Discussion:
Summary
The addition of a child with disabilities has a strong impact on the current relationships of the adoptive family. With regards to siblings, the changing dynamic of the family can alter his/her adjustment if the parents are not aware of differential treatment between siblings (Schuntermann, 2007, p.97). Siblings tend to display more negative behaviors when the new child’s disability is more severe (Schuntermann, 2007, p. 97). Parents and clinicians should be aware of the responsibilities and expectation placed upon siblings to ease transition for sibling and improve the sibling relationship overall (Schuntermann, 2007, p. 99). Due to the high population of children with special needs waiting for adoption, adoption agencies …show more content…
1550). Social workers can use these studies to create a training session on how to keep prospective parents feel included throughout the long process to encourage adoption success. Due to the contradictions between Leung and Erich’s (2002) conclusion and Glidden’s (2000) conclusion over the effect of multiple special needs adoptions, more research should be devoted to figuring out the factors that make multiple child adoptions successful. Potential policy changes should focus on finding a “fit” with parent’s lifestyles instead of focusing on characteristics prospective parents were asked to list (Denby et al, 2010, p. …show more content…
First, there needs to be more studies that investigate how a child with disabilities directly affects a siblings emotional and social adjustment. Concurrently there should be studies on the effect of an adoptee with disabilities on birth/previously adopted siblings. Second, most of the studies described what factors made certain families better for adoption (Glidden, 2010; Perry &Henry, 2009). However, the studies did not explain what factors encourage the decision to continue an adoption of children with special needs. Third, there were no studies describing the process of disrupted adoption. There were brief mentions in the literature how people were turned off before finishing the adoption process (Denby et al., 2010, p.1551-1555). To fully understand how to help adoptions become successful, there must be studies on what caused the adoptions to fail. Finally, research should be conducted on the process of realigning expectations when the expectations of potential parents do not match the reality of the child, and what factors ultimately make the parents “quit” and disrupt the adoption. Other questions are; what makes parents push through their frustration and keep their adoptee permanently? What are the long-term struggles parents must face? What do adoptive parents wish they knew before the adoption process? These factors could significantly influence adoption agency policy changes that could make the adoption process easier
Summary
The addition of a child with disabilities has a strong impact on the current relationships of the adoptive family. With regards to siblings, the changing dynamic of the family can alter his/her adjustment if the parents are not aware of differential treatment between siblings (Schuntermann, 2007, p.97). Siblings tend to display more negative behaviors when the new child’s disability is more severe (Schuntermann, 2007, p. 97). Parents and clinicians should be aware of the responsibilities and expectation placed upon siblings to ease transition for sibling and improve the sibling relationship overall (Schuntermann, 2007, p. 99). Due to the high population of children with special needs waiting for adoption, adoption agencies …show more content…
1550). Social workers can use these studies to create a training session on how to keep prospective parents feel included throughout the long process to encourage adoption success. Due to the contradictions between Leung and Erich’s (2002) conclusion and Glidden’s (2000) conclusion over the effect of multiple special needs adoptions, more research should be devoted to figuring out the factors that make multiple child adoptions successful. Potential policy changes should focus on finding a “fit” with parent’s lifestyles instead of focusing on characteristics prospective parents were asked to list (Denby et al, 2010, p. …show more content…
First, there needs to be more studies that investigate how a child with disabilities directly affects a siblings emotional and social adjustment. Concurrently there should be studies on the effect of an adoptee with disabilities on birth/previously adopted siblings. Second, most of the studies described what factors made certain families better for adoption (Glidden, 2010; Perry &Henry, 2009). However, the studies did not explain what factors encourage the decision to continue an adoption of children with special needs. Third, there were no studies describing the process of disrupted adoption. There were brief mentions in the literature how people were turned off before finishing the adoption process (Denby et al., 2010, p.1551-1555). To fully understand how to help adoptions become successful, there must be studies on what caused the adoptions to fail. Finally, research should be conducted on the process of realigning expectations when the expectations of potential parents do not match the reality of the child, and what factors ultimately make the parents “quit” and disrupt the adoption. Other questions are; what makes parents push through their frustration and keep their adoptee permanently? What are the long-term struggles parents must face? What do adoptive parents wish they knew before the adoption process? These factors could significantly influence adoption agency policy changes that could make the adoption process easier