Divorcing with A Child with Special Needs? Get the Right Support

When you’re divorcing with children, one of the complex issues you may run into is how to share custody of a child with a disability. Children with disabilities may require specific, specialized care that you have to plan for carefully.

When deciding on the custody arrangements for a child with a disability, it’s important for you and your spouse to talk clearly about your expectations. If your child is relatively immobile, for example, having them go back and forth between homes may be difficult. If they’re prone to infections or illnesses, you may need to include verbiage to be more flexible with scheduling if anyone falls ill.

When you’re setting up the custody agreement, one thing to consider doing is talking to your child’s health care provider. They may have good insight on how to get you duplicates of specific pieces of medical equipment or extra prescriptions for your child. They may be able to help with in-home nursing assignments or caregiving issues that you didn’t have to worry about in the past.

It may also be beneficial to talk to your child’s school about what’s happening and how you want to address their education and scheduling. If you’re planning to have your child go to school and come home to the same place or to switch homes bi-weekly, for example, then the school needs to know.

Divorcing with a child with special needs is not simple, but if you take the time to work out a solid parenting plan, then you can make it work. Your attorney will be there to assist you as you go through this challenge.