Deaf Adoption News Service
Children

The Deaf Adoption News Service (DANS), a special interest group of the World Federation of the Deaf, has been around since it began with a handful of subscribers in early 1994.

Prospective Families:

The best way to find out about currently available waiting deaf and hard of hearing children, particularly those that can not be listed on the internet, is to subscribe to the DeafHOH-Adoption discussion list. This list is for families that have adopted deaf children or that are in the process. The children listed on the DANS website are only a sample of available children, and may not be available at the time you inquire. More children can be seen on the deafadoptionnetwork.com photolisting website. Adoption agencies may also know of other available waiting deaf/hoh children.

The DeafHOH-Adoption list also has downloadable files (accessed by clicking "Files" in the left navigation of Yahoo Groups) for list members that cover the following topics:

  • How to Adopt a Deaf Child
  • Communication Options
  • Abbreviations and Terms

Note: Please be aware that public descriptions may not have all the information about the waiting child, who may have conditions or disabilities not included in the publicly available description. It is important for prospective parents to ask questions, read children's files carefully, and be prepared to say no if they feel that they can not handle a child's issues or disabilities.

How to List a Child on the DANS Blog

It is easy to list a waiting deaf or severely hard of hearing child, or the news that an adoption agency has deaf/hoh children waiting, on DANS:

  1. Contact me and request to be granted permission to post to this website about waiting deaf/hard of hearing children.
  2. You will receive an invitation e-mail from Blogger.com.
  3. Click on the link in the e-mail to register. The e-mail will look like this:
    Here is the invite to register for the test.
    ---------------------------------------
    You have been invited by to join a blog called deafchildren.

    Blogger is a free service for easily communicating and sharing ideas on the web.

    NEXT STEPS:
    1. Please follow the link below. If you do not follow this link, you will not be able to logon to the correct blog.

      http://www.blogger.com/i.g?invID=xxxxxxxxxxxx

      Note: If this link wraps in your email (not all of it is on one line) copy and paste the entire link into your browser's location bar. Be sure to include characters that may have wrapped to the next line.
    2. If you already have a Blogger account, you will be asked to either accept or decline this invitation.
    3. If you do not have a Blogger account, you can create one for free in less than a minute. Just click the invite link and press the Create an Account button.
      4.
  4. Register with Blogger.com. If you had clicked on the e-mail link, you will not be required to name and create a blog.
  5. Log out of Blogger.com.
  6. Log back in to Blogger.com with the user name and password you had set up. Now you can post about a waiting deaf/hard of hearing child.
Both individuals and adoption agency representatives will be granted permission. I will monitor the site and delete any inappropriate postings.
Examples of postings accepted and rules for posting:
  • General notices that an adoption agency has deaf children waiting. Example: The Rainbow Adoption Agency has five deaf children from Asia available.
  • Do not state which country the child or children are in. Use the region name such as Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America, or Africa.
  • If the child is photolisted on an adoption agency website, post the website address.
  • Use a heading like "International" or "Domestic" to aid people searching for deaf children to adopt.

Deaf Adoption Postings

Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Adoptive Family Needed for 10-Year-Old Cooper

Adoptive Family Wanted For 10-Year Old Cooper From Vermont.

Here’s what Cooper would like you to know about him.

Things I Like:
Dressing nicely, Yugioh & Pokemon cards, basketball, soccer, baseball, and most fruit.

Things I Don’t Like:
Kiwis, tomatoes, and cats.

Activities I Enjoy:
Watching movies, traveling, swimming, skiing, roller-skating, and playing with my friends.

What I Want Families To Know About Me:
I am deaf and feel strongly that someone who wants to be my friend should attempt to learn basic sign language. I’d like to attend a school for the deaf. I like to keep my room clean.

What I Want In A Family:
A family with at least one member who is deaf or hard of hearing and all family members who are fluent in sign language. A mature, easy going family that does not rush around and has time for me. A family I can belong to and call my own. A place to call home.

What We'd Like You To Know About Cooper:
Deaf from birth, Cooper does not view his deafness as a handicap, but rather as a part of who he is. He currently attends a school for deaf children. Cooper is very expressive and fluent in American Sign language.

Cooper’s childhood was chaotic and difficult. His main behavioral issues arise from his feelings of anger and frustration, and he is receiving counseling to help him learn how to better manage these feelings. He still acts out from time to time however, and he will need to continue with his therapy. In spite of his difficult past, Cooper is a sociable, nurturing, and helpful young man who works hard and is grateful for the things he’s given.

What We Are Seeking In A Family For Cooper:
Cooper needs parents who understand deaf culture, are fluent in American Sign Language, are familiar with the resources available to him in their community, and will advocate for his placement at a school for deaf children. They must be willing to help him stay in contact with his brother who lives in Vermont and aunt who lives in Connecticut. He should be the only child in the home.

If you know of a family who may be interested in Cooper, please contact Graham Kidder, Permanency Placement Worker with Project Family, at (802) 368-7260 or grahamk@lundfamilycenter.org.

posted by Lynn Bruce | 6:53 AM

Children

Powered by Blogger Yahoo Groups: DeafHOH-Adoption
[Click to subscribe to DeafHOH-adoption] 		About Deafness
Learn about deafness and hearing loss at http://deafness.about.com