Did you know that 40 to 50 percent of marriages in the United States end in divorce? Those are staggering numbers, but it’s true. Making any marriage work is challenging. However, special needs couples face unique challenges that are specific to their conditions. Here’s how these lovers make their marriages work.
Focusing on Possibilities
It’s important for special needs individuals, married or otherwise, to not create a life centered around their disabilities. This can lead to depression, anxiety, and anger. Instead, the goal is to focus on the abilities they possess.
Just like anyone else, these individuals are capable of numerous talents and abilities. Special needs couples should share in and support these in their partner. If limitations do arise, then it’s important for partners to support one another and help each other refocus on the possibilities in life.
Put in the Work
Just like any marriage, special needs couples have to put in the effort that makes a marriage work. Clear lines of communications, affection, and care for one another is essential in any marriage. It takes determination to keep a union happy and functional.
For special needs couples, the effort put into the relationship can take on a few different forms. Unfortunately, discrimination is still a critical issue that many individuals with disabilities face, just ask the ADA defense attorneys at Karlin Law. Helping each other through adversity is also a critical component in making a marriage work.
Keeping the In-Laws at Bay
Couples without special needs often have enough trouble keeping their parents from being overprotective and invasive. When children have special needs, these two aspects of parenting are even more difficult to shed.
While it’s important for parents to be supportive, every couple needs to know where their boundaries are drawn. Special needs couples need to communicate their need for independence a little louder than most.
Proper Living Arrangements
For many special needs couples, adapting a home to meet their needs is a vital part of the process. This is especially true for those who have physical challenges that need met. Homes ill equipped with these items or aids can quickly lead to personal injury. At the same time, couples often require a little support for their day-to-day needs.
Discussing Expectations
Everyone has ideas on marriage and expectations about a partner. Special needs couples will also have to talk about kids, finances, intimacy, and care for one another. It’s also important for these individuals to talk with their specialist about some of these aspects.
Not everyone with special needs is physically capable of having children. At the same time, sexual needs and capabilities may vary from one person to the next. Discussing these together and with specialists ensures a healthy, happy marriage.
Be Prepared for Illness
Finally, couples need to be aware of each other’s medical needs and understand what complications the future might hold. Having an honest conversation about current medical needs is vital, but couples also need to understand that further medical issues may arise. This is another conversation worth having with one another’s specialists.
