Common Special Needs in International Adoption

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July 2, 2025 • 61 mins

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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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Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.

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