As Autism Awareness Month is marked globally, new insights are drawing attention to the often-overlooked financial pressure faced by families raising children with disabilities.
According to United Nations Children’s Fund, around one in ten children worldwide, nearly 240 million, live with some form of disability. Yet access to education remains a major challenge. Of the 244 million children aged between six and 18 who are out of school, disability is among the leading barriers.
In South Africa (SA), the situation is particularly stark, with an estimated 70% to% of school-aged children with disabilities not attending school, largely due to cost and limited access to specialised support.
Reeona Chetty, Head of Advice at Vouch, says a diagnosis such as autism can dramatically reshape a family’s financial future.
“Many families are not prepared for the immediate and long-term costs that come with raising a child who needs ongoing care and specialised support,” she explains.
These costs can be significant. Specialised education in private settings can range from R6 000 to R12 000 per month ($320 to $650), excluding additional expenses such as therapy, medication, assistive devices and transport.
For many households, the financial strain is compounded by income loss. One parent often has to reduce working hours or leave employment entirely to provide care, affecting both day-to-day finances and long-term savings.
Chetty notes that families must plan not just for childhood, but for lifelong care.
“In many cases, children with disabilities remain financially dependent well into adulthood. That means planning must extend beyond the parents’ lifetime,” she says.
To manage these realities, experts recommend structured financial strategies. These include setting up special needs trusts to safeguard assets, ensuring adequate life insurance cover, and making legal arrangements for long-term guardianship.
Building a stronger financial buffer is also critical, with families advised to set aside up to 12 months’ worth of income to cover unexpected medical or care-related costs.
Ultimately, Chetty says, financial planning in this context goes beyond budgeting.
“It’s about securing dignity, stability and quality of life for the child, not just now, but into the future.”
–ChannelAfrica–
