A Few Facts
- U.S. federal law requires that public schools educate all children, regardless of their intellectual or physical capabilities. However, the law does not definitively state what a school must provide.
- Schools often lack the specialists they need to adequately educate children with developmental delays or behavioral issues.
- Educating children with special needs is expensive because it is a labor-intensive process performed, usually in a 1-to-1 ratio, by highly educated professionals, including behavior analysts, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists and occupational therapists.
- Research shows that if we give the best available special education to children with severe disabilities, those children are more likely to grow up to be productive, independent and able to contribute to society.
- Private schools for children with special needs in Texas have an annual tuition cost ranging from $10,200 to $35,560.
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy costs between $46,000 and $47,500 per year, at a rate of $120 per hour by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Medicaid covers ABA therapy, but most clinics do not accept Medicaid because it is less pay for more work. Thus making, wait lists for children with Medicaid extremely long.
- Speech Therapy/Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy cost up to $12,000 per year, at a rate of $75 per half hour session. Most public schools provide group Speech therapy services (maybe) 1 time per week.
