Special Needs Adoptions Can Bring

Joy and Love to Your Family

Consider special needs adoptions if you are thinking at all of growing your family. The absolute joy of giving a child a warm and loving home, with the chance to be happy and loved cannot be described with any kind of justification.

It is, of course, not all about you. Every child regardless of physical, developmental, or emotional abilities deserves care and love and a chance to give life all they’ve got, and if you have the chance to give that to a child with a special needs adoption, then I say – go for it!

OK, Ok, sounds wonderful – but what do you know about adopting? Your kids are all your own, aren’t they? To start with, I was adopted. And truth be known, my oldest is actually my step-daughter. So, I do know something about it from my own personal experience, but this is only meant to introduce the idea of a special needs adoption. Then I can send you to the experts!

What do you need to know before you start looking around in an orphanage, or signing up to as foster parents? If you have experience raising special kids, then you know what to expect and can certainly prepare accordingly. If you do not have any experience at all with special needs children, I suggest you do as much research (start with this site) as you can, get involved with programs in your community that support special needs children and families. Talk with other parents so that you know what the challenges are and you know that you are willing to accept them.

Remember, this is a lifelong commitment and not a puppy you can take back to the store. The rewards can be greater than you could possibly imagine, but my advice here is to know what you are getting into with a special needs adoption – BEFORE you do it.

Volunteer to babysit for families raising special kids. Talk to the parents and tell them what you are thinking about and see what advice they have for you. Do you have a good medical insurance policy? Special needs children, by nature, come with large medical expenses. Can you afford to do this? Children are expensive – period! Now that is probably the most profound thing I have said on this whole page!

My idea of the ultimate birth control is to let a couple take care of a 3 to 4 year old for a few days. Now add some physical, emotional or developmental challenges and you could have an unsuspecting young couple running to the monastery to take their vows! Be prepared and know what you are getting yourself and your family into before you are committed.

I am not trying to discourage anyone from a special needs adoption. As I said, every child deserves a loving home, but knowledge and preparation can make a huge difference in making your loving home a happy home as well. And there is no substitute for experience. I am sure there are parents out there who are raising special kids that need a little break and would be happy to “lend” you their child (go for it – take them all!) or children for some “on the job” experience. It is certainly one way to know if you are really ready for it.


Here is where to find the expert on adoption. Connie McKenzie's site covers all aspects of adoption and her family's own personal experience.

Child Adoption Matters by Connie McKenzie


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