[blindkid] Adopting children with visual impairments

Sun Jun 1 19:04:32 UTC 2014

Sandy, unfortunately, all of the reasons people give for choosing to
adopt children who are not visually impaired are so true.  I face this
every day of my life.  I have raised three sons and most people are
totally amazed that I could do that.  My husband is sighted and we
have been married for almost 34 years.  In the past year we were at
Cosco and one of the employees came up to my husband and thanked him
for "taking care of her."  That is totally based on her assumptions
because she doesn't know anything about us. Since we are a very small
group of people it is hard to discredit those assumptions.  And, when
people do get to know me they believe I am "remarkable."  I am not.
There are many blind people out there living the American dream and
contributing to our communities, states and this country. So all of
us, parents, blind children and adults and those who know us need to
keep up the effort.  Oh yes, one more thing.  There are blind people
who I don't choose to associate with but that is true for all groups
of people.  We are as diverse as all other groups.  I only ask that
you get to know each of us before you judge us.

On 6/1/14, Sandy Bishop via blindkid <blindkid at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> As Robert mentioned already, Bethel China www.bethelchina.org is a
> nonprofit in China working exclusively with VI children from orphanages
> across China. They also partner with some orphanages, giving staff training
> in better care for VI children in the orphanages. Perhaps their most
> important work going forward is providing training to PARENTS who have VI
> children, teaching them how to care for their children, giving them hope
> for the future and building support networks among parents that we take for
> granted. This reduces the number of families who feel they have no option
> other than to abandon their child. I would hope that there are similar
> organizations in other countries, but I am only familiar with the situation
> in China.
>
> Financial support is always welcome and of course, adopting one of these
> children yourself. But, if adoption isn't for your family, reach out to
> support families who are adopting (some feel called, but struggle with the
> costs), and spread the word about the need for families to adopt VI
> children. I am looking for places to spread the word about this. If you
> have contacts in your area who would be open to hearing more about the
> need, please contact me. I would love to see some of the national and/or
> state organizations, like NFB and POBC get behind this, letting the public
> know that there are VI children looking for families and offering
> information to help those families move forward.
>
> I did an informal survey on a couple of Facebook groups of families
> considering or in process to adopt from China. I asked what kept them from
> selecting visual impairment as a special need they would be open to
> considering. (Nearly all adoptions from China now are children with some
> type of special need.) The answers were a bit surprising to me, but show
> that there is more that needs to be done in educating the American public
> about living with visual impairments. Some parents (being sighted
> individuals) admitted that blindness is just plain scary. You might find
> this abbreviated list interesting:
>
> Concerns
>
>    - don't know anyone who is blind
>    - feel clueless how to raise a blind child; don't know how to help them
>    navigate the world; won't be able to help in the ways s/he needs
>    - don't know braille
>    - the child would feel left out of parent/families favorite
>    sight-oriented activities, like photography, movies, etc.
>    - afraid house would be too dangerous and they would get hurt (too much
>    clutter, stairs, etc.)
>    - blind adults can't be independent (can't get job, on welfare, i.e..
>    has no "real future"); don't want a child who might be a burden on other
>    siblings after parents are gone
>    - driving: don't want to have to drive them around forever; live in
>    rural area where driving is necessary; lack of independence because can't
>    drive
>    - accessibility to services in school, local school for the blind too
>    far away
>    - extended family reactions, "why would you do that to yourselves?"
>    - traffic in front of the house
>
> The book "Exposed to Hope" was written to show families that adopting a
> child with a visual impairment doesn't have to be scary. As parents with VI
> children you are showing the world around you the same thing. Share with
> people you meet about the need and offer to be a resource to people who are
> open to considering adopting a VI orphan. 
>
> Thanks!
>
>
> Message:2
>>
>
>
>> 
>> Date: Sat, 31 May 2014 16:19:54 -0400
>> From: Carolyn Cain via blindkid <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> To: blindkid at nfbnet.org
>> Subject: [blindkid] Adopting children with visual impairments
>>
>>
>> There seems to be an abundance of children in some countries who, due to
>> being visually impaired are neglected or unwanted. Is there a place in the
>> United States that can support this population of children who seem to be
>> unwanted in other countries? I guess some countries don't have the
>> resources we have to support them properly with basic life sustaining
>> provisions. So sad.
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 4
>> Date: Sat, 31 May 2014 18:48:17 -0500
>> From: Charles Buggs via blindkid <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> To: Carolyn Cain <carolynacain at gmail.com>, "Blind Kid Mailing List,
>>         (for parents of blind children)" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Adopting children with visual impairments
>> Message-ID: <894AE277-1B54-4C2A-AEBC-AEF84BAE2321 at tds.net>
>> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset=us-ascii
>>
>> Hi Carolyn,
>>
>> My wife and I are both partially blind and adopted our oldest son from
>> India in 2009.  He has the same eye condition as my wife and also had
>> another undiagnosed minor eye condition that was corrected with surgery
>> several months after we brought him home.
>>
>> Unfortunately, organizations like UNICEF have successfully worked to close
>> adoption programs in many countries, resulting in many children being left
>> in orphanages.  The number of international adoptions has fallen 50% from
>> the peak in 2004-2006.
>>
>> There are still many children available for inter-country adoption, and
>> adoption may be the best option for a bright future for many children.
>>  However, many more children will never be adopted and for those kids
>> support in the form of donations may be most appropriate.
>>
>> Sent from my iPad
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 5
>> Date: Sat, 31 May 2014 22:42:47 -0700
>> From: Robert Jaquiss via blindkid <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> To: "'Carolyn Cain'" <carolynacain at gmail.com>, "'Blind Kid Mailing
>>         List,   \(for parents of blind children\)'" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Adopting children with visual impairments
>> Message-ID: <001001cf7d5c$51e55140$f5aff3c0$@earthlink.net>
>> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="us-ascii"
>>
>> Hello Carolyn:
>>
>>      A great way to help a blind child overseas is to adopt him or her.
>> Bethel China www.bethelchina.org is working hard to give proper care and
>> training for blind children in China. If you have the needed skills,
>> Bethel
>> China is looking for a couple of English teachers.
>>
>>      My wife Laurie and I are sponsoring a blind child through Compassion
>> International www.compassioninternational.org.
>> Others on this list will know of other organizations. Hope this helps.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Robert
>>
>>
>>
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-- 
Marianne Denning, TVI, MA
Teacher of students who are blind or visually impaired
(513) 607-6053