Raising anautisticchild can be very expensive. The child may needtherapy for speechor social skills, or a specialized summer camp program; you might also decide the child in your care would do best in aprivate school. It’s estimated that the lifetime cost of care for an autistic person averages between $1.4 million and $2.4 million, depending on if the person has an intellectual disability.Fortunately, grants and scholarships are available to offset the financial challenges that come with having an autistic family member. They tend to be very competitive, and many will only pay for specific expenses, usually billed directly to the provider. However, a number of foundations are making autism a priority for non-profit grants, which means local organizations that serve families have a better chance of receiving funds than ever before.Here are the basics about five notable national and regional organizations that provide grants for families who have an autistic child.Grant Application BasicsBefore applying for a grant, make sure you really need it; other options may be easier to attain and offer better services. For example, a grant for summer camp may not provide as much in the way of services as an extended school year program.Read the guidelines for the grant to make sure the goals of the organization that offers it align with your loved one’s needs.

Raising anautisticchild can be very expensive. The child may needtherapy for speechor social skills, or a specialized summer camp program; you might also decide the child in your care would do best in aprivate school. It’s estimated that the lifetime cost of care for an autistic person averages between $1.4 million and $2.4 million, depending on if the person has an intellectual disability.

Fortunately, grants and scholarships are available to offset the financial challenges that come with having an autistic family member. They tend to be very competitive, and many will only pay for specific expenses, usually billed directly to the provider. However, a number of foundations are making autism a priority for non-profit grants, which means local organizations that serve families have a better chance of receiving funds than ever before.

Here are the basics about five notable national and regional organizations that provide grants for families who have an autistic child.

Grant Application BasicsBefore applying for a grant, make sure you really need it; other options may be easier to attain and offer better services. For example, a grant for summer camp may not provide as much in the way of services as an extended school year program.Read the guidelines for the grant to make sure the goals of the organization that offers it align with your loved one’s needs.

Grant Application Basics

Before applying for a grant, make sure you really need it; other options may be easier to attain and offer better services. For example, a grant for summer camp may not provide as much in the way of services as an extended school year program.Read the guidelines for the grant to make sure the goals of the organization that offers it align with your loved one’s needs.

Autism Cares TodayUrsaHoogle / Getty ImagesAutism Cares Today provides funding to families throughout the United States on a quarterly basis.Grant amounts:$100 to $5,000Who is eligible:Priority is given to families with multiple autistic children,military families, and those with an annual income under $100,000.Expenses covered include:Applied behavior analysis (ABA)Speech and occupational therapyBiomedical testingNutritional supplementsAssistive technologies (iPads, communication apps)Safety equipment (safety fencing, GPS tracking devices, andautism service dogs)Social skills groupsDisability summer campsExpenses not covered include:Transportation requests (cars, car repair, transportation passes, air travel)Hyperbaric oxygen therapyPersonal needs (rent, utilities, family vacations)

Autism Cares Today

UrsaHoogle / Getty Images

autistic boy playing with blocks

Autism Cares Today provides funding to families throughout the United States on a quarterly basis.

Grant amounts:$100 to $5,000

Who is eligible:Priority is given to families with multiple autistic children,military families, and those with an annual income under $100,000.

Expenses covered include:

Expenses not covered include:

United Healthcare Children’s Foundation

United Healthcare Children’s Foundation provides financial relief for families whose health insurance does not cover, or fully cover, their child’s medical needs. The Foundation aims to fill the gap between what medical services or items your child needs and what your commercial health benefit plan will pay for.

Grant amounts:Varies

Who is eligible:

Expenses not covered:The following treatments and services are among the list ofgrant exclusions:

Asperger/Autism Network of New England (AANE)AANE provides grants with help from the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation and private donors to people with Asperger’s syndrome, which is now known as autism with low support needs (previously calledhigh-functioning autism) orlevel 1autism spectrum disorder.Grant amounts:$50 to $500Who is eligible:Families living in New England (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine), with application limited to families with an income at or under $78,500 for a family of fourExpenses covered include:Occupational therapyAdaptive swimming lessonsPuzzles and gamesRespite careBooks and videosSensory integration therapyMusic classes/instrumentsExpenses not covered include:Medical expensesTravel expenses

Asperger/Autism Network of New England (AANE)

AANE provides grants with help from the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation and private donors to people with Asperger’s syndrome, which is now known as autism with low support needs (previously calledhigh-functioning autism) orlevel 1autism spectrum disorder.

Grant amounts:$50 to $500

Who is eligible:Families living in New England (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine), with application limited to families with an income at or under $78,500 for a family of four

Joey’s Fund | Hope Fund Family Grant ProgramThe Doug Flutie Foundation generally funds other organizations, but also offers individual grants through Joey’s Fund | Hope Fund.Grant amounts:Up to $2,000, or $3,000 if the grant would benefit more than one family member with autismWho is eligible:Families in New England who are in need of financial assistance for their family member(s) with autism.Expenses covered include:Respite careRecreational programsEducational evaluationsComputer softwareCommunication needsTherapiesCamp tuitionSafety-related itemsExpenses not covered include:Medical expensesTravel expenses

Joey’s Fund | Hope Fund Family Grant Program

The Doug Flutie Foundation generally funds other organizations, but also offers individual grants through Joey’s Fund | Hope Fund.

Grant amounts:Up to $2,000, or $3,000 if the grant would benefit more than one family member with autism

Who is eligible:Families in New England who are in need of financial assistance for their family member(s) with autism.

Additional Grant-Related ResourcesIn addition to the list above, be sure to check out these online directories for more regional organizations and those that provide grants for adults with autism, education, and travel.Outreach Autism Services NetworkThe Autism Community in Action

In addition to the list above, be sure to check out these online directories for more regional organizations and those that provide grants for adults with autism, education, and travel.

Tips for Applying

2 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Buescher AV, Cidav Z, Knapp M, Mandell DS.Costs of autism spectrum disorders in the United Kingdom and the United States.JAMA Pediatr. 2014;168(8):721-728. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.210U.S. Department of Education.Sec. 300.106 Extended school year services.

2 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Buescher AV, Cidav Z, Knapp M, Mandell DS.Costs of autism spectrum disorders in the United Kingdom and the United States.JAMA Pediatr. 2014;168(8):721-728. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.210U.S. Department of Education.Sec. 300.106 Extended school year services.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Buescher AV, Cidav Z, Knapp M, Mandell DS.Costs of autism spectrum disorders in the United Kingdom and the United States.JAMA Pediatr. 2014;168(8):721-728. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.210U.S. Department of Education.Sec. 300.106 Extended school year services.

Buescher AV, Cidav Z, Knapp M, Mandell DS.Costs of autism spectrum disorders in the United Kingdom and the United States.JAMA Pediatr. 2014;168(8):721-728. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.210

U.S. Department of Education.Sec. 300.106 Extended school year services.

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