Cane and Able: #11 Adoption

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A lot of people cite that adoption is a viable means for the disabled to approach as a means of parenthood and is in fact preferable to genetic offspring. I understand when conditions are harmful and genetic it is one matter, but this is a reccomendation I have seen across the board, including towards people who are disabled from accidents or non hereditary illnesses.

Becoming a parent when you are older now is no longer considered as great a concern as it once was, despite the fact that with age comes greater risk during pregnancy along with the higher possibility of multiple births, is adoption not pressed to them as a superior option?

I have heard arguments ranging from 'adopted children are older and need less care' cited as reasons up to 'it's more humane' - for whom?

For those with a diability from an accident or non-hereditary illness, the considerations lie within the body is still capable of bearing a child, and if the parents are both able to care for the child despite their own difficulties. In most instances I cannot see there being an overwhelming certainty to adoption based on the health of the child. Is it more bearable for a child in school to have the stigma of adoption over the stigma of having a parent who is ill for some reason? Children are cruel regardless and more often than not a child that has been through the foster care system needs an energetic set of gaurdians who will not add further social stigma, a very young child would not face the same difficulties socially at least.

For a disability which is hereditary then what are the possible outcomes? The majority of hereditary illnesses are recessive. Many are not discovered until it is too late, the loss of a child is tragic and an experience that no parent should have to suffer through multiple times, it is perhaps the situation I consider the most responsible where adoption should perhaps be considered over child bearing, the parents often show no sign of illness, after all they have a dominant set of genes to take over for the recessive defect but a 25% chance of losing a child and 50% of that child being healthy but a carrier make adoption a healthier option if for the sake of parental guilt.

Few hereditary illnesses are dominant, in general the dominant conditions are less inhibiting due to the nature of evolutionary fitness. A set of dominant traits that form that are life threatening and damaging do not survive enough successful generations to be viable. Dominant conditions in one partner will generally have a 50% of passing on to the child, if both parents have the same condition then it is 100% certain that the child will bear the same health issues. It is up to the parents condition to dictate the possibility of raising and bearing children taking into account their own management of their health and wellbeing alongside the considerationg of their conditions in each age range and the possibilities of having a child with a condition that is more extreme and also more mild. A child born with a genetic illness to a parent with the same condition is more likely to find sympathy within the family and have a headstart in managing their condition. Depending on the condition adoption may be a preferable option or the only possible way to have children, depending on the risk involved from the condition in question. As mentioned before, older children who are adopted generally need a lot more energy in parents whilst younger children who are adopted will also need a lot of care at the sake of the parents which can exacerbate a condition with less preperation.

Another factor is the rules for adoption can also exclude parents who are disabled for reasons ranging from unsuitable parenthood to unfair reasons for adoption. If it is thought the child would be adopted to become a sort of 'carer' for the adult adoption can be overruled just as if a parents health is questioned or misunderstood. The same scrutiny should be applied by the family wishing a child upon themselves to ensure they are prepared and ready for a difficult 18+ years and seek appropriate support channels whether they are adopting or opting for bearing a child of their own genetics.