66 | Navigating Divorce with Special Needs Children: Expert Insights and Practical Strategies

Discover how to navigate one of life's most challenging transitions with expert guidance from Mary Ann Hughes, a certified divorce coach specializing in special needs cases. Mary Ann opens up about her personal experiences raising two sons on the autism spectrum and dealing with her own unexpected divorce. Her journey led her to create Special Family Transitions, a company dedicated to supporting families like hers. Mary Ann shares her unique approach that combines individualized coaching, parent coordination, and mediation to ensure the best possible outcomes for all family members.

In our conversation, we explore the critical considerations for parents of special needs children during a divorce. Mary Ann highlights the importance of assessing both current and future resources, such as educational and post-high school programs, and the necessity of a collaborative team approach. Learn why involving divorce coaches, family law attorneys with special needs expertise, estate planning attorneys, special needs financial planners, and mental health professionals is crucial. We also delve into the complexities of planning for guardianship and managing government benefits like SSI to safeguard your child's future without jeopardizing their eligibility for essential services.

Prepare for life after divorce with practical strategies and organizational tips drawn from Mary Ann's expertise. She emphasizes viewing divorce as a fresh start and maintaining a cooperative mindset to achieve the best resolution for everyone involved. Discover the benefits of using specialized apps like Our Family Wizard and Talking Parents for communication and financial tracking, and get Mary Ann's advice on preparing financial information statements and organizing documentation for legal proceedings. This episode is packed with essential advice and encouragement for navigating divorce with special needs children, making it a must-listen for any parent in a similar situation.

Mary Ann Hughes is a Certified Special Needs Divorce Coach based in Houston, TX after having gone through her own divorce in 2021 while raising two sons with autism. You can find her at the following:

Special Family Transitions Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/specialfamilytransitions

Special Family Transitions on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/specialfamilytransitions/

Special Family Transitions YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@specialfamilytransitions
TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@SpecialFamilyTransitions

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mary-ann-hughes-special-family-transitions
Private Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/share/ySCgrxoigYUpkNUD/?mibextid=K35XfP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQtGlyZwCUI

The special needs divorce success strategies course she mentioned: https://bit.ly/DivorceTipsForMoms

Hey Listeners:

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