Montana mother spends nearly $12,000 annually on therapies for her son. Reveals autism and apraxia care becomes a financial burden; now gives home-schooling

For Katherine Walter, educating her 11-year-old son means more than teaching him to read and solve maths problems. It also involves navigating specialist therapies, managing his communication difficulties and making long drives to access care. The Montana mother has chosen to homeschool her son, Will, who has autism and apraxia, a neurological speech disorder. The family spends between $10,000 and $12,000 annually on his therapies and evaluations, according to the Associated Press (AP). Her story is a symbol of a larger challenge facing American families: Getting the right help for a child with disabilities can be a costly process, in terms of time, money and difficult decisions about education.

Why Katherine Walter Chose To Homeschool Her Son

According to AP, the Walters lost confidence in their local public school system's ability to meet Will's needs after concerns about staffing and an incident involving a teacher. The family eventually began homeschooling all three children. Katherine teaches Will at home while adapting lessons to his needs. He works at different academic levels across subjects, and she adjusts activities when he becomes frustrated.

“This is huge,” Walter said of his son's growing independence, describing progress that would have been difficult to imagine two years earlier, AP reported. The family’s experience is not proof that homeschooling is the right option for every child with disabilities. It does, however, illustrate the decisions parents may face when they believe a school cannot provide suitable support.

The Cost Of Therapy Adds To The Pressure

Will receives occupational and speech therapy, but the family’s health insurance covers only one visit a week for each type of therapy, according to AP. His apraxia requires speech therapy three to five times weekly, with sessions costing about $100 an hour. The family cannot afford that frequency of treatment and already spends up to $12,000 a year on therapies and evaluations.

Access also requires travel. For nine years, Katherine and Will have driven approximately 90 minutes each way from White Sulphur Springs to Helena, Montana, for specialised sessions. The financial burden is only part of the challenge. Travel, appointments and daily caregiving can also affect parents’ working hours, family routines and access to other services.

How Widespread Are Developmental Disabilities In The US?

CDC estimates that about one in 31 eight-year-olds in the communities studied was diagnosed with autism in 2022. The findings, published in 2025, covered 16 sites across 14 states and Puerto Rico, so they should not be treated as a precise national estimate. CDC estimates that about 17% of children aged 3-17 years had a developmental disability based on parent-reported data from 2009 to 2017. These figures cover different conditions and populations, but they underline the importance of accessible developmental services.

What Support Does The US Education System Provide?

Federal law offers protections through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which requires eligible children to receive a free appropriate public education and special education services. However, families may still face practical barriers when seeking services that meet their children’s individual needs. In Will’s case, the school district disputed some of Katherine’s account of its staffing, and the family later settled a personal injury lawsuit for $40,000 without the district admitting wrongdoing, AP reported.

Montana also created a scholarship programme intended to help some students with disabilities pay for therapies, homeschooling expenses or private-school tuition. The programme faced a court challenge over its funding arrangements.

A Family’s Story Reflects A Larger Challenge

Katherine’s experience shows how the cost of care can extend beyond medical bills to include travel, time and the responsibility of coordinating a child’s education and treatment. While public schools and insurance can cover some services, families’ experiences differ considerably.

For the Walters, homeschooling has become a way to tailor learning to Will’s needs. Their story also raises a broader question for policymakers: how can families obtain the specialised support their children need without facing financial strain or having to navigate complicated systems alone?