This week we got some disappointing news that Emily's tuition will be going up when our contract renews in May. For the last two years, her school has been charging us $21,000 annually for the 1:3 ratio, even though that's reserved for "advanced learners" and potty-trained students. They can't do this any longer, as she requires just too much adult care. And so now we will be required to do the 1:2 ratio, which is an $8,000 per year increase. We are still fortunate, because Emily technically requires a 1:1 ratio, which is what the other autism schools would place her in, and that one is $55,000 a year. Did I mention there are families at this school with twins?! And they are in the 1:1 ratio?! Ouch!
So now we are on a mission to figure out how to keep Emily at this school, since her tuition amount will be the same as Austin's gross income. Clearly keeping her there is not an option unless we come up with some awesome plan! And so that's what we are working on! She already receives the McKay scholarship, which is around $17,700 per year. But even with that, the payments will be $900 a month. So I have been looking for more scholarships, more grants, etc. which I've looked for before and never really found anything, or it was for another state or school.
I have literally spent every day this week searching Google with every phrase I can think of, and I have come across two grants that I'm going to apply for. But in the meantime, I created a fundraising page for Emily and posted it on my Facebook last night. She must be a special little girl, because in less than 24 hours, we had over $1,200 in donations! The support has been overwhelming, and we are so lucky to have such wonderful caring people in our lives. They continue to repost the link and spread our story, and donations are now coming in from people I don't even know!
We still have a long way to go, and obviously I can't do this every year until she's 20...but for now, I'm just focused on this next school year and doing whatever I can to give my baby girl the life she deserves!
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