Ann - posted on 10/14/2010 ( 1 mom has responded )
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My husband and I had saved money for when we finally had children. We always wanted me to be the one home with them in the early years. So, I quit retail management to stay home with my son. When he was 16 months old we had preemie twins (that is another story, but important to the finances we have had) Just after my son turned 2 he was diagnosed ASD. My husband and I learned that early therapy was very important. In our state the money could be used in the direction we wanted but was very limited. The money could cover about 8 hrs a week of therapy through Easter Seals. We funded and additional 10 hours a week. I enrolled him in a mainstream music class with his sisters and gymnastics at the Y,
After he turned 3 the Easter Seals therapy ended and my son started school in the public school system. He gets about 13 hours of school time per week. I have replaced mainstream music with music therapy (more than twice the cost) He continues in the gymnastics. I pay a college student to come over to play with him but she has no experience with ASD. She just cares about him (and as I've learned that is hard to come by).
The $$$ keeps pouring out and we are not doing enough.
On top of "therapies" there are hidden expenses. Diapers still at 3.5, Chewies (he destroys), swings, toys to help his needs, still eats baby food for veggies, locks and childproofing that don't always work, PECS, overall home adjustments.
My preemies cost have gone down as far as special needs are concerned. And they get to do no extra activities. His cost seem to be on the rise.
Are we doing the right thing pouring the money into him now? We have been blessed with help from family financially. But I worry about how the cost will compare as he gets older. He is still non-verbal and we are struggling with communication. My thoughts so far have been if we could just get the ball rolling then maybe we could cut back on expenses.
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