1.
Divorces are tough on everyone, but
they can present special challenges
for children with disabilities.
Divorce agreements involving children
with disabilities can be particularly
complex.
Not only are there more decisions to
make, but each decision tends to be
more complicated.

2.
Children with disabilities often need
more stable environments than
other children.
Even minor adjustments to routines
can cause emotional disturbances.
Since a divorce can cause major
disruptions, it’s critical to work even
harder to foster stability and
steadfast support.

3.
Since stable routines are critical,
transitions between homes can
present problems.
Extra emphasis should be placed on
maintaining established pick up
locations and times.
Longer visits with each parent are
preferable to short and erratic visits.
Ensuring similar routines in each
household helps to minimize stress.

4.
Providing appropriate social outlets
for children with disabilities can be
challenging.
Coordination between parents is even
more critical when overcoming
barriers to inclusion.
It’s important to know who is
supervising activities and whether
children without disabilities are
involved.

5.
Parents with special needs children may have to make sensitive medical decisions.
Parents must decide who will make those decisions and how they will share
information about medical situations.
They must also agree on procedures for administering medication, making
appointments, and granting consent to perform invasive procedures.

6.
Caring for children with disabilities
can place extraordinary burdens on
parents.
If the child lives with one parent, the
strain of providing specialized
assistance can be overwhelming.
It may be necessary to find specially
qualified caregivers to relieve
overburdened parents.

7.
Children with disabilities often have
special educational needs.
It’s important to determine which
parent will make decisions about the
child’s education.
There should be a procedure for
dealing with disagreements if
decisions are shared.
Both parents should work to ensure
the child is enrolled in special classes
and arrives on time.

8.
It’s important to help children with disabilities make the transition to adulthood.
Even though parents are divorced, they should discuss continuing education
opportunities, future employment options, and long-term life goals.
Every effort should be made to ensure the divorce doesn’t affect the child’s
prospects for independence.

9.
Since 2003, the McFarling Law Group has been committed to
helping spouses, parents, and children through the practice of
family law. As a certified divorce lawyer in Las Vegas, Emily
McFarling, Esq. has successfully represented clients in all areas
of family law, including prenuptial agreements, divorce
proceedings, spousal support issues, and child custody cases.
For more information, please visit www.mcfarlinglaw.com.