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 ...