CAN A Downs Syndrome person ADOPT?

Question

My friends daughter has downs syndrome. She is married and teaches in a school for special children. They do not have children and therefore wish to adopt. Many of the adoption agencies in India have denied her - not openly - but they have just said "no babies"..

Is it possible for a Downs Syndrome person to adopt?

Answer 1

No, not a baby.  They would be refused just as mentally ill persons are refused.  While your friend's daughter is clearly a high functioning DS victim, children with no homes already have a strike against them. It is not to their benefit to be adopted by just anyone.    However, there is some possibility that she could adopt an older child, one that isn't so helpless.  She should enquire about that.

Answer 2

i am not sure about that, but they are probably not giving her babies because she has a medical condition which could cause her not to live for the child's entire childhood. so an older child might be a solution because she would not have to live as long and because they have problems getting the older children adopted anyway. I would think it would depend on how functional she and her husband are. i have a retarded aunt and uncle who can't physically have children and they are pretty high functioning but then they don't really meet the income requirements to adopt that many places have. also, she can't drive and has epilepsy. i think they would be great parents though.

Answer 3

Well, I don't really know what she could do, or if there are laws stating a person's medical status or life expectancy can prohibit them from adopting.  But I do know that Indians are very prejudiced towards people with disabilities, especially mental capacity.  It sounds like your friend's daughter's mental capacity is normal.  I'm sorry she is having such a hard time.  I would ask a lawyer that specializes in adoption if there are such laws prohibiting adoption by someone with Downs Syndrome in India.  Or she could try adopting elsewhere.

Answer 4

i don't  think so. They need to be sure that she can care for the child. Sounds like she is high functioning but it is a risk. If they give her a child and something happens then they become responsible for giving her a child.  People with downs often need much attention even though she is living on her own the care for a baby especially will probbally be to much

Answer 5

I expect it would be unlikely. The main problem would be the life expectancy of a Downs syndrome sufferer. The authorities need to know that an adopted child would be supported until adulthood; and the life expectancy of Downs adults would make this uncertain. I know it seems unfair, because no adoptive (or natural) parent can guarantee how long they are going to be around.

Answer 6

If they are using down's syndrome as a reason to deny her, that's discrimination.  But I live in the US, so I have no advice.  Sorry about that.

If she were in the US, I would suggest foster care.  They most likely would not deny her application to adopt through foster care.

Answer 7

My concern is, how would she be able to care for a child if for some reason she is unable to?

Answer 8

In a perfect world, we should not be completely ignorant to the able persons who can take care of children.  Unfortunately, in the eyes of "society" it is unacceptable.  

If the Down's is not severe (which seems to be the case with your friend) there should be no reason why they could not seek adoption as an option.

But we have all been blinded by people with disablities and shunned them away into hopspitals, that we over look the fact, that not all persons are equal in their handicaps.  She has proven this by being a teacher and even teaching those with disabilites.  In my eyes, she would be the person to emulate.  Also being able to function in the real world and hold down a job and even get married, I don't get as to why the "no babies".  When people look at her, they only look at the disability and it goes no further than that.

I would say to them to keep fighting.  They have rights as you or I do to procreate, adopt, foster, whatever.  Somewhere down the road they are battling, someone will not discriminate and allow them the joys of being a parent.

Answer 9

There are varying degrees of Downs Syndrome, and providing that the disease is not at a stage where she couldn't take care of herself and a child, and providing she can pass a home study, she should be able to.

The drawback might be that although DS people generally are so much happier than "normal" people, they can have a tendency to strike out in anger when they do get mad, that the proper way to channel anger is not as "hidden" as a normal person's who might not show anger on the outside, even though they truly are MAD on the inside.

They would probably be the perfect parents for a DS child though.  I can see them being able to adopt a child, although I'd see little hope for a newborn infant.  Is her husband also DS?

If I were them, I'd try through DHS and fostering to adopt program.  Good luck!