There is a commercial airing on television in many markets that encourages the viewer to adopt a child. It shows a less than perfect Dad being a father to his son. The point of the ad is that none of us are anywhere near perfect, and if we were nearly perfect, we would not be all of the time. A child that is desperate for a home and family does not need to live in a mansion or have parents that have advanced degrees in adolescent psychology. The child needs the best home and the best parents that are available.
Prospective parents for special needs children do need to be willing to undergo an unusual test of their patience and stamina. They also need to be aware that they are making an obligation for life. Having said that, just about any competent couple, or single person, can adopt.
We have friends who have adopted two precious little girls from China. Particularly on the second adoption, they had to worry about concern from the Chinese authorities over their ages and the size of their family. That is not the case with a special needs adoption. The judge signed an adoption order giving us a child that is 58 years younger than I am. A couple in our community has successfully adopted over twenty children.
People frequently ask me questions like, “Will they let me adopt since I rent an apartment?” You do not have to own a home, have a great deal of learning, be young, or have great wealth. There are far more special needs children that need to be adopted than there are prospective families. The state is not very picky, they can’t be.
So it is not about credentials, it is about your heart. Most people think about being comfortable and receiving good service. Others think about being a servant, serving others. You need to want to serve to adopt special needs children.
In closing, I want to refer you to a web site. When you log on, you will see and hear what I want to impart to you, so turn your speaker on.