Common Special Needs in International Adoption

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Are you considering international adoption? If so, this interview will help you decide which special needs are a good fit for your family. We'll talk with Dr. Dana Johnson, MD, PhD. He is a Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Neonatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Dr. Johnson founded the International Adoption Clinic at the University of Minnesota. He is a dad and granddad by birth and adoption.

In this episode, we discuss:

• International adoption has become overwhelmingly a special needs adoption program from all countries. Prospective adoptive parents are required to fill out a form stating what special needs they will accept.
• Most common special needs. What are they and how involved is the post-adoption care? 
  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Heart issues
  • Craniofacial
    • Cleft lip/palate
  • Developmental Special Needs
    • Autism
    • Down syndrome
    • Developmental Delays
  • Hepatitis B and C
  • HIV
  • Orthopedic special needs
    • Clubfoot
    • Limb or digit deficiencies
  • Albinism
  • Hearing loss
  • Vision Loss
  • Urogenital
    • Kidney abnormalities
    • Urethra issues
    • Bladder issues
    • Imperforate anus
    • Ambiguous genitalia
  • Emotional/Trauma
  • Older kids
  • Sexual Abuse
  • Prenatal Exposure
• How can adoptive parents support and advocate for children discriminated against due to physical, cognitive, and other disabilities?
• What type of special needs do you see from the major placing countries?
  • India
  • Colombia
  • Bulgaria
  • Ukraine
  • South Korea
  • Haiti
  • African countries

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