Child adoption is common among families who are infertile and are looking to create a family. However, it must be noted that around 30 -50% of children in these homes have some form of disability. Disabled child adoption is not for everybody as it requires extra money and time to care for their needs. However, adopting disabled children can bring immense happiness and joy to a family, comparable to a healthy child adoption. If a family is wealthy and lives near appropriate medical centers, then while making a decision on child adoption, they should try and look into disabled children for adoption. The love they will get from these children might change their lives in countless ways.

Types of Disabilities While Adopting Disabled Children

As we know, disabled child adoption comes with a variety of complications, but each of these issues differs from child to child. While adopting disabled children, the adopting parents must be aware of the disabilities their child is suffering from and the challenges they will face from these later in life. Some of the most commonly found disabilities in disabled child adoption are listed below:

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

The fetal alcohol syndrome is the most common disability found among disabled children for adoption. These children develop brain malfunctions, behavioral problems, mental retardation and neurological disorders on birth due to their mothers drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Some of these children are so badly affected that their condition continues to deteriorate throughout their lives. Some even develop serious complications much later in life. Adopting special needs children such as these would take good medical facilities nearby and considerable amount of money and time from the adoptive parents.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a form of brain damage that is attributed to a lack of oxygen to the brain. Children with cerebral palsy experience lower muscle control and decreased ability in thinking, expressing, writing and other mental functions. They show a lower degree of intelligence than healthy kids but are equally capable of giving love and enjoying the basic joys of life.

Down Syndrome

Another disorder to look out for while looking at disabled children for adoption is down syndrome. A child suffering from this disability shows mental retardation due to an extra chromosome in them. There are many physically distinguishing characteristics of down syndrome, however, if you are considering adopting special needs children such as these, you must determine the degree of extra care they might require. Some of these children suffer from weak heart conditions that might require hospitalization and surgeries multiple times in their lives.

Financial Assistance for Adopting Special Needs Children

The Government has a number of programs that help families who are interested in disabled children adoption. It is much more expensive for the government to keep children in homes waiting to be adopted than to subsidize child adoption for those interested in these disabled kids. They also recognize that a child has greater potential and growth opportunities within a family than in foster care. Therefore, in most cases, the adoption center will guide you to several places to claim financial assistance for adopting special needs children. It can become extremely expensive to care for these kids and families should take advantage of any form of assistance offered for adopting disabled children.  You will need to contact your State officials and construct an Adoption Assistance Agreement which notes down all the benefits you will receive upon adoption. You may also qualify under the Adoption and Safe Families Act and Medicaid. Working with your adoption center and questioning the right authorities will lead you to the right places to claim appropriate financial assistance for adopting disabled children.

While disabled child adoption might come with its several complications and financial worries, most families who have been through it claim that adopting special needs children is one of the best things they have done in their lives. The amount of love and joy that this child brings to your lives is immeasurable. Most of these children exhibit immense potential when given care and support. Disabled child adoption should be widely encouraged for the betterment of the lives of these children who have so much to give to this world.

References:

1. Adopting Children with Developmental Disabilities – Child Welfare Information Gateway