According to UNICEF, approximately 1 in 10 children globally (nearly 240 million) live with some form of disability or functional difficulty, spanning physical, cognitive, and psychosocial challenges. Yet access to opportunity remains deeply unequal for these individuals. Of the 244 million children aged between 6 and 18 who are out of school worldwide, disability is a leading barrier. In South Africa, an estimated 70 – 90% of school-aged children with disabilities are not attending school at all, often due to access constraints and affordability.
As we mark Autism Month, it is important to consider not only the social and emotional impact of a diagnosis, but also the significant financial implications for parents, caregivers and families. A diagnosis of this nature is often unexpected, requiring immediate intervention to improve long-term outcomes, while introducing ongoing, and often lifelong, financial commitments.
Raising a neurodivergent child, or a child with disabilities, fundamentally shifts a family’s financial planning needs. Unlike traditional planning, it requires a long-term, often multi-generational, approach that extends beyond the parent’s or caregiver’s lifetime.
Financial Impacts
Key financial impacts include the reality of lifelong dependency, as children with disabilities may remain financially dependent well into adulthood, requiring sustained provision that accounts for inflation and rising care costs. Families also need to undertake comprehensive cost planning, mapping both immediate and long-term expenses such as specialised education (which can range from R6 000 to R12 000 per month in private settings) as well as therapy, medication, assistive devices, caregiving, and specialised transport for example.
In addition, income disruption is common, with one parent often needing to reduce working hours or exit the workforce entirely to provide care, significantly affecting household income and long-term retirement outcomes. These factors are compounded by increased emergency needs, making a larger financial buffer – often up to 12 months of income – essential to cover unexpected medical or equipment costs without incurring debt.
Strategic Planning Tools
Strategic planning tools are equally important in ensuring long-term financial security for the family and the child in question. Establishing a ‘Type A Special Needs Trust’ can protect assets while allowing beneficiaries to remain eligible for government support. Life insurance should be carefully structured, with sufficient cover paid into a trust to ensure continuity of care and financial stability.
Legal guardianship is another critical consideration, requiring the appointment of a successor guardian in a will, with their full consent, given that this responsibility may extend over a lifetime.
Finally, proactive tax planning, alongside guidance from specialised advisors, can help families maximise available deductions and access relevant support services.
Financial planning for a neurodivergent child or a child with disabilities is not just about managing costs, it’s about securing dignity, stability, and quality of life well into the future. Early, structured planning can make a meaningful difference in navigating what is often an emotionally and financially complex journey.
By Reeona Chetty, Head of Advice at Vouch
