Therapeutic preschool tends to have a profound positive impact on young children with disabilities. In addition to being a place of learning, it may also provide other valuable services, including physical therapy, social work, speech therapy and more. The specific services your child receives will be tailored to their condition and needs. While therapeutic preschool can be an excellent resource, it might not seem like a viable option for your child. The costs associated with therapeutic preschool may make it seem out of reach for your family. If you want to put your child in a therapeutic preschool but you’re having trouble navigating the costs, learning more about your options can help. In many situations, there are funds and resources available to help manage the costs of therapeutic preschool. Utilizing these resources may be the key to getting your child the support they need.
Options for managing the costs of therapeutic preschool
The financial options available to you will depend on your personal situation as well as your location. Community-based resources, for example, are typically dependent on where you live. When looking into the costs of preschools near you, it’s important to consider the specific resources available in your area. Some available options may include:
- Community-based services — When looking to manage preschool costs, look into community programs in your area. These may be managed by nonprofit organizations or by local government programs. Available community-based services vary. In some cases, they can contribute financial assistance that goes directly toward your child’s education. They may also help you get access to more resources for your child. For example, you may have a community program that provides assistive technology to children with disabilities. Familiarizing yourself with the community-based services in your area can help you start to understand how you can manage the costs of therapeutic preschool services near you.
- Scholarship funds — Your child may be eligible for certain scholarships. These scholarships can help fund your child’s therapeutic preschool. Scholarships tend to vary in funding and eligibility criteria. If you’re not sure what scholarships are available, you can ask your local therapeutic preschool about available scholarship funds. Many of these funds serve to exclusively pay tuition costs. Others, however, can also be used to manage other associated costs. This can be helpful if your child needs continued support outside of preschool. You may be able to find funds that can be used to cover therapy costs, for example. These funds can help reduce your financial stress while ensuring that your child gets necessary support.
- Government programs — Local programs aren’t the only resources available. You may also be able to benefit from federal government programs. One potentially valuable resource is a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, or DCFSA. A DCFSA works to reduce taxes and taxable income based on your child’s care expenses. Using a DCFSA can provide significant savings over the course of your child’s care. You can use an online savings calculator to estimate how much you may be able to save through a DCFSA. In addition to this option, you may want to consider subsidy programs in your state. If you live in Missouri, you may be eligible for the Missouri Child Care Subsidy Program. This program is designed to increase access to early learning for children with and without disabilities. For families living in Missouri, this program can be an excellent resource.
The Missouri Child Care Subsidy Program: Key details
The Missouri Child Care Subsidy Program has many benefits. This program is designed to cover child care services including therapeutic preschool. You may be eligible if you are the parent or guardian of a child under age 13. The “under 13” restriction does not apply if your child has a disability or is receiving protective services. In addition to this qualification, you also need to be at or below 150% of the federal poverty level to enter the program.
The amount of funding you can receive through the Missouri Child Care Subsidy Program may vary. The program uses an income-based sliding scale. If you are at or below 150% of the federal poverty level, your costs could range from $1 a year to $5 a day. For more information, you can reach out to the program directly.
One major benefit of this program is its flexibility. Unlike some assistance programs, this subsidy does not “cut off” when you reach a certain income threshold. Instead, it offers transitory funding. While you may receive less support as you make more money, you will not become ineligible until your income is above 242% of the federal poverty level. With the Missouri Child Care Subsidy Program, you can continue to get support managing your child’s education costs for as long as you need it.
Discover available scholarship funds and care options at Ability KC
At Ability KC, accessibility is important to us. We want to make sure every family has access to the resources and services they need. Programs like the Missouri Child Care Subsidy Program can help manage costs and make therapeutic preschool accessible. To further promote accessibility, we’re opening up some subsidy spots to assist families who are not otherwise able to afford therapeutic preschool. With our help, you can get affordable, exceptional treatment for your child.
Ability KC is a designated Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF) with a Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation, and a National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation. Contact our team today for more information about funding options or to schedule an initial appointment.