Special Needs

What does “special needs” mean?

For many people the term “special needs” means a child who receives or needs special medical treatment or who has a disability of some sort. In adoption, the term is defined differently and may include several factors.

In general, children with special needs are those who:

  • Have physical or health problems
  • Are older
  • Have a history of abuse, neglect, or emotional problems
  • Are a part of a sibling group
  • Test positive for HIV, or other serious illness
  • Have certain conditions that may lead to future problems
  • Had prenatal exposure to drugs or alcohol

    • Reduced Adoption Fees: If the child you are adopting has moderate to severe special needs there may be a fee reduction available to you. This is determined on a case-by-case basis.

    Children available for adoption may have one or more of the following disorders:

  • Bone, Muscle, and Joint Conditions: Cerebral Palsy, Club Foot, Dwarfism,  Hernia, Hip Dysplasia, Radial Club Hand, Rickets
  • Digestive Conditions: Failure to Thrive, Feeding and Swallowing Issues
  • Ear, Eye, and Head Conditions: Blindness, Cataracts, Cleft Lip-Palate, Deafness-Hearing Loss, Glaucoma
  • Heart or Blood Disorders: Diabetes, Heart Defects, Hemophilia, Lead Exposure, Thalassemia, Turner’s Syndrome
  • Neurological Disorders: Hydrocephalus, Seizure Disorders, Spina Bifida
  • Infectious Diseases: Hepatitis B, Tuberculosis, HIV
  • Reproductive and Urological Conditions: Hypospadias, Undescended Testes
  • Skin Conditions: Burns, Albinism, Hemangioma

    •  
    Waiting Children: Currently we have several children that have special needs waiting for adoption. Please contact Christie Ingram for more information.