|
Page 1 of 5 Happy Endings?
Adopting or fostering a disabled child holds fears for many would-be candidates, but could disabled parents be the answer?
We all like to think that children – particularly those with physical, sensory or learning impairments – can live safely with the love and support of their own families. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. According to NHS figures, disabled children are nine times more likely to be “in care” at any one time than their non-disabled peers (though they rarely come into care primarily because they are disabled). Thankfully most will be returned – sooner rather than later – to their families.
According to the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF), there were 3,200 adoptions in the UK last year. How many of those children had “special needs” is difficult to judge, since figures aren’t collated to any single national standard. One report suggested that up to a quarter of “looked after” children in the UK were disabled, with the most profoundly affected generally placed with foster parents. However, a study of local authorities – admittedly conducted 10 years ago – found that disabled children made up 11% of children awaiting permanent placement with adoptive families.
Whatever the number, anecdotal evidence suggests one sure thing; it takes longer – potentially up to twice as long – for disabled children to be placed with an adoptive family. The reason seems obvious enough; one survey of potential adopters found that just one in eight (13%) would willingly take on a child with a “mental disability”, only one in five (21%) would say yes to a child with a physical impairment and under half (47%) would consider a child with a long term medical condition.
“Adopters today are far more aware of the complications involved in adoption,” explained Natasha Hidderley of organisation After Adoption, which provides a range of support services for all those involved in the adoption process. “Adopters are far more aware of the difficulties that adopted children can bring within families, meaning that disabled children can wait that bit longer.”
|
