According to the Autism Society of America, “the [estimated] lifetime cost of caring for a child with autism ranges from $3.5 million to $5 million.” That’s why the Lowcountry Autism Foundation (LAF) is hosting a free educational seminar on August 27. “Planning for Your Special Needs Child” will help you ensure your loved ones with special needs have a secure financial future after you are no longer able to take care of them.
While the financial strains of caring for a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder can be daunting, there are a variety of resources to help you offset the cost of treatment. For example, the Medicaid Waiver program waives a parent’s income to help you qualify for federal assistance.
According to Tripp Ritchie, director of the LAF, the “four pillars” of treatment – and biggest expenses – for children with autism are occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, applied behavior analysis, and psychological counseling. While health insurance is more likely to cover the first two therapies, applied behavior analysis and psychological counseling are typically out-of-pocket expenses for families.
“We want to make sure that parents are provided the kind of tools that can try to offset costs and at the same time plan for the future of their children as they become adults,” he says.
Ritchie notes that this includes wills, which a lot of families don’t take into consideration. He emphasizes the importance of making long-term arrangements to ensure the care of children with special needs.
An advocate for individuals with special needs for more than two decades, Ritchie is a retired marine officer who served as director of the Special Olympics. Together with an occupational therapist, he founded the LAF in 2007.
Serving 127 families in the local area, the LAF is a volunteer-based organization comprised of 19 clinicians. These occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and social workers each have independent practices that serve children on the spectrum.
Ritchie is currently advocating to encourage health insurance companies to cover applied behavior analysis, which he describes as the “most effective” treatment. This can require anywhere from 10 to 40 hours of analysis a week.
“My advice to families would be to not let this chance go by,” says Ritchie. “So many families are busy and so overwhelmed by their day…I think [this seminar] would really make a difference.”
Planning for Your Special Needs Child will be held on Friday, August 27 at 6:30 p.m. Technical College of the Lowcountry - Auditorium 921 Ribaut Road Beaufort, SC 29901.
This seminar is open to all parents and families of children with special needs.
