When I first faced divorce as a special needs mom several years ago, I desperately searched for resources to help me figure out how to deal with the overwhelm and complexities of a divorce involving children with autism.  I did not have much luck finding professionals who could help me navigate the process, and who could provide support to my kids who also needed help and reassurance during the changes our family was going through.

I eventually was able to get the information I needed, and got a great result for my family, but it took so much time, money, and effort to get there. I decided the knowledge I gained shouldn’t go to waste, and that I would help other parents facing similar challenges, so they wouldn’t have to recreate the wheel and go through the stresses and hardships that I had to endure.

So I created Special Family Transitions and became a Special Needs Divorce Coach to support families going through divorce, so they could have the knowledge and confidence to advocate for themselves and their loved ones with disabilities and unique challenges.

When I tell people I’m a Special Needs Divorce Coach, they say “Wow, that’s a pretty niche field”. And for those who have been through a special needs divorce, they say “I wish you were around when I was going through my divorce”. I’ve had so many moms of children with special needs thank me for the work I am doing.

And that’s why I do what I do. Going through divorce is hard enough, but when a child with special challenges is involved, and you have to plan not just for the short term, but the long term as well, it makes it extra complicated and stressful.

I’m here to provide a roadmap, reassurance, and support, when special needs parents are struggling with what to do and how to help their kids in the process. From the free information I share on social media, to the low-priced online mini-course I put together, to individualized 1:1 coaching, I’m honored to help families find their way and get the best result they can for themselves and their children during divorce and beyond.

As a first-time entrepreneur and coach, I had to figure out how to gain the information and credibility to be able to help others, and have others trust me. I had over 20 years of experience “in the trenches”, being a mom of two kids on opposite ends of the autism spectrum. However, I never thought about divorce till I had to personally go through it, from experiencing the depths of despair, to coming out of it as a more confident, resilient, and driven person, committed to helping myself, my children, and others through the process.

So I learned all I could about coaching, self-development, and divorce, not just on my own, but by learning from experts in the field. I took several certification courses in divorce and coaching, and joined organizations to continue to learn and share my knowledge.

I’m proud that over the last several years, I’ve worked hard to become a Certified Divorce Specialist, Certified Divorce Coach, Certified Transition & Recovery Coach, Certified Special Needs Divorce Coach, Certified Life Coach, and most recently, a Certified Mediator. And I’m Co-Director of the Special Needs Chapter of the National Association of Divorce Professionals, where I continue to learn and contribute.

But all these certifications alone don’t build your reputation. You have to help people and share your message. And I’m proud to have coached many satisfied paying clients through their special needs divorce challenges, as well as sharing tips and advice in my outreach in person and on social media. It’s an honor to now have people recommend me as the go-to person in my community when facing a special needs divorce.

The vision I had for my life since I was young was that I would go to college, work, get married, have kids, and live happily ever after. And that’s how my life went, until one day, after 21 years of marriage, I found myself unexpectedly facing divorce.

I had a choice, I could just live my life, reminiscing on the past and on what could have been, or I could rediscover myself, learn, and create a new life for myself. I decided to pivot, and I’m so glad I did.

I took the experience I had accumulated over the years, from my business undergraduate and graduate degrees, my years of experience in Fortune 100 companies, my 20 years of learning how to help and advocate for my kids on the autism spectrum, as well as my learnings and experiences in my divorce, and used all that knowledge to find my strength and create my business to make an impact in the lives of other special needs families, as well as my own.

And I’m so glad I did. I went from a Stay-At-Home Mom of 20 years to starting my own business, and now being viewed as a thought leader and expert in the field of special needs divorce.

I share my story and message of hope so others can know they can also change the direction of their lives, if they believe in themselves.