Sometimes a child is released for adoption for reasons other than disability and it is only after they have been welcomed by their new family that a developmental delay, physical or intellectual disability is diagnosed. Lack of adequate prenatal care for the birth mother, prematurity, birth injury, neglect or abuse may cause a child to face challenges that are not recognizable until later in childhood.
Adoptive families may or may not be aware of a child's likely challenges when they find the son or daughter who completes or helps build their family. Some are open to amazing children who are born with a diagnosis like Down syndrome, cerebral palsy or spina bifida due to their religious beliefs, altruism, or because they already have a child with the same diagnosis. Some families whose adopted son or daughter develops or is diagnosed with a pre-existing disability find it as difficult to accept the child as a birth parent who releases a child born with a condition diagnosed prenatally or at birth.
Like birth parents who are surprised by a later diagnosis, adoptive and foster parents can feel that there are adults better suited to raising a child with a disability than they ever will be. Most are unaware that raising a typically developing son or daughter can at times be almost too complicated, overwhelming or heartbreaking to bear.
It is a shame when we fail to recognize the love and concern of parents who release their child for adoption, and also when we accept the illusion that adoptive parents are magically better suited to dealing with the crises and challenges of raising children, including those with special needs. Being a parent is a life-long commitment that does not come easily for anyone. There are very good people who release their child for adoption, and of course abusive and neglectful parents who do not. Some adoptive parents and some birth parents are absolutely awful at parenting; some are amazingly competent; most are in the middle muddling through the best we can with the occasional great accomplishment or dreadful mistake.
I am always happy to read that open adoptions of children with disabilities are on the rise, as are open adoptions in general. Families who release their children into other's care never forget they have a son or daughter in the world and otherwise have a longing to know how the child is getting along, and adopted children can remain connected with siblings and their extended birth families as they grow up.
We are fortunate in the modern world to have such a diversity of families in every neighborhood. Every child deserves all the love and support we can give them
Browse at your local bookstore, public library, art store or online retailer for books about Childhood Disability
or Adoption and Disability
.Adoption Resources Online
National Down Syndrome Adoption Network
http://ndsan.org/
Special Needs Adoption Resources Family Village
http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/frc_adpt.htm
Adoption Website at BellaOnline.com
http://www.bellaonline.com/site/adoption
National Child Welfare Resource Center for Adoption
NCWRCA Resources
http://www.nrcadoption.org/resources/index.htm
NCWRCA Partner Sites
http://www.nrcadoption.org/nrc/partner.htm
AdoptUsKids.org
http://www.adoptuskids.org
Spanish Adopte1.org AdoptUsKids.org
http://www.adopte1.org
Adoption of children with Down syndrome on the rise
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/08/AR2008110802462_pf.html/
Family claims Sacramento County violated disabled child's rights
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/01/19/5125412/family-claims-sacramento-county.html
