Living ASD With Help From the Disability Tax Credit
About half of the people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are diagnosed before they reach 5 years old. Some 20% are diagnosed before they reach the age of 2. Of the remaining 50% most are diagnosed before they reach the age of 10. So it’s rare for an adult to receive a diagnosis of ASD. But it does happen. An article over at themighty.com deals with the author’s own adult ASD diagnosis and why anyone would bother seeking such a diagnosis as an adult.
For a long time, I had difficulty answering a question that centered around the fact I received an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis at the age of 30. It’s a question I get on a regular basis: “Why would anyone would seek an ASD diagnosis as an adult? If you’ve made it that far, what’s the point?
Finding the right response has been tough because people asking this can have a wide variety of intentions. Some people are simply curious. Some are skeptical. Other people are asking for themselves; they feel they may be on the spectrum and are sincerely interested in finding out whether or not they should pursue a diagnosis.
The fact that the author finds so many people willing to question his or her motives is a curious thing in and of itself. After all, being supportive would be a much better and more helpful response. Unfortunately, the author’s experience is indicative of a general lack of empathy people with ASD often face from other members of society. In fact, a quick search of the internet reveals just how many people there are who insist ASD in an imaginary disorder. It’s more than a little disturbing.
For adults living with ASD there is nothing imaginary about their situation. Even if they’ve developed coping mechanisms that enabled them to reach adulthood before getting a proper diagnosis chances are those coping mechanisms did just as much harm as good. An overwhelming majority are unable to find employment and those that do, even if they have a high degree of specialized training, often find themselves forced to accept menial jobs. For families that have a child with ASD the picture is no brighter:
- ASD behavioural intervention alone can run as much as $100,000 per year per child.
- Average medical costs for those same children exceed $10,000 per year.
- When those children grow up there is little chance they’ll be able to contribute significantly to their own support.
It is estimated that the lifetime cost of dealing with ASD, even for those without a significant intellectual disability, is well over $1 million. And you can double that amount if there is an intellectual disability involved. When you consider that average person who works until they’re 65 will make something like $1.5 million in their lifetime you can see why so many with ASD depend on the often life-saving financial relief provided by the Disability Tax Credit.
The Disability Tax Credit Exists to Help People Just Like You
The Disability Tax Credit can provide up to $40,000 in annual benefits to eligible individuals and their families. An amount that can provide the breathing room many of them need in order to get back on their feet and re-establish something like a normal life. If you qualify you may also be able to claim retroactive benefits for as many as 10 years.
Taking advantage of this important government initiative, however, requires navigating a complicated and tedious bureaucratic process designed to weed out fraud but which just as often weeds out the deserving. In spite of calls for the process to be simplified, precious little has been done. That’s why so many of Canada’s disabled citizens have sought the help of Disability Credit Canada. Our specialized knowledge, experience and expertise enables us to confidently guide your application through to final approval and we don’t rest until that happens. You can also read our guide on Disability Tax Credit for Children to find out more information.
What are You Waiting for? Get the Ball Rolling Today By Giving Us a Call
Call us today to find out more about the Disability Tax Credit and to learn how we can help you get the benefits you’re entitled to. The program was created to help people like yourself so don’t wait another day to call us and get the process started.