Did you know that in the State of Texas a Divorcee who has primary custody of a child with Autism is entitled to ask for limitless child support from her former spouse to support that child?
Really! The standard formula does not apply to children with Autism. So, as a parent with two children the standard child support percentage of 25% which would normally apply - does not. I can ask for as much as it takes to provide my son with the treatments, therapies, educational support or services he might require. With NO limits for that child's support!!
I wish I would have known this ten years ago. Not that it would have made a bit of difference in the piddly stream of reimbursements I receive from my ex-spouse, but you never know. Maybe it would have. If knowledge is power - I have definitely felt financially powerless once or twice.
What I do know is that I certainly would have considered more emotional therapy, more life skills therapy - maybe even more music training if I had believed that asking for more than the standard 50% reimbursement for doctor bills had been at all enforceable. There are as many forms of therapy for these kids as there are places on the Autism Spectrum where they live. Who knows which one might have been useful or helpful? An un-frustrating version would have been nice. They are all seriously (some ridiculously) expensive.
At this point I cannot help but wonder how his life might be different now had I known that I could have asked for money for occupational therapy costs beyond the standard 50% of what my insurance won't cover (almost everything). How might he be different now? How would he have grown or developed if there had simply been a little more support available?
Unfortunately, I don't believe in second guessing myself. There are way too many opportunities to convince myself that I am doing a less than adequate job here and I know better than any of them that that is simply not the case. But I must keep reminding myself that I am a single parent doing the best that I possibly can with very little help - financial or otherwise. But you had better believe that now that I know - the sky is the limit.
You might want to find out what the limit is in your state 'cause - "Who knew?"
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