What to title this one???

Since early childhood, I always said I wanted to grow up and have 12 children. After seeing the way children with special needs was treated, I often prayed and asked God to let me have the children with special needs, as I knew I'd love them just as much as a "typical" child. Yet, after three children I ended up having a hysterectomy and knew I'd never carry another child in my womb. Yet, I still longed for 12 children and knew my heart was open to children with special needs. 


When I married my husband, not only was he willing to accept my three children from a previous marriage as his own, he also liked the idea of adopting more. We've talked about adoption on and off. We thought that maybe we needed to wait till Pookie was older. We wondered if adopting would take us away from providing care and attention he needed. We discussed the impact it would have on our older children. Then, we watched "My Flesh and Blood". It's a 2003 documentary that is now showing on Netflix. 


Suddenly, we wondered what it is we are waiting for. Like the woman in the documentary, we can't provide the children with all the material things they would desire and maybe even a few things they might need. But, we could show them that they could be part of a family, loved, cherished....where no one would leave them. 


So, today, I started exploring adoption websites. Upon my first Google search, in the search results, this is what I read:


"Requirements for adopting a child with special needs tend to be less restrictive than requirements for adopting a healthy infant."


WHAT????????? Is this serious? I clicked through to the link and yep, sure enough....that's the truth. I knew that children with special needs weren't placed in homes as often as typical children. I knew that the older the children with special needs got, the less likely they were to be placed. I knew that many children with special needs growing up in the system end up institutionalized, not because they don't have the potential to do more independent, but because there just isn't anyone there to love, cherish, and support them. Yet, at what point in time did adoption agencies determine that it's OK to place a child with special needs in a home that a typical child wouldn't be able to be placed in??? 


I am the parent of a child with special needs. As a result, there is so much more that we need now then before. Support, access to specialists and medical care, networks with others that can relate, it goes on and on. 


I'm seriously interested in knowing exactly what restrictions are not in place for a home that is going to have a child with special needs placed in it versus a home that is having a typical child placed. 

To all Amazon Shoppers!!

(Personal note: Sibshops is a support group for children (Sibs) who have a sibling with special needs. It is a huge support to children and teaches the children on various levels including advocacy. Feel free to email me for more information)

Dear friend of Sibshops and the Sibling Support Project—

If you’re like me, you will start thinking about gifts for loved ones in the next few days. And, like me, you may prefer shopping online instead of heading out the mall.

If you are one of the millions who shop at Amazon, I have a favor to ask: Will you support the work of the Sibling Support Project by beginning your shopping by “entering” Amazon through the Sibling Support Project’s “Astore”?

You will get the same great deals you always get at Amazon, and Amazon will donate up to 6.5% of the purchase price to the Sibling Support Project!

Here’s the website for our Amazon Astore. Please add it to your favorites or bookmarks: 
http://astore.amazon.com/thesibsuppro-20
 You can shop for just about anything at our Astore.

Once you add something to your shopping cart from one of the below featured categories and proceed to checkout, you can then wander anywhere on Amazon. (And, if needed, you can yank any item out of your shopping cart prior to purchase.) Any eventual purchase made within 24 hours of entering the Astore will benefit the Sibling Support Project. 
 

• Books about sibs and families

• Books and materials for Sibshop providers

• Woodbine House's Top 25 Books

• Any book on Amazon

• All music on Amazon

• Toys & Games

• Apparel & Accessories

• Camera & Photo

• Computer & Video Games

• Electronics

• Gourmet Food

• Jewelry & Watches

• Home & Garden

• Kitchen & Housewares

• Magazine Subscriptions

• MP3 Downloads

• Software

• Sports & Outdoors

• Tools & Hardware
 


Thank you for your support! Here’s the link again:
http://astore.amazon.com/thesibsuppro-20
 


One last thing!  If you'd like to celebrate the holidays with a direct gift to the Sibling Support Project please click here.  Those who give at the $100+ level get a free copy of our newest book, Thicker than Water: Essays by adult siblings of people with disabilities!

Wishing you all the best,



Don Meyer

Director, Sibling Support Project

PS—In case you were wondering, we never know who buys what, so we’ll never know you bought grandpa a subscription to Playboy.
 


PSS—If you think this is a cool way to do good while doing the inevitable holiday shopping, will you please share this email with others?