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What is meant by the term "special needs"? Special Needs! What do those words conjure up for you? A child who requires the use of a wheelchair? A youngster with severe psychiatric challenges? A bundle of energy who does chin-ups on the chandeliers? Certainly all of those children would be covered by the term "special needs." But in the adoption field, thousands of children waiting for permanent families have much less severe challenges. Many are simply older and bear the emotional burden of having lived in several foster homes and have lacked the permanence and stability that every child needs and deserves. Others are in sibling groups of brothers and sisters who need and want to stay together. In the United States, 45 percent of the children living in foster care and who wait to be adopted come from minority cultures. Sometimes a child will be classified as having special needs because of a risk factor. There may be a history of mental illness in the child's birth family. Or perhaps a young child was exposed to drugs or alcohol before birth before birth and may be problem free now, but at risk for developmental delays or learning problems in the future. When there is no known information about the child or his family, as in the case of an abandoned child, that is also considered to be a risk. Because adoption considerations are determined by state law, guidelines for classifying a child as having special needs vary according to state statute. While many question the need to describe so disparate a group of children as having "special needs," the classification serves a purpose. A child considered to have special needs is frequently entitled to receive benefits, such as increased financial assistance, Medicaid, or therapeutic support services, while in foster care These benefits can continue after adoption. Children adopted from other countries may also have special needs, such as being older or having disabilities. Prospective parents should be aware, however, that internationally adopted children are rarely eligible for federal or state subsidized benefits. If you are searching for a child and come across the term "special needs," ask a few more questions. Those words can mean many things. And in any case, ask what assistance will be available after adoption. --- |