Going through a divorce when children are involved is a challenging undertaking. It becomes even more challenging when you have a child who has special needs. The unique needs of the child must be a central factor in all decisions made for the parenting plan. There are several categories that might need to be decided upon.

First, the parenting time schedule must be set depending on the ability of each parent to provide the care the child needs. Children who have specialized medical equipment may need someone who is trained on the usage. If both parents aren't, one parent might have to assume primary responsibilities. The other parent would either need to go through the training or have their time with the child with the other parent nearby.

Second, the decision-making process for the child must be set. This is especially important if there are often split-second decisions, such as those surrounding medical care, that must be made. It must be clear who will make which decisions for the kids. Think about medical, school and similar decisions that might come up while your child is a minor.

Third, long-term care plans might be necessary because some children who have special needs will need care for life. Determining how this will occur and how each parent will support the child can help take the guesswork out of the situation.

You also need to consider things like transportation for the child and how the care team will handle the custody situation. For example, determine whether each parent will have a team or if the same team will rotate between homes. All the decisions you make should be included in the parenting plan.