Divorce & Children w Special Needs

This month, Ben and Heather were joined by experienced  clinical psychologist Warwick McClelland to talk about divorce and separation when children with special needs are involved.  Topics covered include:Talking to children with neurodiversity about divorce and separation.Types of living arrangements post-divorce that work best for children with special needs.How the Family Court decides parenting arrangements for families with special needs children.How Court decisions for special needs children impact on siblings.How parents can help special needs children adapt to new living arrangements.Parentification and whether this is more common in solo parent households.How Courts determine who has the right to make medical decisions for a special needs child.Whether parents have a right to dispute medical decisions made by their ex-partner.Episode note (important): This episode was recorded before changes to Australia’s family law parenting provisions commenced on 6 May 2024. The way the Court approaches “best interests of the child” and related parenting concepts has been updated since this recording, so some legal references in this episode may now be out of date. Please seek current legal advice and refer to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and Attorney-General’s Department resources for the latest information.