[blparent] Can blind people adopt?

Fri May 29 23:12:28 UTC 2015

Wow, how did you manage to be a foster parent? I've not managed to do that
here in Canada although I am in the process of adopting. Wow, it sounds so
odd to say that. I'm just about to start the home study.

Michelle

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Brandy with
Discovery Toys via blparent
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2015 11:32 AM
To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Cc: Brandy with Discovery Toys
Subject: Re: [blparent] Can blind people adopt?

I do know it can be done here in the US as I'm a foster parent, and when a
child comes to me who can't return home I will adopt it. I have had an
amazing experience with my agency. I do know people adopt from other
countries, but I chose to help children right here in the US. 

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Sharon
Howerton via blparent
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2015 10:08 AM
To: 'Blind Parents Mailing List'
Cc: Sharon Howerton
Subject: Re: [blparent] Can blind people adopt?

Steve, I wonder how one would learn how a given country views blindness or
visual impairment. Much appreciated-interesting thought.
Sharon

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Steve
Jacobson via blparent
Sent: Friday, May 29, 2015 8:47 AM
To: Blind Parents Mailing List
Cc: Steve Jacobson
Subject: Re: [blparent] Can blind people adopt?

First, I'm not a lawyer, but the definition of such things as being legally
blind are US laws and such a definition may have differing levels of
relevance in other countries.  In the past, it has been my impression that
having reasonable residual vision will be more important than whether one
meets the definition of blindness in some countries.  If one adopts from a
particular country, getting an understanding of whether one is going to be
seen as blind by that country might be helpful.  It could be that having
some vision may cause one's legal blindness to not be all that important.
One would not want to emphasize one's lack of vision when trying to explain
how one would do certain tasks if the country involved doesn't see you as
blind to begin with.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

On Thu, 28 May 2015 18:04:52 -0400, Star Gazer via blparent wrote:

>				Steve, can you explain? What would a
differing definition of "blind 
>person" mean in some other country?

>-----Original Message-----
>From: blparent [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Steve 
>Jacobson via blparent
>Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2015 11:50 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
>>_______________________________________________
>>blparent mailing list
>>blparent at nfbnet.org
>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
>>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>blparent:
>>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/steve.jacobson%4
>>0
>>visi.com

>_______________________________________________
>blparent mailing list
>blparent at nfbnet.org
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
>blparent:
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/pickrellrebecca%4
>0gmai
>l.com

>_______________________________________________
>blparent mailing list
>blparent at nfbnet.org
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blparent:
>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/steve.jacobson%40
>visi.com

_______________________________________________
blparent mailing list
blparent at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blparent:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/shrnhow%40gmail.com

_______________________________________________
blparent mailing list
blparent at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blparent:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/ballstobooks%40gmail.c
om

---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
http://www.avast.com

_______________________________________________
blparent mailing list
blparent at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blparent_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
blparent:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/blparent_nfbnet.org/michelle.creedy%40gmai
l.com