Autism & Other Special Needs

The numbers of children being diagnosed under the autism spectrum are staggering, and the financial drain is daunting. The CDC reports:

An average of one child in 88 is diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The same study reports that a family with a child with autism will fund 3-5 million dollars of services throughout the lifetime of the child. And, on average, medical expenditures for children with an ASD were 4.1-6.2 times greater than for those without an ASD.

The DFF will also serve children with other special needs such as mental retardation and cerebral palsy. These children and their families also face a limited choice of activities for their children.

Hira K, a Gymnast on the Discover Gymnastics Special Olympics team: