize how defistating Autism is Now and think about the Future!

1_spec_Mommy wrote this reply on 03/26/2008
Our family has already suffered a significant income blow, we are currently in a bankrupcy for other reasons and our sons treatments have not even begun yet. Talk about state assistance,I'm on WIC already and that helps a little. We have no insurance at the moment because husband started a new job and it hasn't kicked in yet. I have thought about getting state services, but when we have tried in the past the say we make too much money. My thoughts are if we make too much money, then why are we having trouble paying the bills and getting the things we need. I said need ,not want and with kids there is always a want!!! We also have two other children to think about. Our stituation is not unusual either. We have three children,the two youngest are in diapers, one of whom is Autistic. I try to buy in bulk and sometimes it helps cut down on the cost but not always. for example diaper

View Reply:


Our Supporters