Navigating a Divorce for Special Needs Families With Mary Ann Hughes

Divorce is never easy, and when there is a child with special needs involved, it can be even more challenging.

Families need support and information to navigate the complexities of special needs divorces to reach the best possible outcome with as little time, money, and stress invested as possible.

Marianne Hughes is the proud mother of two sons on the opposite ends of the autism spectrum. After her divorce journey, where she successfully advocated for her children's needs, Marianne started Special Family Transitions to support families with children with disabilities as a valued Special Needs divorce coach and consultant.

On this episode of Divorce Dialogues, Mary Ann joins Katherine to discuss the special considerations for co-parenting, long-term care, and child support arrangements that do not affect the special needs child's eligibility for public benefits.

Listen in as Mary Ann shares how she supported her children through the social stories she created for them during her divorce and what she thinks is the most critical thing to consider in a special needs divorce. Plus, why focusing on the end goal of the divorce will create the best-case scenario for your special needs child for the long term.

Topics Covered

How to be sure you meet the needs of the special needs child while you are divorcing
Mary Ann's best piece of advice for special needs parents that are in the process of a divorce
How to plan to keep the child from losing their government services, benefits, and SSI
Why it's essential to think about a long-term parenting strategy during the divorce
What is a special needs trust and what are the pros and cons
Why having a team of experts is essential in securing the future for your child with special needs
How to focus on the end goal in the divorce to secure the best-case scenario for your special needs child
How Mary Ann helps her client give their special needs child the best life possible post-divorce

Connect with Mary Ann Hughes

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

Connect with Katherine Miller

The Center for Understanding Conflict: http://understandinginconflict.org/
Miller Law Group: https://westchesterfamilylaw.com/
Katherine on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kemiller1
The New Yorker’s Guide to Collaborative Divorce by Katherine Miller: https://www.amazon.com/New-Yorkers-Guide-Collaborative-Divorce/dp/0692496246
Email: [email protected]
Call (914) 738-7765

Resources

Special Family Transitions on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChI4BaUMGf50O2yPE_YnjFA
LoneStar LEND SLP: Self Care To Support Neurodiverse Children in Divorce on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xi745v_pd8