When children have special needs, the first battle is grasping what those special needs are and how to meet them.

The second battle is meeting the costs associated with them. This challenge is generally even greater in families “broken up” by divorce or separation.

Ignorance can be very costly to parents and children.

And there are many financial, educational and social benefits for special needs kids, but parents may have to ferret them out.

One important tool that is likely indispensable to a child with special needs is a special needs trust.

A parent with a special needs child needs a support network consisting of many professionals who provide services to their child – including a good financial planner and attorney familiar with special needs planning.

Read more in this Kiplinger article: Planning for Your Disabled Child.