Adopting Children with Developmental Disabilities

by Child Welfare Information Gateway

The estimates of children who are awaiting adoption (legally free) indicate that anywhere between 30 - 50% have a developmental disability. However, these children are not a homogeneous group. Their physical, cognitive and social characteristics may differ considerably. Each child's diagnosis and/or classification are coupled with their individual uniqueness. Children with developmental disabilities, like all children, benefit from the love and stability that come from belonging to permanent families.

Families adopting children with developmental disabilities often have different motivations from those adopting healthy infants. Couples faced with infertility, who choose adoption as an option, are looking for a healthy baby and the opportunity to create their family. However, adoptive parents seeking children with disabilities have different goals and characteristics. These adoptive parents tend to already have large families with many biological children and/or other adopted or foster children. They see themselves as successful parents equipped with the special skills necessary to parent a "challenged" child. These adoptive families also tend to have had previous experience with health care professionals, school systems and administrators that helps them to navigate systems to advocate on behalf of their children. The parents know from their personal experience that every child is different and that all children have at least one difficulty - some are just more serious than others. The motivation shifts for these families from wanting to adopt infants to form a family to providing for the quality of life for additional family members.

Families who have adopted children with developmental disabilities talk about the "incredible joy" the children bring to them. They describe them as having enriched their families in ways they could never have imagined. Parents derive tremendous satisfaction from helping their child make developmental gains and each accomplishment is a cause for celebration. However, parents must also balance the fine line between following their protective instincts and helping their child achieve greater independence.

What Is a Developmental Disability?

According to the Federal Developmental Disabilities Act of 1984, Public Law 98-527, Sec. 102(7), a developmental disability is a severe, chronic disability which:

• is attributable to a mental or physical impairment or combination of mental and physical impairments;
• is manifested before age 22;
• is likely to continue indefinitely;
• results in substantial functional limitations in three or more areas;
• reflects the person's need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic care, treatment, or other services which are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.

Within each disability there is a range in conditions from mild to severe. Several handicapping conditions are most associated with developmental disabilities - two of which, mental retardation and cerebral palsy affect the most children with the greatest severity.

Types of Disabilities

Mental Retardation

Mental retardation is impaired or incomplete mental development. Usually a lifelong condition occurring at or near birth, it may be treated through educational techniques, but is not cured. More than 200 specific causes of mental retardation have been identified; together they account for less than half of all cases, underscoring the need for greater knowledge in this field.

There are four classes of mental retardation: mild, moderate, severe, and profound. People who have mild mental retardation and function in the educable range can achieve competitive employment on a semiskilled or unskilled level with minimal support. They may need guidance in crisis situations, but can participate as fully contributing members of society in the mainstream of community life with jobs, independent living, cars and their own families.

People who have moderate mental retardation and function in the trainable range may achieve self-maintenance in unskilled or semiskilled work under sheltered conditions. They need supervision and guidance when under mild social or economic stress and must live in group homes, family situations or assisted living settings.

People who have severe mental retardation may contribute partially to self-maintenance under complete supervision. They can develop self-protection skills to a minimally useful level in a controlled environment.

People who have profound mental retardation have some motor and speech development. They may achieve limited self-care and need nursing care.

Down Syndrome

Down syndrome is a form of mental retardation in which the child is born with an extra chromosome. It occurs in approximately 1 of every 800 births. There are more than 50 characteristics that identify a child with Down syndrome - the most prominent being slanted eyes, short stature, and poor muscle tone. No child has all 50 characteristics, and, contrary to popular thinking, very few have severe mental retardation.

Children with Down syndrome exhibit a wide range of mental development with most in the mildly to moderately delayed category. They commonly have respiratory infections and congenital heart disease. Fortunately, many heart defects are treatable now; some even can be corrected without surgery.

Current research with computers shows that children with Down syndrome understand more than they verbalize. This may mean that there is a vast, untapped potential that can be explored and nurtured, since it is known that learning in these children continues through adolescence. In addition, there is evidence that as more children with Down syndrome are raised in families where they receive individual attention, they will accomplish more than once thought possible.

About the Author

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Formerly the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.