Definition: Specially Blended Families - It is likely you've heard about blended families, those created by a marriage or domestic partnership between adults with children from previous marriages. Blended families "blend" family cultures that are sometimes quite different.
"Specially blended families" also blend different characteristics. A specially blended family is a family with at least one parent, foster parent, or guardian and both children with disabilities and without disabilities. Specially blended families may include biological, adopted, and / or step children.
Like blended families, specially blended families face similar challenges as they strive to meet needs of individuals and the family as a whole.
Examples:
Mr. and Mrs. Jones have three children. One of the children has bipolar disorder, but the other two children have no disabilities.
