Abstract: ObjectiveTo evaluate family economic burden of children with autism, or with physical disability or with intellectual disability.Methods227 parents of children with autism, children with physical disability, children with intellectual disability and normal children were interviewed for their family economic burden.ResultsThe medical cost and caring cost of children with disability were significantly more than those of normal children, and the education cost, clothes cost and amusement cost of children with disability were significantly less than those of normal children. Family income was only affected by education level of parents. Families of children with disability received more economic assistance than families of normal children except families of autistic children. More children the family had, less economic assistance the family acquired. Compared with normal children, the family economic burden of children with disability were as following, children with autism (19582.4 RMB per year), children with physical disability (16410.1 RMB per year), children with intellectual disability (6391.0 RMB per year). ConclusionFamilies of children with autism, children with physical disability and children with intellectual disability had heavier economic burden than families of normal children.

Key words: autism, physical disability, intellectual disability, family economic burden