What do we mean when we say a child has "Special Needs?"
The words “Special Needs” may be a bit scary or troubling to parents who are seeking to build their family through adoption. But we encourage you to set aside any preconceived ideas about these children because each child’s situation is unique. Consider the following categories or degrees of special needs:
Minor special needs
There are some children waiting for homes who are young, basically healthy, and developmentally normal, but who have a minor medical or cosmetic problem that will not limit the child or your family.
Fixable special needs
There are also many children available for adoption who are developmentally normal, but who have a medical or orthopedic problem that is not minor, but is fixable with surgery. Often these are children who will have no special needs at all after the initial surgery or procedure. The most common fixable medical need is a cleft lip or cleft lip and palate. Most of these children will be healthy and normal in every way after their clefts are repaired, though they may need orthodontics and speech therapy..
Manageable special needs
On the lists of waiting children we will frequently see a child with on orthopedic or medical special need that is not minor, nor fixable, but is easily manageable and which will not significantly affect the child’s or your family’s quality of life. An example would be a child who is smart and delightful, but who is missing a finger, or who has a deformed ear, or who is deaf in one ear or blind in one eye. Some children have tested positive for Hepatitis B; others have diabetes or severe asthma or other manageable conditions.
Older healthy children
Many perfectly healthy children have been placed on the special needs lists simply because they are older (age 7-13.) If a couple is older than 55, often the CCAA will allow them to adopt one or more older children.
More significant special needs.
Of course there are also children on the lists who have more profound medical needs or who have developmental delays. Many very special families have chosen to adopt one or more of these very special children and have found a great blessing in the experience.
Minor special needs
There are some children waiting for homes who are young, basically healthy, and developmentally normal, but who have a minor medical or cosmetic problem that will not limit the child or your family.
Fixable special needs
There are also many children available for adoption who are developmentally normal, but who have a medical or orthopedic problem that is not minor, but is fixable with surgery. Often these are children who will have no special needs at all after the initial surgery or procedure. The most common fixable medical need is a cleft lip or cleft lip and palate. Most of these children will be healthy and normal in every way after their clefts are repaired, though they may need orthodontics and speech therapy..
Manageable special needs
On the lists of waiting children we will frequently see a child with on orthopedic or medical special need that is not minor, nor fixable, but is easily manageable and which will not significantly affect the child’s or your family’s quality of life. An example would be a child who is smart and delightful, but who is missing a finger, or who has a deformed ear, or who is deaf in one ear or blind in one eye. Some children have tested positive for Hepatitis B; others have diabetes or severe asthma or other manageable conditions.
Older healthy children
Many perfectly healthy children have been placed on the special needs lists simply because they are older (age 7-13.) If a couple is older than 55, often the CCAA will allow them to adopt one or more older children.
More significant special needs.
Of course there are also children on the lists who have more profound medical needs or who have developmental delays. Many very special families have chosen to adopt one or more of these very special children and have found a great blessing in the experience.