In the Forum: Support Past 19

As kids with special needs become adults, their parents may be faced with lots of challenges: making sure finances don't exceed limits to keep services available; dealing with the end of school supports; filing paperwork to be able to keep control over their adult children's medical care and finances; and looking for employment and lodging appropriate to the young person's abilities, to name a few.

For some parents, there's an additional challenge: The end of child support from a former spouse who's unwilling to continue providing financial help despite the young person's inability to be self-supporting.

Ending child support at a particular age may make sense for "normal" children, whoever they are, but for children with special needs there is no easy point at which the birdie leaves the nest. A poster on the Parenting Special Needs Forum is facing this dilemma, and asks: "I am contemplating lobbying the law makers to change this but am curious if my ex is just the only jerk around or if others may have a spouse who just writes off their child because it might cost something financially."

If you have some thoughts on this situation, visit the forum and share your views and support.