# What should I do if I cannot afford therapy for my child?

Canonical: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-should-i-do-if-i-cannot-afford-therapy-for-my-child
Publisher: Pinnacle Blooms Network / Bharath Healthcare Laboratories Private Limited

If you cannot afford therapy, your child can still get help: start with free government routes like RBSK District Early Intervention Centres, government hospital child-development departments, and Anganwadi/ASHA workers. Everyday responsive interaction at home is powerful, free early stimulation. Ask Pinnacle directly about access support for rural and low-resource families — cost should never decide a child's future.

*If money feels like the wall between your child and the help they need — please breathe. Cost should never be the reason a child waits, and there are real routes forward.*

## In short
If you cannot afford therapy right now, your child can still get help — start with the free and low-cost services that already exist around you. In India this includes government **District Early Intervention Centres (DEIC)** under the RBSK programme, your nearest **government hospital paediatric or child-development department**, and Anganwadi or ASHA workers who can guide you to local schemes. Pinnacle Blooms Network also works to widen access for rural and low-resource families, so ask us directly about support options — affordability should never decide your child's future.

## Where to begin, step by step
**1. Free government routes (no cost).**
- **RBSK / District Early Intervention Centres** screen and support children for developmental delays free of charge — ask your Anganwadi worker, ASHA worker, or government hospital.
- **Government medical college and district hospitals** often have child-development, paediatric and rehabilitation departments with free or very low-cost services.
- A **disability certificate** through your district hospital can open access to government schemes, scholarships and aids.

**2. Use what you already have — your home is therapy too.**
The single most powerful daily intervention is responsive interaction: talking, naming, singing, taking turns, and following your child's lead during everyday routines like bathing, eating and play. WHO's *Nurturing Care* approach shows this everyday stimulation genuinely moves a child's development forward, at no cost.

**3. Ask before you assume.**
Many families do not ask about support simply because they feel embarrassed. Please ask — about sliding scales, group sessions, tele-therapy (which removes travel cost), and any community or charitable support near you.

## The Pinnacle way
AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional — never from an app or a form. With **70+ centres across 4 states** and tele-therapy reaching families far from a centre, we work to bring early support within reach for rural and low-resource families too. Start by understanding where your child stands with [the AbilityScore®](/ask/what-is-the-abilityscore-and-how-is-it-calculated), explore [speech therapy](https://www.pinnacleblooms.org/top-speech-therapy-center-india-proven-improvement-rate) and other support, and talk to us honestly about cost at [your first step](/).

## Trusted sources
WHO and UNICEF *Nurturing Care Framework* on low-cost, home-based early stimulation; WHO guidance on early childhood development; Rehabilitation Council of India on disability support and certification pathways.

**Next step —** Don't let cost cause delay — speak to a Pinnacle team member today about an assessment and the support options open to your family.

This is general information, not a diagnosis — individual assessment and diagnosis require an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.

## Sources
- WHO–UNICEF Nurturing Care Framework: low-cost early childhood development: https://nurturing-care.org
- WHO guidance on early childhood development and care: https://www.who.int
- Rehabilitation Council of India: disability support pathways: https://rehabcouncil.nic.in

## Connected topics and perspectives
- Parent: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/stakeholder/parent
- Support: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/intent/support
- Screen: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/lifecycle/screen
- Book Assessment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/route/book-assessment
- Family Empowerment: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/lens/empowerment/family_empowerment

## Related question paths

### Explore therapy & support
- Where to find therapy help with no money: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/where-can-i-find-help-if-my-child-needs-therapy-but-we-have-no-money
- Are there free or low-cost therapy options for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/are-there-free-or-low-cost-therapy-options-for-my-child
- What support exists for low-income families needing therapy?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-support-exists-for-low-income-families-needing-therapy
- Free & low-cost help for developmental delay in India: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-free-or-low-cost-help-is-available-for-a-child-with-developmental-delay-in-india
- Where can I find free or low-cost developmental support for my child?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/where-can-i-find-free-or-low-cost-developmental-support-for-my-child
- What financial help or schemes are available for my child's therapy in India?: https://pinnacleblooms.org/ask/what-financial-help-or-schemes-are-available-for-my-child-s-therapy-in-india