Therapy and More Therapy

I was shocked when we first started private therapy for the boys last year. An hour of speech and an hour of occupational therapy for both-- both therapists working together with each boy for 1 hour a week-- runs around $4000 a month. We are very fortunate, my husband works in Washington D.C. and his insurance through work is purchased in Maryland. Even though we live in Virginia, state law in Maryland applies to our insurance coverage. Maryland is one of only eight states that require autism services to be covered.

While our insurance applies discounts to the services, they still pay somewhere around $2500 a month. I can't imagine what a family goes through if they can't afford this. We found that having the therapy early on, as soon as they were diagnosed, helped both boys tremendously. Neither was enrolled in the special-ed preschool services at the time and it was a couple of months before either qualified to enter school. Now, both boys continue to receive private therapy in combination with speech and O.T. through their schools. We also work very intently here at home.

But without those early months in therapy, I would not have known whether what I was doing at home was right and the boys likely wouldn't be as advanced in their treatments as they are now. If only all states required this condition to be treated as it should be by ensuring that insurance companies included it in policies. Too many families go bankrupt trying to do what is best for their children.