Hey Holly:
My husband and I have been unable to start a family on our own. We’re both blind and considering adoption. Can blind people adopt?
Sincerely, Wants To Be A Momma
Dear Wants To Be A Momma:
There are lots of ways blind couples can become parents. We know that people with disabilities can parent. In fact, 6.2 percent of all parents with children under the age of 18 have some sort of disability. However, we also know that many parents with disabilities feel discriminated against when undertaking the adoption process.
There are no simple solutions to eradicating age-old biases or to eliminating the barriers that may arise as child welfare workers undergo their very important work of assessing a potential parent’s ability to care for a child. But there are an increasing number of online resources and organizations that provide support and information to parents and potential parents with disabilities.
The following websites and report offer information for parents and potential parents with disabilities:
- Through the Looking Glass National Center for Parents with Disabilities: The National Center offers consultations, trainings, and publications to parents, family members, and professionals. Most of these services are free, including consultations by phone or email as well as publications via mail, email, or their website. The National Center was created in 1998 through funding from the National Institute of Disability and Rehabilitation Research at the Department of Education.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “people with disabilities” provides information about healthy living, safety, school, transitions, independent living, and finding support.
- Rocking the Cradle: Ensuring the Rights of Parents with Disabilities and Their Children was a 2012 report issued by the National Council on Disabilities. It’s full of great information and additional resources on asserting your rights as a potential asoptive parent who happens to have a disability.
Good Luck & Keep Us Posted, Momma!
Do you have a question about disabilities that you need answered? Email me at Holly@blindmotherhood.com
