Disabled children are less likely to be adopted, let's change that!

This year’s campaign hoped to increase interest in adoption and stop the spread of myths that might stop people from applying in the first place.
Who can adopt?
To adopt you need to meet a certain criteria, but this is more relaxed and open than you might expect.
First4adoption says you can apply to become an adoptive parent if:
- You’re single, married or in a long term ‘live in’ relationship
- You own your own home or rent, if you are employed or on benefits
- You and your partner are 21 years of age or over
You can adopt regardless of:
- Other children
- Impairment and health conditions
- Ethnicity, gender identity, sexuality or faith
These criteria are important to know because people sometimes think those who are LGBTQI can’t adopt. This is an outdated assumption based on discrimination.
Can I adopt a disabled child?
Yes, 40% of children on the waiting list to be adopted are disabled.
The Guardian suggests that there’s a high number of disabled children due to people lacking the confidence to care for additional needs and a preference for adopting non-disabled babies and toddlers.
This calls for a change in focus to the positive aspects of raising disabled children and the qualities, personalities and unique traits they each have as individuals.
Interview with Garry Ratcliffe
To learn more about adoption we spoke to Garry Ratcliffe. He’s a dad of 4 and co-founder of the disability charity Curly’s Legacy.Can you tell us a little about your family?
Did you have any initial fears or worries about adopting disabled children?
What has adopting children brought to your lives?
What made you start your own charity ‘Curly’s Legacy’ and what does it offer disabled families?
Do you have any advice for people considering adoption?
Garry is @Garryrat on Twitter.
For more information on adopting, visit the #Youcanadopt website.
Let us know what you think:
- Do you have any experience of adoption?
- What more could promote the adoption of disabled children?
- Do you have any messages for Garry and his family?
Tell us in the comments below.
Want to tell us about your experience on the community? Talk to our chatbot and let us know.
Replies
We really are indebted to people who adopt, such as Garry and his husband. Their beautiful kids look so happy and you can tell how much the relationship brings to each of their lives.
Want to tell us about your experience on the community? Talk to our chatbot and let us know.
On the topic of adoption I think the process needs to be less complicated and more timely. I have known of 3 couples wanting to adopt and seen hoe stressful the process is.
I understand the need to have checks on the potential adopters but the lengths they go to is very extreme, they dont make any checks on birth parents
One of my friends gave up sadly trying due to the invasive nature , she had an abortion years before when she was in a very abusive relationship and this went against her and they wanted to drag it all u and contact the abuser etc
As a HR manager I had to complete the forms they send to employers when trying to adopt and they were like war and peace
Obviously this wasnt really related to disabled adoptions its just the process in general