Other Special Needs

Summer is quiet, friendly and always smiles when she is seen by an adult. She almost eats without help – but she eats slowly. She almost goes up and down the stairway by herself. She does not want to always participate in all activities and needs extra motivation. She expresses her feelings with mimics and movements. She has started to speak and pronounces some words. Summer loves music, reading, books and swinging on the horse.

She wants adult’s attention and likes to lean on an adult, sit in their lap, and give hugs. Her fine and gross motors skills development are adequate. She is friendly with adults and children.

Mary Beth is a sweet and cuddly little girl. She was a premature baby, and was diagnosed with laryngeal cartilage dysplasia. Mary Beth has been healthy, but her muscular tension is high. She is unable to sit, crawl, or hold anything in her hands. Mary Beth is not speaking, and does not often respond to those talking to her. When she is upset, a long hug and cuddle will calm her. She has many delays. We do not know what the future holds for this sweet little one, but with a loving family and therapies, she will be able to reach her full potential. Mary Beth needs a family soon.

Marvelous Mavis will steal your heart! She is quick to smile and loves being picked up and held for comfort. Shortly after entering into the orphanage Mavis was diagnosed with epilepsy which is now managed by medication and careful attention to her diet. Mavis’ skills are steadily improving and with the support of her foster family she can now sit, and stand with assistance. When playing on her own, Mavis sits quietly; seemingly enjoying her surroundings! Mavis’ foster family “hopes she will soon find a family who will love her so she can enjoy the love of her forever parents and have a happy childhood”.

April seems to be so joyful. She has ready smile and laughs easily and when she laughs you can see her dimples. She attends primary school and is on the same level as her peers. For more information on the sweet girl please inquire, for agency contact information.

Cora currently lives with a foster family. She has mental delays, some stereotypical movements, and difficulty with eye contact and social interactions. She was diagnosis with Atypical Autism in 2017. She is physically healthy. She is toilet trained and feeds herself. She is described as a happy child who has a contagious smile and laughter. Her caregivers attribute her learning delays to early neglect.

Most of the time, Caryn is calm, especially when she is in the playroom. When somebody pays attention to her, she laughs loudly. Caryn totally depends on the care of others. She sleeps peacefully and stays calm when getting dressed and bathing. She has cerebral palsy and needs specific care, though she has no severe deficit in terms of physical activity.

From a teacher who works with her: This little blind girl is progressing so well, but she is so scared. Can you imagine to be in a world where at any given moment you could get pinched, pushed over, knocked down, hair pulled, eyes poked. I don’t blame her, especially when there are so many other special needs children around her and so few staff and no family love and care. But inspite of all of this she is a fighter and a giggler.

Gabi is physically healthy with normal physical development. She is radiant and very active.

Gabi responds adequately to praise and punishment. Gabi establishes and maintains eye contact. She seeks the attention of the people around and she seeks familiar people and their closeness purposefully.

Gabi understands the meaning of words that are often used in her surroundings. She expresses her needs and wishes through vocalization.

In her spare time Gabi likes watching TV, playing on a phone, listening to music and going out for walks.

Melany is physically healthy with mild intellectual delays. She is in 7^th grade and has worked with a resource teacher online during the 2020-2021 school year. She is described as shy and introverted, though she communicates freely with familiar people. She enjoys talking about topics that interest her and is very friendly. She has friends at school and at the children’s center where she lives. She states that her dreams are to have a family, finish school and become a teacher. When asked what adoption means, she said, “to have a family, to live forever with these people who take care of you and not to be left alone anymore”.

He has been living with a foster family since 2013.

He has a systolic murmur along the precordium; hyperkinetic conduct disorder and a mild mental delay. The child started walking on time, but his speech is underdeveloped. The child cannot stay focused for a long time while playing. He understands and follows simple instructions.

The agency has current medical reports available for serious inquiries.

UPDATE March 2017:   previous Diagnosis of Atypical autism that was changed to hyperkinetic disorder, very interested in motor activities. Responds to positive interactions and praise from familiar adults, but can become anxious in new situations or if a familiar caregiver is not around. He seeks comfort from familiar adults and can become sad if one leaves.

Damian is able to speak and understand everything but prefers using mimics and gestures to communicate.

He prefers sporting and free activities. He orientates well and quickly when solving puzzles. He likes riding a bicycle, playing with pins and mini-soccer.

Damian participates in playing activities, both individual and group, but often does not follow the rules. Damian is able to make his bed when he gets up. He can fold his clothes and tidy his wardrobe. He needs to be reminded about maintaining his personal hygiene and shows no interest in acquiring skills for cleaning and maintaining his personal space, cleaning utensils and other daily activities.

Damian eats well and sleeps calmly. His attitude towards possible adoption is positive.

Ollie is now living in foster care. He is physically well developed. He has good coordination of his hands and feet. He walks without falling, and can run as well. Climbs up and goes down by the stairs when holding an adult or the railing. He can play with cubes by putting them and taking them out of a cup, but has some problems manipulating with smaller objects. He cannot eat and dress by himself yet, but does make attempts. He understood almost everything and fulfils small tasks. He likes playing hide and seek. He hides behind the door and when he is found, he laughs and stomps his feet. He is interested in musical cartoons and copies the movements of the actors.

*There is a younger child that is believed to be Ollie’s younger brother. However, they are NOT listed as needing to be adopted together. The other child is listed as Ozzie.

Brandt loves riding bikes and playing soccer and plays for the soccer team at his school. His caregivers describe him as a cheerful child who is talkative and very sweet He attends 1st grade and his favorite class is where they learn the ABC’s. He is not a fan of coloring or drawing and when he doesn’t like an activity at school, he prefers to go to the bathroom and clean. He is calm and loving with other children and he enjoys social activities and helping with chores.

Brandt had a complicated birth history, and was premature. He typically wears glasses. Brandt needs a prospective adoptive family with excellent educational resources including ESL support, and a good understanding of developmental trauma, institutionalization and older child adoption. He needs a family that is open to some unknowns.

Phineas is described by nannies as an observant child who has positive relationships with peers and caregivers. He enjoys being with his caretakers and knows/understands their individual personalities and is challenging for him when he has a new caregiver. He gives and receives affection with individuals he likes. He participates in the orphanage activities and loves to explore. He can express his feelings if his caregivers encourage it and knows some self-care.

Phineas needs a loving family that can provide a nurturing environment, felt safety, and knowledge regarding older child adoption.

Quinntavius is missing his right hand. It looks as if he may have ptosis (droopy eye lid) of his left eye, but that is not a formal diagnosis. Quinntavius likes to look at picture books and be read to. He really enjoys going outside and playing and basking in the sunshine. Quinntavius has good fine motor skills and is very observant. He knows his name and likes hearing his named called. Quinntavius has good expression and is very curious. He is a quiet boy and doesn’t cry often. He can combine actions with words, such as shaking his head no and saying no. He really likes to play with toys, especially blocks, and he enjoys rolling balls. Quinntavius sounds like a wonderful little boy who doesn’t let anything stop him. Now he just needs a forever family of his own! Video available from spring 2017.

When Gentry was born he had a bad case of pneumonia and was behind his friends in his physical development. Gentry’s pneumonia cleared up, but it has taken him a little while to learn to do things that his friends could do. At 7 months he started to hold his head up and roll over. At 9 months he was able to sit up all by himself and look for my caregivers when they called his name. When the doctors started to examine Gentry they found that one of his testicles was descended. Gentry also has leukoma in his left eye. Gentry can follow toys from side to side so his caregivers do not know if it is affecting his vision. Gentry loves to laugh, imitate caregivers, and groove to the music.

May 2019 Written Update:His mental ability is similar to other kids of the same age. He has thalassemia and needs blood transfusion every month. He has a good personality. He is quiet. He listens to the staff, and likes reading, painting, singing, and playing chess. He is well behaved. Duncan has no delays with gross motor or fine motor skills. He attends school. Duncan has a close friend at the orphanage. He knows how to care for others. His social skills are good and he gets along well with others.
———————–
“I love observing others in a big group of people and seeing others happy makes me happy. I am an easy kid who doesn’t need much to be entertained. I just like holding hands and feeling close to people. I’m a total lover, not a fighter! I always listen to what my nannies ask of me and I obey with a smile on my face. I’m gentle with my friends and treat all my belongings with care. People who know me describe me as sweet, shy, loving, happy, kind, and as a good listener.” This was written by volunteers who have gotten to know Duncan well over the years. What a gem of a kid! And don’t get us started on that smile….that smile that pretty much never leaves his face!

Duncan was born in January of 2009 with beta thalassemia major and is transfusion dependent. He needs a blood transfusion approximately every 3 weeks and he receives iron chelation daily. He is easy-going, obedient, and very happy. Unfortunately, Duncan has not been able to attend school outside of the orphanage due to his needs, but does receive schooling inside the orphanage. He knows how to count and can draw, color, and sing songs. Duncan is a polite boy who gets along well with all of his friends. A forever family and the medical care Duncan could receive in the United States would be life-changing for this precious boy!

There are several videos available.

There is a $4,000 agency grant for Duncan’s adoption with his current adoption agency. The Cooley’s Anemia Foundation is also giving a $1,000 grant for any child with transfusion dependent thalassemia.

Lennox is described as smart, clever, quiet, and pleasant. In March of 2014 he had surgery for one of his special needs. Lennox is a handsome and active boy who has a ready smile. The caretakers and other kids all like him very much! His agency has asked for an update and hope to have one soon!

Stan takes medication to manage his thyroid. He’s also on medication for behaviors, and his foster family reports that the medication helps him to sleep better at night, which has improved his overall behavior. He can memorize, retain, and reproduces information. Motor skills are well developed. Self-help skills are well developed. He follows the rules and behaves well in public. The medication he is taking has decreased his mood swings. He talks in complete sentences and is able to ask/answer questions, tell a story, etc. He occasionally mixes up verb tenses and other grammatical errors, but is able to be understood. He is working with a speech therapist at school. He responds well to verbal praise and verbal prompts when he needs correction. He enjoys music and loves animals. He eagerly engages in activities with other children. He likes to put puzzles together, watch TV and play on the computer. He is behind academically at school due to difficulty with attention span.

Currently, Andy & Kayla are being raised together in a foster home, while Izzy is being raised in a different foster home in the same town. The children see each other often and want to be adopted together so that they can all live in the same home. The foster families do not speak the country’s native language in the home, so the children speak one language while at home and a 2nd language at school.

Andy tested at age appropriate levels on all psychological and emotional testing. He does well in school and does not have any behavioral concerns. He has age appropriate friendships, social skills, communication skills, and self-help skills. He likes to play football and eat French fries. When he grows up, he wants to be a policeman.

Izzy tested at age appropriate levels on all psychological and emotional testing. She does well in school and does not have any behavioral concerns. She has age appropriate friendships, social skills, communication skills, and self-help skills. She enjoys playing outside with her friends. When she grows up, she wants to be a teacher.

Kayla has speech delays that make it difficult to understand what she is saying. She is working with a speech therapist and learning to make the correct sounds so that her words are more easily understood. She is very active and takes medication to control impulsive behaviors and to help her attention span. Her foster mother reports that her behaviors have greatly improved with the addition of medication. She is attending kindergarten and responds well to play based learning.

*Abner’s social worker reported that according to the specialists, supervising Abner’s condition and development, the diagnosis of atypical autism is no longer valid and it will be deleted from Abner’s formal paperwork that is to be updated in the following months

Abner likes to keep himself busy exploring! His favorite activities are the ones that include movement, such as going for a walk. He very much likes to spend time looking through books. He also likes all musical instruments and toys that play melodies and sounds. His favorite toy is a children’s laptop that plays songs. When he hears a melody he tries to dance.

There has been a progress in Abner’s speech development as he has started using a lot of words. He now forms sentences containing 3-4 words, albeit dyslexia is observed.

Severely impaired condition, polymalformative syndrome: Dandy-Walker syndrome, epilepsy, congenital hydrocephalus-ventriculoperitoneal shunt installed, dysfunction of the valve with a neuroinfection and a surgical treatment and revision of the valve system in the spring of 2015; anal atresia, sigmostoma and sagittal proctoplasty; mylticystic right kidney, kidney dysplasia, pyelectasis and hypertrophy of the left kidney, severe mental delay.

Connor is being raised in one of the biggest orphanages in Bulgaria where children often suffer from severe malnutrition, muscle hypotrophy and have severe delays in the neuropsychological development. He has a polymalformative syndrome, but one could see a dramatic change in his appearance in just two pictures- the first one taken in the end of November 2014 and the second one in June 2015.

He grabs a toy that is handed to him, holds it for a while and manipulates with it. He has started to more and more often reach with his hands and manipulate with hanging toys independently.

While involved in active interactions with adults, he would make his emotional responses known with his nonverbal behavior. He seeks contact with familiar adults by reaching out his hand, grabbing an adult’s hand and he would even sometimes direct an adult’s hand towards his face so as to be caressed.

He falls asleep easily and his sleep is calm. He is fed with a bottle. He gets anxious while his clothes are changed and while bathed.

Jonas is on several medications.  Jonas’s motor activity completely corresponds to the expected developmental level for his calendar age.  Although his fine motor skills need to improve further, Jonas is able to hold a pencil properly. He can inlay elements with some guidance. He puts cubes one on top of the other. He threads colored rings on a fixed stand, but not yet in accordance with their size.

There are some difficulties in attracting and keeping his attention focused. Jonas plays for a longer period of time whenever he is interested in the respective activity. Jonas orientates well in a familiar environment. He distinguishes between day and night based on his everyday routines – sleeping, meal times, rest. He recognizes the neighborhood around the foster family’s home.

Jonas is reported to have achieved noticeable progress in terms of expressing his emotions and feelings, which are becoming more diverse. He reacts appropriately to smiles and angry faces and also to the tone of voice one talks to him with. He demonstrates his love, attachment and attention for others. He greatly enjoys it when others play with him. Jonas has attached to all members of the foster family.

Rocky is a calm, pleasant  boy who lives in a group home in Eastern Europe. He is attached to his caregivers and responds well to them.

Although Rocky was born premature and with low birth weight; cerebral palsy; and speech, motor and cognitive delays, he is making good progress in his physical therapy and other supports. He can walk with minimal support, and his fine motor skills are also improving.

George can fulfill simple instructions, does not walk very well.

Martha does not react to her name, does not know colors, does not play with toys.  Can feed herself, but is not adequate. She would eat banana with skin and candy with cover. She is not potty trained. Her speech is almost not developed.

There is a history of prior neglect; George has better development because he lived in the family less time than Martha, before they were removed.

He has a brother in a different orphanage born in 2007. They must be adopted together!

Seth and Victor are brothers currently residing together in a foster home. Seth has a moderate mental and physical delay but is otherwise clinically healthy. Victor has hypothyroidism but is otherwise healthy and not delayed.

Clifton lives with a foster family.  He loves to listen to music and dance and is always looking for a dancing partner! His foster family is working on him walking longer distances independently.  He is learning how to play with toys and interact appropriately with other children.  He has few words and does not follow verbal directions.  Clifton is receiving therapy multiple times a week.

Clifton’s gross motor skills are well-developed – he moves around independently, even at long distances, and he has no difficulties walking on different surfaces. He can now run (since the beginning of January 2017). The deficits noted previously in Clifton’s fine motor skills have been compensated to a great extent. He can transfer small elements with a spoon from one bowl into another with an adult’s assistance, he plays with certain materials and toys, he clips and unclips clothes pegs, he looks for an object hidden in the sand and he takes it out with great interest. He holds a pencil and leaves pale traces with it on a sheet of paper. He does great eating with a spoon. Clifton accepts the toothbrush and allows for his teeth to be brushed.

It happens more and more rarely for Clifton to demonstrate anxiety in response to being introduced to unfamiliar places and people. The stereotypic movements he demonstrates when someone initiates interactions with him have decreased significantly. He imitates actions he has observed more often and more successfully than before. Clifton becomes lively and starts dancing whenever someone is singing or plays music.

Clifton is  calm in his new foster family, he often smiles and he laughs aloud while playing with an adult (or with the girls in the foster family). He is especially attached to the foster father and the younger daughter in the family. Clifton has become a lot more sociable in the last 6 months: he seeks children’s attention, initiates interactions, accepts unfamiliar people a lot easier, maintains a smaller distance between himself and others and makes eye contact.

Although Clifton has poor passive vocabulary, he follows simple instructions provided that those are accompanied by nonverbal means of communication. His speech development is at the level of producing chains of syllables. He uses “No” appropriately so as to express his disagreement, he sometimes uses “Yes” and “Give me”. Clifton initiates physical and emotional contact with his foster parents and their children as well as with the specialists working with him. He is especially attached to the foster father and the youngest daughter in the foster family. His interactions with other children have changed significantly – he plays with them for a long time and he is making attempts to cooperate with them.

More photos/file are available from his agency

updated pics/video Aug 2016

Ray is facing transfer to the institution.  Please share him so he can find his forever family!

Vivian is a gorgeous, joyful girl. Though she had a difficult start in life, she is an absolute fighter and has already come so far! She appears to have had a traumatic brain injury (TBI) at birth which has led to her disability. She also has cerebral palsy that affects all 4 limbs and uses a wheelchair. In her physical therapy she is working to keep her range of motion and improve her head control. Vivian appears to have both hearing and vision loss, although she responds to light and dark, and loves it when you open the curtains and turn on the lights to greet her in the morning. Her right hand was amputated as a baby, but she makes great use of her left hand, and enjoys holding hands/fingers and grabbing her favorite blanket and toys. Vivian is fed by a G-tube, but also enjoys occasional oral feeding for a tasty smoothie (not too cold please!) or a hot chocolate treat. Although she takes daily medicines to manage her epilepsy, Vivian is generally a very stable little girl and her epilepsy is well controlled.

As a result of her vision impairment and TBI, Vivian sleeps more than might be expected for a girl her age. For instance, after enjoying her breakfast Vivian often falls asleep until around lunch time when she wakes up for food and is then ready to enjoy an afternoon of activities (snuggles and playtime!) before falling asleep just after dinner with a bedtime story/cuddle. Once she gets to know her caregivers, Vivian learns the feeling of her favorite people (she identifies them by the feel of their bracelet, hair, or other identifying features) and responds happily when she knows they are with her!

Although Vivian is non-verbal she does express herself by facial expressions and vocalizing in response to what is going on or to get your attention. For instance, she loves being bounced around and will respond with her mouth wide open and a joyful noise. Once you get to know Vivian you will be better at recognizing how she communicates. She might let out a little noise, give you a sassy side eye, or open her mouth wide to let you know exactly how she feels. In the mornings she is normally very excited to see her people, and gives a big smile and an open mouth when you wake her up! Caregivers use objects of reference to let Vivian know what’s going to happen next, but our prayer for Vivian is that she and her caregivers will be able to find a comprehensive communication system that enables her to express her thoughts and opinions with the world.

Vivian has a gentle and lovely personality which you will quickly come to cherish. Some of the things that make her the happiest are picnics outside under the trees, walks, bubble baths, and snuggles on the couch. She is most at peace when she is close to the people she loves. With the right care and support, Vivian is capable of making beautiful progress in life. She is a treasure to have around and would absolutely love to join a forever family!

Oscar is a very lovable boy with a sweet personality. He is very outgoing and playful and is always happy and bobbing his head to music when it is played. He enjoys playing with his caretakers and loves attending school. Oscar can sit upright independently for an extended period of time and can even walk with the assistance of someone to steady him. He is generally weaker on his left side but is working with a therapist to strengthen his fine motor skills and is developing and growing very well.

Update early 2021:  Oscar was brought to the children’s home when he was 8 years old after it was discovered he was being abused by his father. Over the last four years he has made enormous gains in many areas. Oscar has the widest smile in the world. He’s always on the move and is able to get around extremely well despite the Cerebral Palsy that affects his right side. Independently he scoots around using his strong side. In therapy he works with a walker and enjoys walking with the support of caregivers. Oscar is also diagnosed with Hydrocephalus that is controlled with a shunt. He needs assistance in most daily cares but is able to eat independently. Oscar’s favorite activities are sensory-based, and he loves to make a mess! Oscar is learning to communicate with a picture system but will also let you know how he feels with his sounds and facial expressions. This beautiful boy enjoys playing with toys and being tickled by caregivers. He is often able to figure out how to make different toys work and is always happy to listen to music. He brings great joy to the home and loves to be in the middle of whatever is going on. A consistent, loving forever family would allow Oscar to continue growing and learning, leading him to a life full of potential.

Leonard is full of laughter and enjoys playing alone and singing songs with his friends. Leonard was diagnosed with Autism and Epilepsy, but he is taking anti-epileptic medication to manage his seizures. He receives physical, occupational, and speech therapy on a weekly basis and has made great progress in his communication skills, mobility, and behavior. Leonard can walk, run, and can even feed himself. Leonard has been able to form healthy attachments to his caregivers and would benefit from a loving family.

Update Feb 2021:  Leonard is a joyful, loving boy whose presence is life-giving. He radiates light and warmth everywhere he goes, like sunshine! You will never catch him without a smile on his face. His favorite thing to do is sing songs, and he loves it when people join in and sing along. Leonard’s favorite song to sing is, “This is the day! This is the day that the Lord has made! We will rejoice and be glad in Him!” This boy is always teaching those around him what it means to live a life of joy and gratitude. His laugh captures the attention of everyone around him. It is contagious! Leonard loves being tickled, held, and loved on. He is a big cuddler! Sensory activities like water play, swinging, and playing in the sand are Leonard’s favorite. His favorite game is when a caregiver turns her back to him and then counts to three before turning around to chase and tickle him. Light-up toys, bubbles, and cause and effect toys quickly gain Leonard’s attention. The special thing about Leonard is that he notices and pays attention to the small details that often go unnoticed by others. He finds joy in the simple things. Leonard is an active boy who can walk and run independently. He needs full assistance in most self-help areas such as: bathing, toileting, and dressing. However, Leonard can independently feed himself. He is beginning to make huge steps in his communication. Leonard has started initiating interactions with those around him, making frequent eye contact, and using pictures to communicate his needs and wants.  He also shows an understanding of basic words and directions that are in his native language by responding appropriately to them. At school, Leonard is in a sensory and communication-based classroom. He loves attending school and seeing all his friends. Leonard’s favorite part of school is singing songs with his friends and teachers.

It is evident that Leonard deeply desires to have someone who will be his forever person. He would bring so much happiness and joy into a family because of the way he unconditionally loves those around him. Leonard would thrive in a family who will love and advocate for him and his communication needs. A family that never hesitates to share with the world what a gift he is!

Anthony is a happy 10-year-old boy who spreads joy wherever he goes! He has a love for any kind of music, but his favorite song is “You Are My Sunshine.” The truth is that Anthony is a ray of sunshine in the lives of those around him. Anthony gets so excited when his caretakers sing to him. It is a blessing to see the delight on his face!

Although he does require some assistance with daily tasks, Anthony is strong and determined. Anthony’s caregivers believe that with continued therapy, he will be able to do many more things on his own. He is learning through a sensory-based curriculum at school. His teachers report that he is making great progress on his communication skills and it is evident that Anthony will continue to improve in all of his abilities with the extra love and care of a forever family. Could you give Anthony all the love he deserves to help him thrive in life?

Update Feb 2021:  Anthony has been living at the children’s home since he was a year old. He is a smart and caring boy. Access to quality medical care to assess the severity of his disabilities would be extremely beneficial. Anthony does require support with daily cares and accessing education. However, the growth he has experienced at the children’s home has been nothing short of miraculous. Anthony loves music and physical touch. Although he uses a wheelchair his favorite place to be is on the floor; where he can move around and explore his environment. His smile brightens even the darkest of days and his tenacity and determination are inspiring to all. The best days are ones where Anthony is laughing out loud. Anthony longs to be with a family who will love him for who he is. He would bring unending joy to them and the growth he experiencing would increase 10-fold in the care of a forever family.

Ethan is well developed for his age. He is a warm and curious little boy. His best toy is a ball. He laughs and shouts every time he got his ball. Ethan is a cheerful and peaceful child. He likes the other children. Observes and manipulates with toys. He knows how to charm his caregivers and receives lots of attention.

With a familiar adult, Ethan has a good emotional tone – he enjoys a hide and seek game and sometimes gives his hand for “hello”.

He cannot walk yet, but he sits, crawls and staying straight caught for fixed support, showing progress in his motor skill development. The child has flat feet with valgus deviation of both feet – it was recommended to wear orthopedic shoes. Ethan stands up on his own until he is caught on a fixed support, stands on tiptoe, does not step aside, placed in a walker, moves short distances; pronounces long sound combinations.

Vera is a delightful young lady with cerebral palsy. She is known for her wild hair and love of dancing!

Vera receives PT, being stretched and working on maintaining different positions. Her therapist helps bring her to a sitting position and they work on balance. Sometimes Vera is cooperative and engaged and sometimes she rolls her eyes and refuses to take part, which makes us laugh! Vera’s caregivers help her with all her acts of daily living.

Vera’s very favourite thing to do is dance. When a song comes on that she loves, she giggles in excitement, kicks her feet, rocks back and forth and taps her hands against her forehead to the beat. She also really enjoys water play. Now that she is more stable in a sitting position, she is getting more adventurous in the kiddie pool!

Jasmine is a wonderful teenager who is blind and on the autism spectrum.

Jasmine is known for her big, tight squeezey hugs! She is also known for her strength. Jasmine loves water play more than anything else. She dunks her whole head in the water and comes up for a breath with a loud laugh. As soon as she hears water, she beelines for it and tries to dive into it, even if it’s a caregiver filling up a bucket to wash her clothes or another child’s bathtime! She also really likes the sit and spin and the trampoline. She jumps very high!

Jasmine has some commands in both English and her native language that she can follow. She vocalizes but is non-verbal. Jasmine needs support for her acts of daily living but feeds herself. She loves food from her culture and rarely tries even a bite of western food! Jasmine is a happy and loveable girl who brings a lot of laughter wherever she goes.

Priscilla arrived in her care home in July 2021 and has become more alert and engaged since her arrival. She can roll on her sides but struggles with maintaining head control. She doesn’t yet appear to have very developed receptive language but communicates with her caregiver with cooing sounds and smiles when they interact together. If she is upset, she visibly relaxes when her caregiver talks to her. At the Christmas party, Priscilla moved from lap to lap of all the aunties in the home, as they each wanted to take part in watching Priscilla experienced her first Christmas! She received a swing for her gift and seems to enjoy the soothing motion of being pushed in the swing.

Mae is a funny and loveable young girl who is blind. She has bilateral microphthalmia with light perception.

For her most recent birthday party, Mae requested a pool party with chicken nuggets and french fries! She loves making up stories and playing Hungry, Hungry Hippos. She enjoys playing her keyboard and inventing songs and she has a great imagination. She pretends she is being chased by monkeys, laughing and running, or she will be teacher to the other children and pretend to lead a class.

Mae can read uncontracted braille and type on her Perkins braille writer. She dresses herself and feeds herself and is really growing in independence with her daily living skills. Mae speaks well in both her native language and in English. She walks independently with a white cane. Mae has some delayed skills due to institutionalization, particularly her gross motor skills are weak, however she gets around well. She is friendly, funny and loves to laugh. Mae is a comedian who loves life and would be a valuable addition to a family.

Lucia has a diagnosis of Cornelia de lange syndrome, which causes developmental delays. She continues to make great progress with therapy. She enjoys playing with her favorite doll, and all food.

The adoption agency has more detailed information on this child that they can share with potential families.

The boys are both listed as healthy.  All three should be adopted together.

Meet Jasmine!  Jasmine is an adorable 5 year old born in 2016.  Jasmine has a happy disposition and loves to laugh! She is not shy and likes to interact and play with others. One of Jasmine’s favorite activities is spending time and playing with her favorite cousin, who is the same age as her. Jasmine also has a close bond with her foster parents and has an affectionate relationship with them. Jasmine has a Cerebral Palsy diagnosis with global delays. She attends occupational therapy and hydrotherapy once a week. Over the course of her therapies, she has made improvements with her mobility and can walk by herself. At home, Jasmine’s foster mother has her practice walking up and down stairs and using a kick scooter to continue with her exercises. Jasmine is currently in pre-kindergarten, and one of her major accomplishments was to memorize 1-30, and she can recite these numbers when quizzed! Jasmine’s speech skills have also improved throughout the school year, and she spontaneously requested a “glittery pair of shoes” recently. She has waited long enough. Could she be your child?

Additional photos and videos available from the agency.

Update Feb 2022:  Kinsley is going to be part of the 2022 summer hosting program if not outright matched first! Families in IL, NJ, PA, KY, IN, TN, or MO are eligible to host! Please contact Madison Adoption Agency for additional information on her hosting.

———————

Kinsley is a beautiful little girl who loves to look pretty. She likes to wear red, pink, and yellow dresses. She also loves accessories like hair clips, earrings, and bracelets. She loves to play with dolls and she also likes to play pretend teacher. Kinsley loves cats. She also loves to watch Princess Sofia. Kinsley is active and likes to swim, ride her bike, and play at the park. We hope this little sweet girl will find her forever family soon!

Additional photos available!

VIDEOS  (Password: Adoptmaa)
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-kinsley1
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-kinsley02
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-kinsley03

There is a $500 agency fee reduction for Kinsley’s adoption with a specific agency!

Kinsley is eligible for a $10,000 grant with the LPA, as long as the family joins LPA!

Kinsley needs a family with an approved home study to be able to lock her file or submit a letter of intent to adopt her. A family without a home study can look at her redacted file. If you are interested in reviewing Kinsley’s file or in adopting Kinsley, the agency would be happy to assist you.

Initially was diagnosed with moderate mental delays and an inferior IQ, diagnostic was modified for mild mental delays and finally after psychological reevaluation her IQ is determined to be normal. Mental examination shows a calm and inexpressive child, staring off into space that shows indifference and only speaks when I ask her something, assures to be euthymic even though her appearance seems to be of sadness. Some level of cognition deficit, I have to repeat questions, she writes her name but unable to make her to read some words, can’t add 2+2, low tone of voice, monotone, without any inflection, her thought seems coherent, concrete, limited to isolated words and short phrases, good sleep habits, poor appetite, thin physical constitution, remembers “papa me pegaba” (my father used to hit me), there is no suicidal ideas but “ cansada de la vida” (tired of life), she isolates herself “solo tengo una amiguita” (I only have one little friend), no anxiety data. When child arrived to institution her caretaker described her as aggressive, hyperactive and complaints about misbehaving at school. Currently auto-sufficient to get dress, hygiene needs, eating moving from one place to another. The report card shows that she is inhibited, affectionate, fast learner, likes to participate in activities. Psychology report from 2013 reports no behavioral problems, calm, received therapy and attends to elementary school.

According to her caregiver, Mariah is a sweet girl, she is such a little “doll”, she likes dresses, shoes, likes to dance and she has an amazing personal charm. But she also has a strong character, pursues a goal, and is very curious about the world. She wants to be independent – she eats her meals alone, uses the toilet herself (and has a good appetite!) – and she also is willing to help.

Mariah has good motor activity, she is physically active, willing to dance and sing. Mariah has a lot of energy, is enduring, does not get tired quickly, and often changes body positions. She tries to be independent.  She does not react with anger to her failures. She is persistent in carrying out instructions and tries to finish what has been started. The girl eats her meals alone, uses the toilet herself, and has a good appetite.

The agency’s representative in country met her in  December 2021 and they have videos and photos to share with an interested family. At the end of the visit while saying goodbye, she quietly asked the representative to find a mother for her.

The agency offers a discount to a special family for this beautiful and brave girl.

Update from a family who visited with her in Dec 2021:  Quinnie is smart and clearly understands whatever direction the nannies give her – to pick something up, to sit down, to play with something, etc. It seemed like she could say a few words but is mostly nonverbal. She has her own signs in order to communicate to the nannies that she has to go to the bathroom or that she wants something. She enjoyed participating in games and was able to give hugs when I held out my arms.

Her demeanor completely changed when we were left alone with her. She threw toys, phones, etc across the room and screamed a lot. She kept throwing my phone and got upset when I took it away. I believe these behaviors were because she was scared since she was left alone with strangers who spoke a different language. I think that she would do very well with a family who can devote the time to helping her adjust and to communicate. She did so well when there were people in the room who spoke her language. We only could not proceed because of our young children and the fragile health of the boy we are adopting.

Isaiah is a sweetheart who has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy with low muscle tone in his lower trunk area and high muscle tone in his arms.

Isaiah practices walking with a gain trainer and the other boys cheer him on as he takes off in a cute, hoppy walk! When he gets tired he vocalizes loudly and one of the older boys pushes him around while he giggles. He continues to work on independent sitting and crawling and always laughs through his exercises. He can’t 4-point crawl yet, but is working on it, however he moves himself around the room in an army crawl. He can sit by himself if his back is against the wall, for short periods of time. Isaiah’s communication is growing. He is working very hard to control his body movements enough to reach for an item or choice he wants to make. His receptive language in both his native language and English is excellent, and responds non-verbally with facial expressions, body movements and sounds. He is learning colour identification in class. Isaiah cannot yet eat solid foods and his food is also blended for him.

Isaiah got a bowling set for Christmas and he giggles endlessly when his caregivers help him knock the pins down! He likes watching music videos and kicking along to the dance moves and really enjoys his fabric tunnel. He moves through it and laughs and laughs when his caregiver pretends she can’t find him. Isaiah then kicks or hits the side of the tunnel to “help” her find him! Isaiah also loves knocking over big towers of blocks. He laughs loudly every time! He is pure joy and would thrive in a family.

Katherine is a sweet, quiet girl with cerebral palsy and mild scoliosis. She is also profoundly deaf. She received a cochlear implant in 2016.

Katherine struggles with keeping her head up, but when she is very motivated she is physically able to find the strength. Katherine is non-verbal and requires full support for all her acts of daily living. She had a hip correction surgery for hip dislocation and this has helped a lot with positioning and pain management. She receives PT where her muscles are stretched and she works on core strengthening.

Katherine is calm and quiet. Her caregiver loves her a lot. For Christmas, she bought her lipstick and jewelry and did a photoshoot! Katherine enjoys basking in the sun on the balcony and likes when her teachers help her finger paint or read touch and feel books. She likes being held and when her caregiver kisses her forehead. She also seems to really enjoy water play and is always content and soothed.

Katherine would be a wonderful addition to a family!

Cedar is a sweet boy with an adorable raspy laugh who is totally blind and on the autism spectrum. He is nonverbal and needs support in all his acts of daily living.

Cedar can stand up from the floor by himself and is able to walk independently. He receives training on using his white cane. He can go up and down the stairs independently. Cedar makes lots of sounds but does not yet say any words, although he does understand some words in his native language and in English. He feeds himself.

Cedar loves sensory play in shaving cream, and his last birthday party was a shaving cream party! He covers his whole body in it. The year before, his home played Cedar Says, an adaption of the game Simon Says, where all the kids copied Cedar’s unique sounds and acrobat moves! He loves the standing swing, water play and he gets excited when his teachers help him do the actions to Head and Shoulders. He is known as being his home’s acrobat and can most often be found climbing on something or hanging upside down! Cedar is a joyful kid and brings a lot of laughter wherever he goes.

These two are in the same orphanage now, but they have 3 older siblings in a different orphanage. One of the older children was born in 2012; we don’t have the info on the other two children’s age. It’s likely the governmental authorities will want all 5 children to be adopted together in the same family, because they have no severe special needs.

More likely the governmental authorities will want all 5 children to be adopted together in the same family, because they have no severe special needs.

Isla has been registered for domestic adoption for over a year and because of her age, she is internationally adoptable only under the condition of adoption of the older sibling(s).