[blparent] Can blind people adopt?

[Michelle Creedy]

Hi Steve 

Thanks so much for all that wonderful feedback. 

Will you be at convention? I'm looking to connect with as many adoptive
parents as possible. I had my first adoption-related fundraiser last night
in order to raise funds for convention. I'm so excited to be able to come
and learn about all this.

Michelle


-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Steve
Jacobson via blparent
Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2015 8:50 AM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List
Cc: Steve Jacobson
Subject: Re: [blparent] Can blind people adopt?

Alana,

The answer to your question as to whether blind people can adopt is "yes,"
but of course it is not as simple as that.  To my knowledge, it is pretty
rare that a country has an official position against blind people adopting,
and even if that is the case, the definition of "blind" may not be what we
commonly think of here.  Even if a country says it does not permit blind
people to adopt, it may not mean that an adoption agency in this country
might not be able to make it happen.  In recent years, some of the countries
who have traditionally been sources of adoptions have tightened up their
policies.  As I understand it, both Russia and China have tighter policies
now than they did some time back, but not just regarding blind people but
foreign adoptions in general.  

The larger issue is simply whether an adoption agency will consider allowing
one to adopt as a blind person.  If one partner in a relationship has
vision, it is usually easier, but blind couples can definitely adopt
children.  One needs to be persistent and patient.  Not all of the questions
that one is asked are intended to prevent one from adopting.  Social workers
who work with adoption generally do not know how blind people carry out
parenting and the most open social workers will ask many questions just to
understand.  Certainly there is discrimination in adoption, but usually
taking the time to fight such discrimination legally will mean you won't be
able to adopt so most of us who have adopted children did not go that route.

There are many blind people who have adopted kids both from within the
United States and from other foreign countries, and I believe a number of
people on this list have adopted.  Both of my kids came from Korea some
twenty years or more ago.  

I hope this addresses your question.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson


On Sat, 23 May 2015 00:12:09 -0700, Alana Leonhardy via blparent wrote:

>Hello. I'm curious which, if any, countries blind people can adopt children
from? I know China doesn't allow it, although they do permit deaf people to
do so.

>Sent from my iPhone
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