Families bear bulk of costs of caring for kids with autism

The annual cost to families of caring for a child with autism is double what the State spends on autism-related health, social, and educational resources, according to a new study.

Research conducted by academics at NUI Galway found that the average annual cost per child for families who had a child with a clinically diagnosed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) amounted to €28,464.89, related to private ASD services, lost income, and informal care.