The Cost of Autism
Of course there is an emotional and physical cost to autism. But there is also a financial cost. This study suggests that the cost of caring for a person with autism is $2 million in addition to the already high cost of caring for any child. That is a staggering cost.
For me the real story is about the alternative. Scientists are working hard to produce a test to identify autism while still in the womb. They will say that this is to give parents the chance for early treatment. That may be the case sometimes, but in the majority of the cases it is to give the option of abortion. Am I being paranoid? Look at what is happening with Down Syndrome. By far the majority of babies with Down Syndrome are aborted.
Look again at that cost for autism. Imagine saving $2 million with every abortion of a baby with autism. Those numbers will grow very quickly. There will be tremendous pressure to abort as many babies with autism as possible. The money that would be saved would be incredible.
But can you truly put a price tag on a child’s life? Is it an acceptable price to kill a baby so there is more money to treat a sick adult? These are things that we better reflect on because it is coming.
