- Title
- How much does intellectual disability really cost? First estimates for Australia
- Creator
- Doran, Christopher M.; Einfeld, Stewart L.; Madden, Rosamond H.; Otim, Michael; Horstead, Siân K.; Ellis, Louise A.; Emerson, Eric
- Relation
- Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability Vol. 37, Issue 1, p. 42-49
- Publisher Link
- http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/13668250.2011.648609
- Publisher
- Informa Healthcare
- Resource Type
- journal article
- Date
- 2012
- Description
- Background: Given the paucity of relevant data, this study estimates the cost of intellectual disability (ID) to families and the government in Australia. Method: Family costs were collected via the Client Service Receipt Inventory, recording information relating to service use and personal expense as a consequence of ID. Government expenditure on the provision of support and services was estimated using top-down costing. Results: A total of 109 parents participated. The cost of ID in Australia is high, especially for families. Total economic costs of ID are close to $14,720 billion annually. Opportunity cost of lost time provided 85% of family expense. A comparison of family expense and social welfare benefits received suggests that families suffer considerable loss. This may impact on families’ physical and emotional wellbeing. Conclusions: Monitoring of changes in expenditure is required. Policies should ensure that money devoted to ID is allocated in a rational, equitable, and cost-effective manner.
- Subject
- cost; intellectual disability; families
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1312372
- Identifier
- uon:22371
- Identifier
- ISSN:1469-9532
- Language
- eng
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