Other Special Needs

Update dated  Sep. 2025:
Significant progress in her skills has been observed in the child’s functioning. She is active, cheerful, and interested in her surroundings. Her gross motor skills require further intensive stimulation. The girl  moves dynamically in a crawling position. She is becoming more stable when standing upright, trying to climb, and taking her first steps with the support of her caregiver. She can move sideways with support, turn around with her back and maintain her position by leaning against a stable surface. She sits independently, but in an incorrect W-shaped or asymmetrical position.

She successfully manipulates toys, grabs and pulls objects, and looks at them. Her orientation is preserved. The child moves her gaze from object to object, looks for the source of sound, and follows the movement of people and objects. She focuses on illustrations in children’s books. She looks for objects that disappear from view.

Her communication skills continue to progress. The girl actively vocalizes and syllabifies, using her own speech more and more clearly. She does not speak, but understands repeated words, mainly those with emotional connotations. She displays appropriate social behavior. She responds to smiles and voices with smiles and vocalizations. She is responsive to changes in facial expressions. She listens to what is said and responds to her name. She willingly cuddles with her caregiver, initiates contact with adults she knows, and maintains an appropriate distance from strangers, as is appropriate for her age.

She does not use pointing gestures, but she does use gestures to express emotions and imitates clapping. She is interested in her reflection in the mirror and laughs. She is reactive to the presence of others. The  girl actively seeks attention and initiates interaction with people around her. She plays with her peers. She maintains a daily rhythm and has a normal appetite. She drinks from a cup, is fed with a spoon, and tries to eat solid foods on her own.

Update November 6, 2025: Little Ember started walking today!

Sibling group of 3 in Eastern Europe- Girl born March 2011, Boy born March 2013, and Girl born March 2015

The children live together and have a close relationship. They all want to be adopted together and live in a family.

The 14 year old girl is described as healthy and attends middle school. She is disciplined and attentive during lessons. Her educational results are satisfactory. She needs the help of a social worker for her homework. She willingly participates in various activities, education, summer camps and trips organized by the school. She has friends and does not have any communication difficulties. She attends a class in the choreography department of the art school. She participates in competitions with a dance group. In the family home, she is friendly with all the children living there. She has a particularly close emotional bond with her brother and sister who live together. She is independent, able to take care of her seasonal clothing, and can cook simple meals. She spends her pocket money purposefully; appreciates the personal items she has bought and knows how to save. She takes care of her personal hygiene, cleanliness of clothes and tidiness of her personal room. In her free time, she plays computer games and goes out with friends. She has no behavioral problems and keeps her agreements with the staff. She always expresses her wishes and thoughts to the staff and attends psychological counselling as needed.

The 12 year old boy also attends a middle school and he has good academic results. He has difficulty concentrating during lessons and is therefore receiving medication. He attends a football club and is in his third year of playing football. He is active and enjoys various sporting activities. He always wants to be a leader. He always makes friends easily, expresses his opinion freely and wants to be listened to. He is friendly, cunning, clever, capricious and stubborn. He tries to avoid or circumvent rules in a way that suits him. He always notices his sisters, shows them his attention and is helpful. He is not inclined to give in, he always tries to get his way, to get the rules that suit him. He is willing to communicate with the staff or other professionals working in the family home. In his free time he plays football and computer games.

Diagnoses: Mixed behavioral and emotional disorders, attention deficit disorder, other tic disorders. He sees a child psychiatrist as needed and is prescribed medication.

The 10 year old girl is described as healthy and is in primary school. Her educational results are very good. Her behavior at school is good. She is active in lessons, extracurricular activities and is friendly with her classmates. She has many friends at school and at the ballet studio. She has no difficulties in communication and does not need help. She does her homework responsibly and asks for help from the staff when needed. She attends a ballet studio after school. She enjoys it very much and her results are excellent. She has won 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes. She regularly takes part in various competitions with the ballet dance group. In the summer she participates in camps organized by the ballet studio. In her foster family home, she is friendly with all the children there. She has a particularly close emotional bond with her brother and sister who live together. The girl is helpful, hard-working, able to carry out tasks on her own (in line with her age) and knows how to handle money responsibly. In her spare time, she enjoys going out with her friends, playing on the computer, but most of all she likes dancing and drawing. She has no behavioral problems and keeps her agreements with the staff. She speaks openly with the staff, can express herself freely and is always listened to and understood.

Chance is an 11-year-old Asian boy who lives in a small group home for children with mild mental disabilities. At the age of 5, an intelligence test resulted in extremely low range leading to an ICD-10 diagnosis of Mild Intellectual Disability. He has also been diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Through therapy, Chance has become more tolerate to changes in his environment over time.

Taking his special needs into account, Chance is viewed as a smart boy with strong learning abilities. While it is believed that Chance will reach some level of independence, it is not known if he can reach full independence given his impulse control issues. Chance earned an A in “kindness” at his special needs school, showing he has an overall good temperament, but he lacks the ability to control his impulses which sometimes lead him to shove, hit or throw tantrums though it is not believed he intending to hurt others. It is noted that Chance longs for the one-on-one attention that is needed for him to continue to develop, but his current caregivers cannot give it to him. Due to his impulse control issues and his need for one-on-one attention, CHI recommends Chance be the only child or the youngest child by at least two years.

 Epileptic encephalopathy. Microcephaly. Cerebral palsy. Congenital cytomegalovirus infection. Delay in neuropsychiatric development. Protein-energy malnutrition

Izaiah is now living in a foster family and is receiving physical therapy at a rehabilitation center three days a week. The foster family reports that they are seeing major improvements in his motor skills now that he is receiving support and intervention services. His foster mother reports that he can pull himself up to a standing position using support (example: laying down in the crib and pulls to stand by holding on to the side of the crib). His physical therapist stated that he is making “visible progress” and should soon be independently walking. Izaiah has had surgeries for cataracts in both eyes (2 on the right and one on the left). It is believed he has limited vision from his left eye. He has a diagnosis of internal hydrocephalus, however, his foster mother reports that he was recently seen again by neurology and the diagnosis was dropped. Izaiah understands what is said to him. He smiles and makes eye contact. He says a few single words and also uses gestures and facial expressions to communicate. When asked how old he is he shows two fingers. He is beginning to indicate when he needs to use the restroom, but is still wearing diaper. He holds items in his hands and explores them. He plays with toys and participates in games. He shows an interest in other children.

Isaac is a sweet little boy living in an Eastern Europe orphanage. He cannot sit without support or turn between his stomach and back. There is little support in the legs. Isaac doesn’t have an attention span and doesn’t focus on his surroundings. He reacts to touch but doesn’t when verbally addressed. He doesn’t understand speech but sometimes makes sounds. Isaac is mostly calm and smiles. He doesn’t interact with the children and adults around him.

There is little reaction with toys and no playing when in his possession. Isaac is completely dependent on the help of the staff.

Condition after a brain hemorrhage. Cyst in the left cerebral hemisphere. Microcephaly. Spastic quadriparesis. Cryptorchidism. Anemic syndrome. Behind in his neuro-psychical development. When put on his belly or held, he keeps his head up. He slightly turns to one side but doesn’t turn independently from back to stomach and vice versa. He doesn’t try to sit up and doesn’t get up to a standing position. He doesn’t have good support in his legs. He starts after loud sound but doesn’t turn his head to the direction of the sound. He listens to the speech of adults. He doesn’t look at an adult leaning over him. He doesn’t follow with a look moving objects or people. He reacts to touch. He is calm and doesn’t cry without reason. He reacts positively to interactions and laughs loud. Photos and videos from June 2015 are available through the agency.

Bowens’s muscles are very tight. When placed in a sitting position, he can sit “rigid”, with his legs outstretched in front of him. When he moves, he can not control his body (bend at the waist, catch himself, etc) and falls over. His movements are uncontrolled. The amount of vision he has is unknown. He does not follow light with his eyes.
Bowen lags behind in all aspects of his development. He makes sounds, but does not have any functional communication. He does not appear to understand what is said to him. He does respond positively to touch at times. His report indicates that he has difficulty accepting any type of change in his environment.

Everly is an adorable little girl with a bright smile. Everly was born prematurely, and has several special needs. She loves bath time. She also loves affection. Everly is continuing to grow and develop. We hope a loving family sees her while she is so young.

Videos available!

Violet, 15, and Daniel, 13, are wonderful siblings who share a close bond and bring out the best in each other. Violet is thoughtful, kind, and enjoys writing, dancing, and participating in games. Daniel is lively, sociable, and passionate about sports, with a big dream of becoming a professional wrestler.

Both children are independent, responsible, and emotionally aware, able to manage their behavior and maintain friendships. They enjoy hobbies that keep them active and engaged, from board games to competitive play.

Violet and Daniel are looking for a safe and loving family who will support their dreams, nurture their talents, and provide guidance as they grow. These amazing siblings are ready to bring love, laughter, and warmth to a forever home—together.

Yanna is a 13-year-old girl who has shown resilience and adaptability despite a history of neglect and various types of abuse in her early childhood. With the help of therapy, Yanna now demonstrates emotional stability, responsibility, and motivation to continue improving. When reading her full child profile, it is clear that this young lady has put a lot of thought into her past and into her future, including what she hopes for in an adoptive family. Yanna is a clinically healthy young lady, but will need to continue therapy to help her work through her past and to transition into a family.

Academically, Yanna is an excellent eight-grade student. Her teachers describe her as intelligent, punctual, and committed to her studies, showing solid performance and a genuine interest in learning. She enjoys school and maintains positive relationships with her classmates and teachers. Emotionally, Yanna can be reserved at first but gradually builds trust and close relationships with those around her. She can express affection and empathy, especially toward younger children. She is currently receiving psychological support to continue strengthening her emotional regulation and communication skills.

Yanna enjoys listening to music—particularly reggaeton, bachata, and rap, watching movies and tv series, making bracelets, and spending time with her friends. She dreams of completing her education and one day becoming an actress. She understands that her current stay in the institution is temporary and hopes to find a permanent family that will offer her affection, stability, and protection. Yanna has expressed her wish for a family that values communication, patience, and mutual respect, ideally without other children so she can receive focused attention and guidance. She was previously matched with a family for international adoption, but the family and Yanna were not a good fit for each other. She would prefer a family who is relatively young given her previous experience with a potential family. She does not have a preference for whether she has married parents or a single mother.

In summary, Yanna is a bright, affectionate, and reflective adolescent who would thrive in a loving, consistent family environment capable of supporting her emotional growth and providing a sense of belonging and security.

Boy born March 2020 in Eastern Europe

This young boy has been living with a foster family for more than 12 months. During this time, very positive developmental changes have been observed in every area: objections have been replaced by agreements; negative behavior towards other children by friendship and agreements; distraction during tasks (writing, drawing, chores, etc.) by concentration and interest. In kindergarten, the boy sometimes completes tasks from start to finish without the help of an assistant. Hysterical fits have been replaced by emotion management and the ability to find out why he is angry (by asking questions and communicating). The boy’s speech has also become more coherent and his vocabulary richer. However, speech therapy sessions are still needed and will be needed in the future. It is observed that he does not yet have a sense of self-care and does not feel full when eating.

He is completely restricted from screens (except in the educational institution) while living with the foster family. They have been observed to have a negative impact on the child’s emotional state. Spending even a small amount of time in front of any type of screen makes him very irritable and emotionally unstable. Toys that make loud, noisy noises, flickering lights (guns, robots, etc.) also make him emotionally unbalanced. He is mobile, enjoys sports and has been attending a football club since October 2024. He has severe special educational needs and needs support from a speech therapist, special educator, teacher‘s assistant and psychologist is very curious. He likes to travel, visit and socialize. He is independent and is learning to manage emotions. When calm, he can usually explain the reason for anger. Often keeps agreements. Establishes friendships with peers, has some ability to play common games. His favorite activity is building legos. He is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, which sometimes results in a regression in behaviour and emotions.

Diagnosed with mixed specific developmental disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, unspecified behavioural disorder.

This sweet girl loves music, animation, musical toys, taking baths, being outdoors and riding in the stroller. She often plays in the playpen and ball pool. She likes to sit and play alone. She can sit, roll, clap her hands, tries to stand up on her own in the crib, struggles, but stands up holding onto the crib rails. She is spoon-fed and likes a variety of mashed food. She drinks well from a bottle and from a baby bottle. She takes a variety of toys in her hands and holds and plays with them. She likes dolls and has a favourite doll which she plays with nicely. She has attended rehabilitation services and physiotherapy and occupational therapy specialists work with her. She responds to being spoken to by her name and observes and makes eye contact.

Diagnosed with mixed specific developmental disorders, disorder of normal physiological development, congenital hypotonia (reduced muscle tone); bilateral unstable hip joint; specific motor development disorder, hypermetropia (farsightedness).

This precious child is calm, responds to being spoken to, smiles often and is interested in everything. She knows how to clap her hands, likes different musical toys, dolls, blocks, animation and radio. She is rolling in her bed and can sit up by herself. She has a gastrostomy but can eat mashed food from a spoon and drink liquids from a bottle. She sleeps soundly. The institution has medical staff working with her:  nurses, nurses’ assistants, occupational therapist, physiotherapist and she gets massages.

Diagnosed with subarterial ventricular septal defect, multiple congenital malformations, not elsewhere classified, oter secondary pulmonary hypertension, atrioventricular block, complete, supraventricular tachycardia, congestive heart failure, mild to moderate intrathoracic asphyxia, neonatal cardiac arrhythmia, other neonatal feeding disturbances, cerebellar reduction abnormalities, secondary atrial septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, congenital absence of umbilical artery, oesophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula, unilateral renal agenesis, cardiac appliance, and specific motor development disorder. It should be noted that prospective adoptive parents should have the knowledge and skills to be able to provide the necessary assistance, as the girl needs nursing and care.

Kaylyn is in severely impaired condition and her development is delayed in all areas. She is completely dependent on adults’ care. Her sleep is calm and rhythmical. She is fed with a spoon by an adult.

Meet Brothers Kole (12), Shay (11), and Vance (8)

These three kind and joyful brothers share a close bond and long to be adopted together. Despite living in separate foster homes, they see each other often and treasure every moment spent playing, celebrating, and growing side by side. Kole is responsible and sociable, Shay is caring and thoughtful, and Vance is curious and full of wonder.

All three are healthy, independent in their routines, and eager to join a loving forever family where they can be reunited and thrive together.

William, 10, is a calm, stable and cheerful child who can sometimes be a bit too straightforward in expressing his thoughts. Even though he can be blunt, he is willing to listen to advice from adults and make changes. He resides in a small group home in his Asian country and attends mainstream school. He is an outstanding student with excellent performance in both academics and conduct. He has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and weak social skills. 

William loves reading and many outdoor sport activities such as riding bicycle, scooter and playing soccer. He is a bright and adaptable child with a warm spirit, ready to thrive in a nurturing environment.

Due to his country’s matching process, families with a home study for any country can submit to be considered for William.

Court will turn 14 years old next week–still waiting for a family. Court came into care when he was a baby though his biological father initially was involved and sought custody of him. However, he eventually became untracable and Court’s birthmother relinquished him to the system for adoption in 2016. From the ages of 3-9, Court lived with a foster family where he had a good relationship with the foster family. Court then was placed for adoption with a local family in his country and while the post-placement at six months showed everything was going well and the domestic adoption was granted, two months later the adoptive parents dissolved the adoption citing difficulty in managing Court’s emotional outbursts and challenging behaviors in school after resumption of classes post-COVID.  Despite professional intervention, the family relinquished Court back to the system. He was later diagnosed with ADHD and Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD). 

After the relinquishment of the adoptive parents, Court settled in to an orphanage and its adjacent school. He became a “big brother” and role model among his co-residents at the orphanage and excelled academically and in sports at school.  His emotions were generally stable while staying there.    At the time of the report written in July 2025, he was preparing to be promoted to a mainstream school in September and had been moved to a small group home near the school after a successful interview with his social worker. 

Court impressed his social worker as a smart, polite, articulate, level-headed, sensible and frank teenager on the day of visit.     He was able to articulate his thoughts clearly and showed readiness to be adopted again.   He has demonstrated diligence, maturity, and incredible inner strength and motivation over difficult circumstances in life.   While he has developed many strengths and life skills throughout the journey, deep in his heart he still envisions a loving, stable and permanent home that he can call his own—a family where he can find rest, stability and peace through the highs and lows in life.   Court expresses his wish to be adopted by a nurturing and loving family who understands his tangible and psychological needs.   Surely, Court is in need of a strong, patient, well-informed, committed, and psychologically trained family who has the resources and knowledge for supporting his needs and dealing with his trauma. 

 

Hunter is a cheerful 10-year-old boy in need of a loving home capable of supporting him and his long-term needs. In 2018, Hunter was diagnosed with Coffin-Lowry Syndrome, a genetic disorder, with dysmorphic features including hypertelorism, depressed nasal bridge, thick lips, wide mouth, and broad tapering fingers. He also has developmental delay, profound sensorineural hearing loss, scoliosis, hyperopia and astigmatism, asthma, beta thalassemia trait, and short stature. He received a cochlear implant in his left ear in April 2020 and continues to use a hearing aid in his right ear. He is required to attend medical appointments at different specialties, including the Endocrine Clinic, Eye Clinic, Asthma Clinic, ENT, Prosthetic & Orthotic, Neurology Clinic, General Pediatrics, Hearing Aid Prescription and Spinal and Brace Clinic. His asthma has become stable in recent years and is prescribed medication if needed.  He also has history of seizure but has been stable as well.  Despite all of his long-term conditions, his health is generally stable and he does not take any regular medications.

Hunter is an active, pleasant, friendly and outgoing boy who always shows his smiles. He is an affectionate child who enjoys holding hands, cuddles and hugs from his familiar caregivers. Hunter currently does not have any speech; however, he can express himself by producing some vocal sounds, such as “er” or “ar” or through some simple gestures, such as pointing to things he is interested in or wants or through pictures and Quick Talker. He has received sign language training and learned to use body gestures to express himself. He can wave his hand to greet or to show refusal occasionally. Even with his limitations, Hunter shares a good relationship with the other children. He is generally calm, though he can get upset when he doesn’t get what he wants, but he is easily diverted and his frustration will resolve.

Though Hunter is slightly weaker in trunk control, shoulder stability, upper limb control, muscle tone, bilateral coordination, and motor planning, he can keep his balance while standing and walking. He can also walk up and down stairs by holding someone’s hand, run, and climb up and down as shared. In terms of fine motor skills, he has poor to fair finger strength, finger dexterity and bilateral coordination of both upper limbs. He has a fair to poor tripod and pincer grip in picking up small objects, and fair to poor performance in handwriting and manipulating scissors to cut a straight line. Being curious, Hunter likes exploring his environment and new things.  He likes playing with building blocks, coloring, and watching TV and YouTube videos. He enjoys participating in activities at the orphanage.

Hunter needs a family who can help him continue in his development and who will be dedicated to his life-long needs.

Darling Brianna sometimes turns herself to a side position. She grabs toys with both hands and handles them. A smile is observed when interacting with an adult. She looks at herself in the mirror. She pronounces vowel sounds. She enjoys individual attention, and she gets upset if she is not paid attention to or if she is left alone in the crib after she has been paid attention to. She tries to initiate contact with her eyes and facial expressions, and she responds to her name.

The position of Brianna’s legs doesn’t allow her to sit and she doesn’t straighten her head, but sometimes she rotates her torso laterally to some extent.  She reaches and grabs a toy handed to her by an adult or placed in her immediate environment and handles it briefly. She follows moving objects and people with a glance and a turn of the head.

Brianna is described as “absolutely adorable, easy to communicate with, and curious about new people and new toys.” Her caregiving staff says she is a calm and gentle child and is “everyone’s favorite in the house where she lives!” Please help us find Brianna’s family!

Alan is amazing 10 years old boy who had a rough start with an unstable and unhealthy environment. He is the victim of parental physical abuse and suffers from post-traumatic past

He connects well with both peers and adults. He is calm, helpful and kind. The boy eagerly learns about nature, sings songs, makes interesting art works, uses computer programs well.

He needs a forever home to support him as he continues to overcome negative experiences of his past and shower him with the love every child deserves.

He has a lot of potentials and wants to be adopted. He is highly recommended by his caregivers. The family with an involved, hands-on father will be ideal for this boy. He would do really well as the youngest or only child (or in a family where the other children are grown). He needs an experienced adoptive family who can give him a lot of one-on-one attention and help build his trust in humanity back.

Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (with hearing aid); shunt due to internal hydrocephalus; spastic cerebral palsy

Tyson was born premature and had several complications after birth. He can sit on his own with good balanced reactions. He crawls following the correct motor model. He stands up and walks sideways vertically. He can walk when one of his hands is held and has more control when it’s his right hand being held. He can stand up straight without falling for 2-3 seconds. When walking with a walker, he begins to bend his knees. He purposefully grabs a toy that is handed to him and can switch it from hand to hand. He shows an interest in musical toys and enjoys them. He has started making sounds and simply syllables such as “ma-ma”. He enjoys having someone sing to him and likes to receive hugs. He eats from a spoon. His overall development is delayed.

Photos and videos from August 2020 are available through the agency.

Ashton is an adorable little boy who is described as a social child who loves to be around others who give him affection. He shares with the people around him. He loves to hear music and pleasant sounds. He likes painting and watching animated shows. Contact the agency to learn more about Ashton and his special needs!

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Valeria is a very protective girl.  She loves drawing and doing art projects.  Valeria currently has a feeding tube.

Update in 2025 states that she no longer has a feeding tube, and is doing really well!

Valeria was previously listed on Reece’s Rainbow as Marisol.

Melissa is an extremely loving girl!  She enjoys playing with her dolls.  Although she likes all food, she loves chicken and rice.

Melissa has a diagnosis of Cornelia de Lange syndrome, which causes developmental delays.  She continues to make progress with therapy.

Melissa was previously listed on Reece’s Rainbow as “Lucia.”

Information presented is from the October 2024 Child Study

6-year-old Chuck is described as an energetic and curious boy with a lively personality. He is attached to his caregivers and teachers, and tends to prefer adult relationships over playing with other children. Chuck was originally cared for by his parents, both in their 40s, as a baby. Sadly, his mother became terminally ill and she asked her friend to care for him before she died in May 2020. His mother knew his father would not be able to care for him, and ultimately, his father soon died as well in September 2020. After the father’s death, the friend brought him to authorities and said she could no longer care for him, and no other relatives accepted care of him.  It is known that his mother had two children previously—one that is an adult with an unknown disability, and another child who is a teenager and lives with the mother’s younger sister in Indonesia. Unfortunately, Chuck has had a few different placements, including being moved from one children’s residential home after it was determined that five different caregivers had physically abused him.

In May 2021 at the age of 27 months, Chuck had a cognitive functional age of 17 months. He has shown slow progress over time. During the October 2024 visit by the social worker, he was able to identify shapes, name colors and select certain colored pens from a group, but occasionally struggled with matching colors correctly though he has significantly improved since previous visits. A psychologist noted in October 2024 that he is able to learn basic concepts one at a time, but struggles to learn multiple things simultaneously and often forgets what has been learned the previous day. They will evaluate his developmental progress. Even though he has problems remembering what was learned, he has a strong memory in daily life matters. While at the age of 2 years old, Chuck was noted to have significant delay in both gross and fine motor skills, Chuck has shown improvement in both areas. As of August 2024, he could walk independently, jump with both feet, and throw balls/beanbags; however, he still needed help climbing stairs and balancing on one leg. While he used to loose his balance and fall when walking, he is now steady without assistance. With regard to fine motor skills, he can thread beads, unscrew bottle lids, hold a pen to connect dots, and is learning to draw vertical and horizontal lines. Tasks that involve hand coordination such as folding paper, fastening buttons and using scissors are areas he struggles in, but he is receiving therapy services. CHI is seeking updated information on his skills.

Chuck wears glasses due to astigmatism in both eyes as well as refractive errors. He has normal hearing. When he was 2, he was noted to have significant speech delay, but this too has progressed substantially. At the age of 4, he was mainly using single words or sometimes very short phrases, but by August 2024 he was able to express his needs and wants in simple sentences as well as being able to respond to questions. As stated above, CHI is seeking updated information.

While Chuck has learned to express his needs and wants with words and simple sentences, he still gets frustrated and cries or sometimes has a tantrum when he is upset over something. It has been found that he responds well to tangible rewards and consistent boundaries to help him learn to manage his desires and emotions when he can’t have something he wants and to know what to expect. Chuck is sensitive to loud noises which leads him to be hyperalert and scared. Chuck is also afraid of unknown males and of dogs. However, once he knows a man he is more at ease around them.

Currently, Chuck is scheduled for testing regarding suspected Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder due to observed behaviors and tendencies and also suspected Autistic Spectrum Disorder due to hypotonia in his legs, for which his also getting an MRI and genetic testing.

Other mixed disorders of behavior and emotions. Disorder in psychological development, unspecified. Moderate cognitive delay, without mention of behavioral disorder

Augustus was born full term, and was found that he has internal hydrocephalus; at the age of 4 months a liquid drainage valve system was implanted. The child lies in bed; he has spasticity in his limbs and his active and passive movements are limited. He depends completely on the care provided by adults. He receives kinesiotherapy. The child is subject to observation by a neurologist and by a neuro-surgeon.

The child’s lower and upper limbs are highly spastic and are with diffuse muscle hypotonia. His fine motor skills are not developed. He does not grasp a toy given to him. Atanas holds his hands bent in fists. He is seriously delayed in his psychomotor development. The boy reacts to tactile stimulation by adults. When teased, he does not smile. He is unable to interact with the other children. Atanas depends completely on the care provided by adults. He is fed by a bottle. From time to time he cries when given a shower. He sleeps well.

He lives in a home for medical and social childcare. He was born to a minor mother who had epilepsy and took anti-epileptic medications during pregnancy. There was a complicated pregnancy and birth, resulting in extreme posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus. A shunt was implanted but failed. A new one was inserted. Malachi is on permanent antiepileptic monotherapy, without convulsive manifestations.

Due to the extreme hydrocephalus, Malachi is in impaired general condition, with significant lag in psychomotor development – no head control, does not turn around, does not sit or stand. He needs specialized care, monitoring by medical specialists, and daily medical rehabilitation. He is usually in a positive emotional state. He coos frequently and continuously. He reacts animatedly to the speech of an adult. He initiates a desire for physical contact by smiling. The boy is completely dependent on the care of an adult. His sleep is peaceful. He takes food with a pacifier. The agency has videos of him.

Lexi is a bright-eyed 4-year-old girl with bilateral hearing loss and developmental delays, but these do not diminish her joyful spirit. Lexi communicates in her own unique ways and is curious about the world around her. Lexi will thrive in an environment where she receives consistent, patient attention and where her efforts to communicate are celebrated. She’s looking for a family who will provide a nurturing and stimulating home, eager to support her continued development and help her reach new milestones. With love and encouragement, Lexi has the potential to blossom and bring immense joy to her adoptive family.

Holly is a cheerful, lovely, friendly and cheeky 5-year-old girl who lights up her surroundings as a true superstar. She loves people and her medical staff adores her, often gifting her beautiful clothes. She treasures relationships as she can easily remember faces after just two meetings. Holly is learning to use alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) with the help of a tablet, where she can tap to select people she wants to see (picture available). During the social worker’s child visit, she even used gestures to request adding the worker’s face to her tablet even though it was her first-time meeting her. Despite her many medical needs, this child has shown the ability to learn and engage with her with a variety of engagement types. She is a funny girl who makes people smile with her bright personality. A picture is available of her making funny faces when the social worker was taking her pictures for the child study.

Holly is diagnosed with incomplete DiGeorge syndrome, bilateral vocal cord palsy, oropharyngeal dysphagia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), scoliosis, global developmental delay and exotropia. She is on tracheostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding. She has remained hospitalized since birth for her medical needs even though she is medically stable now. To learn more about DiGeorge Syndrome, visit the Mayo Clinic’s syndrome page here: DiGeorge syndrome (22q11.2 deletion syndrome) – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic

As mentioned, despite Holly’s significant medical needs, she has made remarkable progress in her development over the past year. She can follow simple instructions, point to familiar objects, and use tools after observing her teacher’s demonstrations. Holly shows interest and joy while learning various play skills and can imitate appropriate play behaviors with prompting and encouragement. She consistently communicates her needs using gestures and she also has great eye contact. Additionally, she can sit independently, take a few steps without assistance, self-propel her wheelchair for short distances, and manage tasks like eating and dressing on her own. She enjoys watching cartoons and listening to music.

Despite having a tracheostomy, Holly does not require ventilator support. However, in the event of tracheostomy dislodgement, there is a risk of hypoxia and immediate tracheostomy reinsertion is necessary. She needs to be accompanied by a trained caregiver at all times. Holly has been assessed as medically fit for home care. The doctor has recommended that Holly requires a well-trained and attentive caregiver who can provide vigilant around-the-clock care, and the caregiver would need to be proficient in special care skills, including managing tracheostomy emergencies.

Holly has made great strides in the past half year and we strongly believe she will continue to make great progress in reaching her potential within a loving and fun family.

Due to the country’s matching process, families with an approved home study for any country are able to request consideration to be Holly’s parents. If matched, the family would then need to quickly update their home study and gather the dossier for the country.

Information in this report is from May 2025

Twins Nelson and Nellie are six years old. They were born to a teenaged mother who was in protective care herself. Given specific familial concerns that will need to be discussed with interested families, the children were placed into foster care together and eventually were deemed in need of an adoptive family. There is no history of abuse with these children.

Nelson is overall healthy and does not have any medical diagnoses nor does he take any medication. However, while his motor development is age-appropriate, he has a mild language delay. Nelson is able to pay attention and communicate with others, but he has an impairment in his ability to pronounce words and complete sentences with difficulty pronouncing “l” sounds especially. He is receiving speech therapy. His profile indicates a learning delay “considering the developmental scale he is currently in” and recommends stimulation, but there is not a specific diagnosis given. He does not show any difficulty processing sensory information. He is receiving occupational therapy and psychiatric follow-up for a “diagnostic impression of Unspecific Conduct Disorder” but he does not have an official diagnosis. He does not react well when given limits and sometimes throws tantrums when he is not able to do something he wants to do. He does not have any social development concerns, though there are time he prefers to play alone while other times he plays and interacts with his peers.

Nelson is an affectionate child who is able express his emotions to others. He is attached to his foster parents and appropriate seeks their attention and approval when completing tasks. He tends to allow his sister to lead him and to be the dominant sibling in the relationship. It saddens him when he cannot play with her or is separated from her (normal daily temporary reasons, not separated with regard to where they live).

Nelson enjoys playing with cars, dinosaurs and balls. He loves going to the park, playing sports—especially soccer—with his classmates, and he is noted to be a skilled painter.

While Nellie also does not currently have any physical/medical diagnoses, she is being evaluated for Autism Spectrum Disorder. A psychiatric evaluation appointment is pending due to testing showing sufficient criteria for a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, but a thorough evaluation is needed to determine a diagnosis. Symptoms noted including persistent language development delay, attention lability, motor restlessness, stereotyped behavior, limited eye contact, and difficulty in understanding directions. A pedagogy evaluation appointment is also scheduled. Nellie displays behavioral concerns, especially with regard to her schoolwork. She is resistant to doing schoolwork (though she is capable to do the work) and to obeying the rules and limits of the classroom. At home, she has resisted doing homework and even has scribbled on her notebooks and thrown them on the floor. At her previous early childhood educational program, she also showed behavioral difficulties and difficulties recognizing authority figures, trouble staying involved in activities and a preference for more open areas of the institution. She cries when she is not allowed to do something she wants to do. However, she is able to play alone or focus on tasks she wants to do such as playing with dolls or dancing.

Nellie’s motor development is age-appropriate. She does not have any difficulty processing sensory information. Like her brother, she is able to communicate but has difficulty with word pronunciation—especially in pronouncing the “l” sound. Socially, she is able to establish relationships with other children and plays with others. Despite her behavioral concerns, she is noted to usually have a good disposition, be cheerful and integrated with her foster family. Her foster family has been given instruction on how to help improve her behavior and there has been progress made.

Nellie is strongly attached to her foster parents and her brother. She is able to give and receive affection with them and sometimes exhibits jealousy when the foster mother shows affection toward other children in the home. She seeks approval from her foster parents and from others with whom she has an emotional bond. Nellie is the more dominant sibling and takes the initiative to ask for things for both herself and her brother.

Nellie finds joy in playing with her dolls and receiving affection from those she is close to. She is an expressive child who engages in caregiving role-play. She likes wearing dresses and having bows in her hair. She enjoys and is good at dancing and singing, and also likes playing with toys, going to the park and watching television.

Precious Owyn is looking for a special family.

He is diagnosed with hydrocephalus and has some other medical issues that require in-depth care. The adoption agency has a lot more photos and more information about his needs and video footage.  A specific adoption agency also has grant funding in the amount of $2500 available.

Dawn & Donna are  twin girls who were born in Ukraine at 29 weeks gestation. They lived in an orphanage in Ukraine until they were 1.5 years old, at which time they were moved to an orphanage in Bulgaria. They were then moved to a different placement in Bulgaria at age 3, where they still reside.

 

Donna’s medical diagnosis includes: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) stage 5, post vitrectomy condition bilaterally; secondary glaucoma. Left eye ROP stage4 Nystagmus. Delayed neuro-psychic development. Condition after low birth weight. Self-aggression. Spastic quadriparesis. Iron deficiency anaemia

 

Dawn was born first. Her medical diagnosis includes: cerebral palsy – spastic quadriparesis. Spastic quadriparesis. Suspected hydrocephalus with normal pressure and hypoplasia of corpus callosum. Grade 1 hypotrophy. Convergent strabismus; hypermetropia. Condition following very low birth weight.

 

Update July 2024: After their placement into the foster home on May 14, 2024, the girls have adjusted well and made noticeable developmental progress. They show an attachment to the foster mom and follow her instructions. One of the girls can now walk independently and is well oriented in the foster home. The other girl sits with little support. The girls now eat mashed food from a fork or spoon and chew well. They have learned to speak their first meaningful words and are also observed to repeat syllables. While there’s some jealousy between the sisters when it comes to receiving attention, they are emotionally close and hug/hold hands. Videos from July 2024 show one girl as tenacious in exploring her environment and the other as joyful when playing on the floor. The girls attend therapy twice a week and their foster mom is proactive in seeking additional services for them. They like music and singing and enjoy massage from the foster mom. They are thrilled to be playing in the inflatable pool in the backyard. Their foster mom describes them as positive children who will continue to make progress with the right interventions and lots of love.

From a family who met them in 2023

I met these twins when I visited my daughter for trip one in 10/2023. One twin was active and was able to stand holding on and cruise around her crib. She was able to climb right out of her floor crib and back in herself. It was an activity for her and she did it with great ease. She wasn’t trying to escape at any point and would just flip In and out over and over again. She seemed like what you would expect for a toddler. She stopped what she was doing when someone called her name and turned in the direction of their voice. The other sweet twin was always laying down when I saw her. Sometimes in a crib, sometimes in a seat. My daughter asked for “baby” all the time and they would put this twin in her crib with her to lay together. They said she was more “severe”. She definitely seemed more infantile. They were in a really great place where they got plenty of food and were carried around a lot by the staff there. There were 8 kids on that floor in four rooms. The twins shared a room. I believe they are now in a foster situation. They def were pretty easygoing. They had a lot of musical toys which they seemed to like. The active twin kept herself busy a lot but the quiet twin seemed to love cuddling and other kids being around her. I think some of the delays they have may be related to vision impairments. I would imagine they would do well with siblings.

Emeric can sit up in a special chair with support. He has poor support for his legs. He can hold a rattle with his left hand and shake it. He turns his head in the direction of sound. He has recently started tracking objects with his eyes. He enjoys listening to music. When music plays, he will get very still and listen to it with interest. He laughs and smiles in the presence of familiar adults. He eats blended food from a bottle.

Meet Eddie! This sweet little man just turned two years old. He likes to transfer a toy from one hand to the other and will look for a dropped toy. He is able to push buttons on electronic toys, and he reacts positively when adults try to engage him. He is able to roll from side to side and can sit with some assistance. Because of his medical diagnoses, Eddie receives all of his nutrition via a g-tube. He sleeps well and protests at bath time. His diagnoses include Congenital malformation of the digestive system – atresia of the esophagus with tracheoesophageal fistula. Condition following surgical intervention; implanted percutaneous g-tube. Congenital heart malformation – small intraventricular defect. Protein-energy malnutrition. Delayed psychomotor development. He will almost certainly need  more surgeries in the future in order to eat by mouth, and any family considering Eddie should be sure they are prepared to meet his medical needs.

Ashford enjoys the presence of adults and emotionally expresses himself with laughter, crying and sounds. He laughs when tickled and smiles when he sees familiar faces. Ashford is unable to sit, stand, nor does he have head control. He prefers to be on his stomach. He does not have coordinated movement of his arms or legs and has little ability to hold a toy. Ashford’s diagnosis is Microcephaly. He was born prematurely and received intervention at the hospital at birth. Some history of convulsions, controlled with medication. Suspicion of left nasal atresia.

Meet smiling Melly.   She had surgical treatment for correction of a meningocele.  A ventriculoperitoneal shunt was also implanted to treat hydrocephalus. Unfortunately after surgery Melly’s lower limbs are paralyzed.

Melly moves independently in a wheelchair. She can pull herself up with her hands She enjoys contact with children and adults.  She plays with toys, handles them, and can throw them.  Melly pronounces various sounds and syllables although she points to make her needs known. She can maintain interest in an activity for 15-20 minutes.

Elise arrived with a unique constellation of traits known as Cornelia de Lange syndrome, primarily affecting her facial features. She’s a delicate soul with a sweet disposition, and her gentle nature is simply heartwarming.

This precious little one thrives on affection — she has an incredible capacity for love and blossoms with nurturing care that includes endless cuddles, tender personal interaction, and thoughtful understanding. She merits a patient touch and activities tailored just for her, which will provide not only pleasure but also enriching experiences.

During our time together, Elise remained serene and composed, displaying a quiet passivity. My playful attempts to tickle and engage her elicited limited response initially, but as patience persevered, her awareness and interaction gradually emerged.

Elise’s life would be beautifully complimented by a loving family atmosphere, filled with unwavering support and encouragement. A home that teems with warmth and offers plentiful one-on-one interaction, a trove of stimulating activities, and specialist involvement, would cultivate her growth and happiness.

To the kind-hearted families contemplating the rewarding path of adoption: envision a life with Elise, where every day is an opportunity to nourish and celebrate a precious child’s potential, and where love knows no bounds.

Anne is delayed in all aspects of her development. She recently began eating from a spoon, and the NG tube was able to be removed. She enjoys attention from staff. She smiles when caregivers speak to her. She reaches and grabs objects, but is not yet playing with toys.

Millie, Aaron and Ayana came into care in 2020 due to their parents’ drug usage and failure to adequately care for them. At that time, the children had not been in school, which meant that Aaron and Ayana were academically behind and placed in a grade lower than is age appropriate. However, all three children have done well in school considering their situation.

While there is no plan to separate the children, Millie and Aaron have expressed not wanting to be with their older sister as she mistreats them. The child study for the oldest sister recognizes that she has mistreated then, but also notes that she has made some progress since being in therapy and also since the children have lived in a positive family environment. Continued therapy is needed and is being received. The children have expressed wanting a family with a mother and a father as this is what knew before coming into care, but this is not set in stone.

Anthony is an adorable, sweet boy! Anthony has a lack of development physically and neurologically. In late 2015, a ventriculoperiteneal shunt was placed and he has been free of seizures since then. He cannot sit upright by himself and does not talk, but responds to sound. Anthony is tube fed due to lack of suck reflex. He does not react well to teasing or tactile stimulation by smiling but by irritation and crying.

Paul can crawl, pull to a stand, walk holding the hand of an adult and has recently started taking steps independently. He knows where his toys are kept in the house (toy boxes) and will go to them to get his toys. His fine motor skills are well developed. He transfers small objects from hand to hand and has a pincer grasp. He shows an interest in toys and outdoor activities, such as swinging. He enjoys cause and effect toys. His speech is starting to develop. He “babbles”, saying syllables such as “da-da” and “ba-ba”. He is attached to familiar people and expresses his emotions in age appropriate ways. He was recently prescribed glasses to help with his vision issues.

Amelia is reported to be “just as sweet as she can be.” The agency has a new report from November 2024 as well as photos & videos that can be shared with inquiring families.

A specific agency also has grant funding available in the amount of $2500.

Kevin can sit on his own. He plays with toys. He interacts positively with caregivers. He makes some sounds, but is not yet saying any words.

Josiah moves in space by turning from back to belly and vice versa. He has started forming some of the perceptions about objects from his constant surroundings and everyday life. He connects some objects from his surroundings with the actions performed with them.

When awake, Josiah is mostly calm. He would laugh out loud when jested. During active interactions with adults Josiah pronounces various sounds and random syllables. Josiah follows a specific dietary regime and has food individually prepared for him. He is fed with a spoon by an adult and has a picky appetite. He is calm during dressing and bathing. Josiah’s sleep is calm.

Meet Sebastian, a delightful and active four-year-old-boy from a Caribbean island who is eagerly awaiting his forever family. Sebastian is a vibrant little explorer who loves to move! He’s remarkably coordinated, climbing stairs, and showing great dexterity as he twists and unscrews things. Sebastian is also a curious learner who enjoys imitating actions and is already showing a keen eye for color, happily sorting objects. He’s growing by leaps and bounds, blossoming into a bright and engaging individual who will bring so much joy to a loving home. Sebastian possesses a wonderful range of emotions, openly expressing his happiness and other feelings, and he’s beginning to form connections with those around him. He is ready to flourish in a supportive and nurturing adoptive family where his unique strengths can shine even brighter. Sebastian has been diagnosed with mild autism.

Evelyn crawls in order to get where she wants to go. She can stand with support and take steps to the side while holding on to something. She has spastic muscle tone. She picks up objects and transfers them from hand to hand. She does not talk. She responds positively to attention from adults.

Bailey accepts physical and verbal contact from others. Bailey likes toys that make noise, and she sometimes smiles at the stimulation of an adult. Bailey will need a family who is able to care for her special needs and provide for her daily care. Agency staff met Bailey in July of 2022. We hope her family sees her soon! Contact the agency to learn more about Bailey and her listed medical needs.

VIDEOS:
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-bailey001
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-bailey002
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-bailey003
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-bailey004
Password: Adoptmaa

Brooklyn and Bailey are brothers, they reside in a foster family.

Brooklyn has muscular dystrophy and a speech disorder. He has normal mental development. In 2020 he experienced burns over a large portion of his body and had right-sided bronchopneumonia. Therapy: Operative excisional cleaning of the wounds, sterile dressings; intensive treatment of thermal shock; antibiotic therapy. Brooklyn receives additional support in the form of resource teaching. With him a team of specialist work –speech therapist, psychologist, and resource teacher within the limits of the pre-school. The child is for a second year in a row in the same preschool class, because he was delayed from starting first grade because of medical reasons. He likes artistic activities and playing with his peers. He understands and strongly desires to be adopted, even if he does not talk much, his short dialogs are for his future surrounded by his loved ones.

Bailey is a healthy child with age-appropriate physical and neuropsychological development. He has good communication skills, has leadership qualities which sometimes turn bossy, and has a group of friends. He is curious, social and actively interacts with the people around him of different ages. Bailey has the attitude and the mindset for the adoption process with the needed positivity towards providing good living
conditions, including satisfying of the physiological needs, the needs for security, love and belonging, respect and self-affirmation. He understands and strongly desires to be adopted, he often talks about his future, surrounded by his loved ones. The adoption process is so desired and awaited by Bailey. The child is prepared and
ready to have his family, his adoptive parents.