Coventry City Council has backed a call to find more adoptive parents to provide nurturing care for children with disabilities or developmental disorders.
Coventry City Council has backed a call to find more adoptive parents to provide nurturing care for children with disabilities or developmental disorders.
With the news that Paralympian Ellie Simmonds was adopted as a baby, a spotlight is being shone on the challenges that children with disabilities face in waiting for adoption.
Latest data shows that children with a disability wait an average of nine months or longer to be adopted, compared to children without a disability.
Sometimes it is uncertain what health or developmental problems a child may have. For example, they may have a chromosome disorder, or their birth parent may have used drugs or alcohol during pregnancy.
Children waiting for adoption may also have experienced some level of trauma due to early life experiences and would need support in working through this. But with the right care, all children have the potential to feel happy, healthy and safe.
Coventry is part of Adoption Central England (ACE), which also covers Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, and Solihull.
ACE is looking for adopters who are willing to accept and understand the uncertainties that come with adopting a child with additional needs, and who are committed to help their child develop and succeed at their own pace.
Adoptive parents are not on their own – the support provided by ACE is a crucial part of the service. ACE is a certified Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) practice and has a specialist therapeutic team that will help parents increase their understanding and empathy of the impact of their child’s early trauma and the need to build safe trusting long term relationships.
Other support that ACE can provide includes adoptive family events, training events and support groups for parents and young people. ACE can also provide specialist support and signposting to other services, depending on the child and the family’s individual needs. Find out about the support available for adoptive families.
People from all areas of the community can adopt – it doesn’t matter if you are married or single, in or out of work, or what your race, religion or sexuality is. What does matter is your attitude – you will need plenty of patience, humour and energy, and a determination to give a child or children the sort of support that will really make a difference to their lives.
Councillor Patricia Seaman, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “Every child deserves a secure and loving home, and we are looking for determined and understanding people looking to adopt.
“Although there can be additional challenges with adopting a child with a disability, the support provided by ACE and the team here at Coventry is outstanding and tailored to the specific needs of both the child and the parents.
“Many children with disabilities have already found their forever homes through ACE, but more families are needed to ensure that we can match the right family with the right child.”
For further information about adopting through Adoption Central England visit the ACE website or call 0300 369 0556.