Special needs, disability and neurodivergence

Special needs, disability and neurodivergence: what are the options?

Parents usually land on one of these 3 approaches.

1. 1. Not discussed

   You have not talked about it.

2. 2. Principles for work, care and schooling

   You have agreed in general how work, care and schooling would change.

3. 3. Detailed plan if a diagnosis arises

   You would make a specific plan for money, care and schooling if your child is diagnosed.

Special needs, disability and neurodivergence: what does the evidence say?

Your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide.

Present in professional frameworks, near-absent in popular lists

Sources

• Balance Together

What else is worth knowing?

Some children have a disability, a developmental difference such as autism, or a long-term health condition. It can change work, money, schooling and daily life. You cannot plan the details, but you can agree on how you would approach it.

Questions to ask each other

• What worries us, and what would we want to learn?
• How would we change work and money to care for our child?
• Who would we turn to for support?

More in Legal, financial and "what if" planning

• Will and guardian nomination
• Life and disability insurance, beneficiaries, emergency fund
• Prematurity, NICU and birth complications
• Pregnancy loss
• If the child is not who we expected (temperament, interests, ability, gender expression)
• Major life disruptions (job loss, serious illness, death of a parent, ageing grandparents, moving)
• Travel consent, passports and relocation
• If we separate