Raising a child with autism who requires constant supervision is difficult even in the best of times. And if you are struggling financially, it can seem even more overwhelming. You have to work and pay the bills, but your child needs 24-hour care. How do you juggle all the responsibilities alone? With In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), you can get help to raise your child with autism.
If you are the parent of a child who has autism, Down Syndrome, or another type of developmental disability, you may qualify for financial assistance, including IHSS. This program in California can allow you to be paid up to $3,000 a month as your child’s caregiver. But what if you’ve applied and have been denied IHSS? How do you appeal the decision?
Today, it is estimated that a quarter of U.S. households have a member with special needs. More than 8% of kids under 15 have a disability, and half of those are deemed severe. Parents who have children with special needs share one thing: the massive cost of raising them. If you are a parent of a child with special needs, you may suffer from constantly worrying that you don’t have enough money to provide the best care for your child—or you fear that you will face bankruptcy from all the bills. Can you get financial help to ease the costs of raising your child with special needs?
To say that schools have changed a lot in the past year and a half is an understatement. And, as a result, our kids need to learn new rules and routines. For children on the autism spectrum (ASD) the return to school after COVID-19 presents many challenges, and many parents have questions about how to help them cope with social distancing, new environments, and ongoing change. How can you best support your child with autism going back to school after COVID-19?
As your child goes back to school, it’s important to know his or her education options, especially if he or she has disabilities. Children with delayed skills or other disabilities might be eligible for special services that provide individualized education programs in public schools, free of charge to families. Understanding how to access these services can help you as a parent be an effective advocate for your child. But does your child qualify for an individualized education program (IEP)?