Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Ann Hughes.
Mary, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m a mom of two amazing sons on opposite ends of the autism spectrum. When I was unexpectedly faced with divorce after 21 years of marriage, I had to figure out how to advocate for my kids’ short- and long-term needs. I’m proud to share that I did get a great result for my kids, but it was a long, hard road getting there. So, I decided to take the knowledge I gained to help other special needs families through the process, to save them time, money, and emotional energy. I formed Special Family Transitions and became a Certified Divorce and Transition Coach. I’m proud of the work I am doing to support families through the overwhelm and complexities of divorce involving a child with a disability.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There were many challenges I had to face and overcome in my divorce, so it certainly wasn’t an easy or smooth process. I had to figure out how to help my kids cope with the changes in their life. I also had to figure out how to pull together the information and resources I needed to successfully advocate for my children’s needs. And I had to find the strength to get through the divorce and plan for a bright future for me and my kids.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I specialize in helping parents, mostly moms, with children with autism or other disabilities when they are facing divorce, so they can best advocate for themselves and their children in the process.
I am the only Certified Divorce Coach exclusively focused on helping families with children with special needs.
My divorce journey set me on a path to help others, so they wouldn’t have to re-create the wheel and spend the time, money, and energy I did in my divorce trying to figure out how to advocate for the needs of a special needs child.
Working with someone who has been there and understands what it takes to be successful helps tremendously, can save thousands of dollars in legal fees, and can put you on a path to a brighter future. I help clients through 1:1 sessions, a low-priced 1-hour course I developed, and through information and resources, I share on social media.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Seeing my kids happy, seeing them set a goal and reach it, and seeing the fruits of my labor and their efforts in terms of the progress my kids have achieved, such as their recent graduation from their respective programs, brings me incredible joy.
It also makes me happy to see how far I have come over the years, how I have taken the adversity I faced and turned that into a fulfilling career where I can help others and my contributions and efforts are valued and appreciated, as I not only make a difference in the lives of other special needs families, but also serve as a role model to my children.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.specialfamilytransitions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/specialfamilytransitions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/specialfamilytransitions
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-ann-hughes-602020183
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@specialfamilytransitions
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@SpecialFamilyTransitions
