Parents of children with autism are always looking for a better school environment for their child.
With budget cuts, school districts are cutting back on resources for these special needs children. More and more parents are exploring private autism schools in the hope that these schools can fill the therapy gaps dropped by public schools.
It Doesn’t Exist
Of course, what the parent is really looking for is one school that will have the magic ingredients that will free their child of autism. They soon find out that no such school exist.
What Does Exist
What does exist are very costly private schools whose fee averages around $15K a month which of course is out of the range of most families. These fees are high because an involved staff of speech, behavioral, and occupational therapists, complimented by a special needs teachers who are on staff that offer a more intensive therapy environment. The cost is even higher when housing is involved.
In-Home Treatments
Some parents choose in-home therapists to address their child’s needs, but this is quite costly also.
A full time ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapist can run around $65K a year. A speech therapist charges, on average, $200 per session. At three sessions per week that is $600 per week or $30K a year.
So we have $180K for private schools a year. $120K per year for private in-home therapist if you throw in behavioral and occupational therapists.
One Of The Best Things To Do
It is my experience, it is more cost effective if the family can move to a school district (in or out of state) that has the best services available for their child. Then compliment a specific need with that therapist. So if the child can form or repeat a few words than a speech therapist might bring about a breakthrough.
Bankruptcy
Many families have gone bankrupt by providing a too wide of a range of therapies for their child.
Instead, focus on their specific need and that milestone you’re trying to achieve may come much sooner as to not at all when the child is bombarded with too many programs all at once and all that money spent.
Another Thing To Consider
Parents need to be totally involved in reinforcing the therapist’s work. The parent who spends time with the child reinforcing the therapists work can help the child focus on specific tasks.
Therapist’s not only teach the child, but they are training YOU to be his or her’s segregate assistant to continue their teaching methods daily, between their appointments or after school.
Are They Really Necessary
Are therapies necessary?
Absolutely!
How To Get Your Money’s Worth
Learn how you can Accelerate your Child’s learning curve and get your money’s worth out of the programs you’ll be paying for. Visit Autism Program Acceleration Technology.
We want to be part of your Child’s Success Not Their Failure.