Divorce is challenging and disorienting in the best of circumstances, and these issues are heightened when the family unit includes persons with special needs or disabilities that call for additional consideration or caregiving beyond what is required for typically developing children.

Benefits and resources to support the special needs child, the other children and parents themselves can be hard to find and often have complicated eligibility requirements and/or long wait times, or, if privately funded, are extremely expensive.

Laws, rules, and practices with respect to parenting and how the issues of divorce are handled also vary widely from state to state, and even within a state from locality to locality. In these circumstances, it is critical that clients create the right team to advise them, support them, and help them navigate the myriad decisions they face.

A qualified special needs divorce coach can bring enormous value to their clients by: 

• Sharing information about resources and benefits,
• Helping the client identify and explain the ways their child’s needs differ from those of typically developing children,
• Curating a list of professionals with the qualifications, experience and heart to best serve them, and
• Joining networks of other professionals to assist clients who reside in other localities.

When parents of a special needs child and other children without special needs decide to divorce, there are several important issues that may arise, which require special consideration and planning. These issues can vary depending on the specific needs of the child and the circumstances of the divorce, but here are some of the most important concerns:

1. Emotional and Psychological Support for all  family members
2. Custody and Parenting Time maybe challenging depending on the the special needs child and any other children is crucial.
3. Specialized Education, IEPs, and Therapy. Health Insurance and Medical Expenses.
4. Maintaining a support network for the special needs child, which may include therapists, doctors, and other caregivers, can be challenging during a divorce. Coordinating these networks is crucial for the child’s well-being.
5. Consistency and cooperation between parents can minimize disruptions in the child’s life.
6. Maintaining positive sibling relationships between the special needs child and any siblings without special needs is essential.
7. Creating a transition plan for the special needs child, especially if they are nearing adulthood, is crucial.

Modules In CDC Special Needs Divorce Coach Training and Certification Include:

1. The Role of the Special Needs Divorce Coach
2. 10 What To Do’s and What Not To Do’s
3. Co-Parenting Special Needs Children and Siblings
4. Parallel Parenting and Other High Conflict Strategies
5. Amicable and High Conflict Divorce: Tools-Techniques
6. Planning for the Present and the Future
7. Creating the Right Team to Serve your Clients
8. Developing Your Visibility in Special Needs Divorce