4 Innovative Funding Sources for Families of Children With Special Needs
November 17, 2015
A guest post by Natasha Cornin, an AngelSense GPS and Voice Monitoring Solution expert user and customer care specialist.
CLICK HERE to learn how AngelSense can help you improve your child’s safety and well-being.
If the cost to raise a child in the U.S, from birth to age 18 is approximately $245,340 (or $304,480, adjusted for projected inflation), I shudder to think of the costs involved in raising my seven year old son with autism. This is especially when I consider that he may always be somewhat dependent on me even as an adult. As a mom, I see my son’s care as a labor of love, but the financial reality is daunting to say the least.
As a single mom, I face a unique set of parental challenges. Gaining access to pricey yet essential services, therapies and tools for my son is a genuine challenge, one that is often frustrating and disheartening. Despite the many challenges along the way, my journey has made me more resourceful, resilient and determined to pay it forward by sharing what I’ve learned with others.
I am grateful that my work with AngelSense affords me the opportunity to speak with so many parents from different walks of life, living in a multitude of familial configurations: two-parent households, parent-grandparent households and single-parent households, to name a few. Interestingly, the common thread I’ve noticed in most households is the profound impact that the costs of caring for special needs children have on a daily basis. The costs, although varied and relative to each family, are ever-present and greatly affect each family’s quality of life.
You may recall that I explored the application process for the Medicaid Waiver in a post earlier this year. In this post, I want to share some of the funding options I’ve found recently that may help families cover the cost of AngelSense, and even other expenses related to the ongoing care of their little, and in some cases not so little, angels.
- ACT Today! SOS Program
ACT Today! SOS is a program that was established in 2005 and is committed to supporting the crucial and immediate needs of those impacted by autism. The program provides funding to help families access vital and effective treatments. They offer grant cycles every quarter. The program will also provide funding for GPS tracking devices like AngelSense.
Click here to access the grant application. Grant amounts vary from $100-$5,000, for anything related to the care and treatment of autism. They require the submission of an invoice to receive grant funding (see left side of site to apply).
- Friends of Man
This organization requires a referring professional to submit applications (e.g., health care and social workers, clergy, counselors, etc.) on behalf of people in need of assistance. If the request is approved, Friends of Man pays a vendor for the needed items or services. In addition, Friends of Man has a Children’s Assistance Program where any teacher, school nurse, counselor, or principal can submit an application on behalf of a child who may need clothing, eyeglasses, medication, or another item of genuine need.
Click here to access the grant application. Grant amounts may vary based on need and availability.
- Parker’s Purpose Foundation Assistance
The foundation provides financial assistance to any family who has a minor (18 and under) with a life altering illness or disability that is in an immediate financial crisis due to unforeseen medical expenses. Funding preference is given to Ohio residents, but is granted outside the state of Ohio if deemed eligible. Grants are given up to $1,000.
Click here to access the grant application. Grant amounts may vary based on need and availability.
- First Hand Foundation
The foundation provides funding for items to improve the quality of life of individuals with disabilities, not otherwise covered by insurance. Thanks to the dedication of the First Hand Foundation, almost 200,000 families have received funding to access resources for their children since 1995.
Go to the foundation’s grant page for additional information. Click here to access the online application. Grant amounts may vary based on need and availability.
Each organization has different requirements and submission deadlines. Please contact each directly for additional details related to the eligibility and application process.
Was this post helpful? Would you like to see this as a series where we bring you new and creative funding ideas? Or can you recommend a funding source not mentioned in the article? Please share your thoughts below.
Contact Information:
– ACT Today! SOS Program: 1-877-922-8863 | SOSProgram@act-today.org
– Friends of Man: (303) 798-2342 | P.O. Box 937 | Littleton, Colorado 80160-0937
– Parker’s Purpose Foundation Assistance: (419) 334-7275 | parkerspurpose@gmail.com | 1056 Hazel Street, Fremont, OH 43420
– First Hand Foundation: (816) 201-1569 | firsthandfoundation@cerner.com | First Hand Foundation
This post is brought to you by AngelSense GPS and voice-monitoring.
AngelSense’s wearable GPS tracking and listening device, a web app and smart analytics give special needs parents the peace of mind that their kids are safe.
Even with relatively mild Asperger syndrome, which has no inhibition on intelligence, articulate speech, or creativity, average people may not have the skills or patience to interact with Aspies.
Hence 85% of college graduates with Asperger are allegedly unemployed. The easiest way to get employment and income data from diagnostic ed Aspies is to contact the state department of rehabilitation services. But as states do not want to waste money except on those who “really need it”, this may exaggerate the number of severe cases.
You might balance out the statistics by looking at Asperger organizations in large cities and restrict the analysis to diagnosed Aspies. Some diagnosed Aspies may never have had a work problem.
In any case, don’t say goodbye to your Asperger kid after finishing college, you may see him or her later.
Chris Marsh
Diagnosed age 26, 27, 28 and 44
What can I get for my child with autism and he’s 21 years old I see your grant is only kids with disabilities 18 years and under. But my sun likes to wonder off and I think this or any like this will work for my son.
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