Adopting Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Long-Term Perspective*

摘要: Adopting Children with Developmental Disabilities: A Long-Term Perspective* Long-term maternal adjustment to the adoption of children developmental disabilities was studied in a sample 123 adoptive families using multiple measures including depression, marital satisfaction and others. Conclusions were that generally positive over an approximately 11-year period, regardless family demographic or child characteristics. Moreover, subsequently-adopted comparable earlier adopted children. These results suggest policy practice should promote disabilities, be flexible regard characteristics, placing same home. Key Words: adoption, longitudinal research, adoptions. Tommy born fetal alcohol syndrome. During first 2 1/2 years his life, he removed from returned birth mother several times. Despite repeated attempts stay sober, her alcoholism led neglect Tommy; she frequently left him at home, alone unattended. The Thompsons last series relatively short-term foster placements. did well their care they enjoyed having him. When Tommy's mother's parental rights terminated, informed social worker interest adopting Jill Down syndrome parents who married had two other diagnosed almost immediately after birth. Her not feel adequately prepared for raising special needs, but concerned Jill's welfare contacted agency themselves. They pleased learn interested waiting adopt instrumental choosing daughter, wanting reared loving stable environment. picked up hospital as soon ready release. [Case studies names changed]. are examples special-needs disabilities. physical, sensory, and/or cognitive impairments severe enough individuals have them expected need lifelong support services-educational, residential, occupational, medical (Coleman, 1993). Data on is scanty, just data most aspects adoption. Nonetheless, estimates United States, 50% legally free awaiting least one disability (Knoll, 1995; National Adoption Center, 1997). Many these spend even entire childhoods substitute care, ensuing emotional behavioral problems consequence (Kramer & Houston, 1998). Historically, considered unadoptable (Bohman, 1970; Kornitzer, 1952; Wolkomir, 1947). However, changing ideology work, decreasing availability healthy young increasing numbers placements began made evaluated. evaluations demonstrated marked success Different investigators, methodology varying large case record evaluation smaller face-to-face interview, came conclusion. There few disruptions dissolutions, adoptions high (Coyne Brown, 1985; Glidden, 1989, 1991; Glidden Cahill, 1998; Johnson, 1999; Parsley, 1989; Valliere, Herbert, 1988; Goetting Goetting, 1993a, 1993b, 1994; Lightburn Pine, 1996; Marx, 1990; Nelson, Rosenthal Groze, 1990, 1992; Rosenthal, Aguilar, Todis Singer, 1991). …