The Cost of a Special Needs Child

This is why special needs parents laugh when you tell them to take time for themselves! And this is just what our family is supposed to be doing for Chelsea- it doesn’t include ABA for autistic kids, or wheelchairs, or other things.

Things not necessarily covered by insurance:

3-5 sessions of speech therapy weekly= $600/ month

1-2 sessions of occupational therapy weekly= $400/ month
Seizure medication= $125/ month
1 session physical therapy weekly= $325/ month
Adaptive Gymnastics= $50/ month
Allergy-free diet= $250/ month for just her
Vitamins, fish oil, supplements= $75/ month

Grand Total= $1,825 monthly (not including any extra doctor visits, specialist tests, EEGs, MRIs, genetic testing/ counseling, costs for therapy supplies, etc.)

Now add on rent, utilities, food for the rest of the family, gas, and all the rest of your monthly budget

Others Things to Do for Your SN child:

Read 30 minutes daily

Work on speech 30 minutes daily
Work on OT home practice 20 minutes daily
Work on PT home practice 20 minutes daily
Chauffering to therapy/ school is 45 minutes daily (averaged)
Play outside 30-45 minutes daily
Work on academic skills 20 minutes daily
Listen to classical music an hour daily
4 hours daily of eye patching to correct lazy
Work on functional skills 30 minutes daily (teaching to dress self, brush teeth, wash hands, etc)
Spend 30-60 minutes daily doing a fun 1:1 activity of the child’s choice
Have a 10 minute spiritual devotional
Do a sensory integration activity daily for 15-30 minutes
Write in your child’s journal daily to look back on all the good memories you had
Manage tantrums and meltdowns

Grand total in time conservatively needed daily for your child= 10 hours 30 minutes

 

Other Things for Your Family:

Work your full-time job (if not SAHM)
Cook organic, healthy, allergen free meals
Keep your house tidy and organized
Find time for YOU- hobbies? Taking a shower? Going to the bathroom alone?
Nurture your marriage! Find a babysitter (Insert hysterical laughter here) and go on a date
Keep yourself attractive by exercising daily
Keep up on laundry! Yes, this includes the 5 outfits a day your SN child goes through each day because they are a messy eater, drool excessively, throw up frequently, and smear poop every chance they get
Always be positive! Let nary a frown cross your lips

This, friends, is why SN parents are so tired. And emotionally drained. And spend money on almost nothing else. Please be kind. You never know what someone is going through, even if they put on a happy face every time people are around.

 

But, our SN kids also teach us so much. I am definitely a better person because of what I have learned from this experience. I love my little gal so, so, so much!