The costs associated with raising a child with an ASD are astronomical. Most families’ standard of living plummets since the costs of therapies and medical interventions required to help an individual with autism reach his or her full potential can run into the tens of thousands of dollars each year. While a recent study shows the average cost of raising a neurotypical child to be a whopping $290,000, the cost to raise a a child with autism is, according to a 2006 Harvard study, $3,200,000. The Autism Society of America puts the figure even higher, estimating it to be between $3.5 and $5 million over a lifetime.
While the ASBC cannot come close to closing the gap for our families, it is trying to channel the funds it raises into meaningful direct grants for our community. Following are our initial programs with more to follow.
