"Autism Awareness Month Closes, Statistics Reveal Alarming Future," Suggests Special Needs Planning Firm, A Special Needs Plan
Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) May 01, 2015 -- As April ends, so does Autism Awareness Month. During the month of April, Autism is brought to the forefront of our minds. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. Autism is now considered to affect 1 in 68 children according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is a ten-fold increase over the past 40 years. There is no clear explanation for this increase, but it means that those impacted by Autism will continue to growth past the 3 million individuals affected in the United States and the tens of millions around the world.
“As we continue to see the prevalence of Autism increase, one of the questions that arises is how will families and society be able to handle the cost of caring for individuals with Autism,” states Ryan Platt, founder of special needs planning firm A Special Needs Plan. Platt is referring to a study that was completed by the London School of Economics and the University of Pennsylvania that states the lifetime cost of care for an individual with Autism is estimated to be $2.4 million. Platt continues, “In a time when our local, state and federal governments struggle to find funding to support society’s needs, funding to help families with a loved one diagnosed with Autism may end up diminishing. This means that more responsibility of support will be left to the family.”
The increased prevalence of Autism combined with the lifetime cost points to the fact that families need to understand how to plan for the future. “It is critical for families to know what they need to do to provide the level of support their child needs for their entire life, who will be involved in that support, how to access, maximize, and protect government benefits, and ensure all those items are coordinated together so the plan comes to fruition,” explains Platt. “Special Needs Planning is absolutely necessary when a family is staring at a $2.4 million bill. Very rarely do we find families who can handle that type of expenditure all on their own. This is why it is vital that families learn how to access government benefits and make the government a partner in their child’s plan; however, government benefits require continuous qualification, and the landscape can be littered with hidden landmines. It is important to find an expert Special Needs Planner to act as a guide.”
More about A Special Needs Plan:
A Special Needs Plan is driven by what they call Unleash L.I.F.E.™- L.I.F.E. meaning Lasting Independence For Everyone™. This is accomplished with education, action, and support in the creation, implementation, and continued monitoring of a specifically designed lifelong and integrated plan for your family: parents, caregivers, your loved one with special needs and their siblings. Do you have peace of mind about your loved one's future independence? Your child needs answers and you deserve solutions! Call A Special Needs Plan, they can help! 704-557-9637
Andrew Spafford, A Special Needs Plan, http://www.aspecialneedsplan.com, +1 (704) 557-9637, [email protected]
Share this article