Finding suitable homes for disabled children is a tough scheme to accomplish via legal adoption and one would think countries would work extra hard to find suitable and loving parents willing to adopt these special kids to save them from institutional lonesomeness and abuse.


One of our friends is trying to adopt a Deaf child from Russia or China.  The adoption blockades are awesome and fear inspiring.  It’s as if these international adoption agencies prefer the children suffer alone instead of finding a new home in the United States.

Here are some, not all, of the international adoption requirements for bringing home a Deaf child:

1.  You must have $100,000.00USD in savings.

2.  You must have $50,000.00USD in a regular checking account.

3.  You must own a two-bedroom home.  Renters are ineligible.

4.  If you are over 40-years-old you are ineligible.

5.  If you are hoping to adopt a Russian Deaf child, you cannot be overweight.

6.  If you are Hearing, you must know Sign Language.

7.  Couples only.  No single parent adoptions allowed.  Are Gay couples excluded?

8.  In China, the adoption fee for a Deaf child is $2,100.00USD.

9.  In Russia, the adoption fee for a Deaf child is $5,000.00USD.

Now, I ask you — how many people do you personally know who meet the criteria above AND would be willing to adopt a Deaf child?

I can’t say I know any people who would qualify — and I know a lot of childless couples that would love to love a Deaf child from Russia or China as their own.  Is the adoption process broken or are these prerequisites something we need to have in place for every conceived child?

Are these adoption agencies really serving the best interest of the Deaf Child?  Or are they merely making it impossible for an international adoption to take place unless you are generally wealthy and well-off?

If there are strict rules for international adoptions — shouldn’t we have at least some sort of rules in place for naturally bearing children in the United States?  If you can’t pay — then you can’t play.

Here are some sobering numbers concerning children born into poverty in the USA:

About 15 million children — one out of every four — live below the official poverty line.

22% of Americans under the age of 18 — and 25% under age 12 — are hungry or at the risk of being hungry.

Everyday 2,660 children are born into poverty; 27 die because of it.

Children and families are the fastest growing group in the homeless population, representing 40%.

Here are the sorrowful child poverty statistics for New York City alone:

25% of New Yorkers are children.

762,000 children live in poverty.

181 babies are born into poverty each day.

10,000 children are homeless. This number has doubled since 1988.

Why are adopted children given more basic protections from their hopeful parents than those naturally born?

Something is broken in the adoption process — and it isn’t the children who need fixing.

18 Comments

  1. Doesn’t make sense, does it, David? It bothers me there are people willing to take in disabled kids but the red tape keeps them away.

  2. I suppose it might be because it is practically impossible to force people not to get pregnant unless they pass certain fiscal requirements — though in many ways that could be an overall good thing given the poverty statistics you cite.

  3. Yes, it’s sad, Anne. It’s as if the most important thing in these adoptions is money and not love. Money doesn’t not always guarantee the security of a child, but love always does.

  4. That’s what I think should change, Gordon: Licensed parenthood. You get pregnant without being vetted and cleared by your local Public Health agency, you give up the child to someone else who played by the rules and got cleared for basic parenting skills. That would also completely conquer the welfare lifestyle that still breeds today where unmarried women keep getting pregnant to keep getting more and more of our tax dollars to support her children for free.

  5. Those rules are impossible! I feel that is a discrimination and the cost of money is eat too much! I have 2 deaf adopted children and those rules didn’t apply the same at all and it’s a lot cheaper than you mentioned! Unbelievable!

      1. Well I realize maybe the policy changed? I adopted my first Deaf son in 1992 then adopted another Deaf son in 2000. The rules for Bank account wasn’t required to have $100,000.00 savings and $50,000.00 checking I didn’t have that kind of money but I’m surprised at those accounts requirement. I rented a House when I got my 1st son and bought a House when I got my 2nd son! Surprised that Renters are ineligible! Also it says over 40 yrs old. I was 29 then 37 yrs old but My husband were older 37 then 45 yrs old, there wasn’t any age required! I have been overweight and its a discrimination about overweight for people who wants to adopt can’t be overweight and I think that’s terrible.if you are hearing you always can learn signs while waiting for a child, its like giving birth then you find out he or she is deaf later you learn signs with your child! I have no idea about Singles but I know someone who adopted is single! As for gays I don’t think they allowed in the old days! They should accept no matter what! The adoption fees were cheaper but I don’t remember how much exactly but you may be surprised it adds up more fees such as INS paper costs around $150.00 per paper also any other paper also cost more each paper, also passport fees, visa fees, round trip fees, hotel fees unless you want to stay at a hosts apt (terrible for me, it’s a horrible place) we went to American Hotel but it costs around $300.00 per night! We refused Russian Hotel its very different. Going out to eat costs too, bringing your own food too, even toilet paper because their toilet paper is like a sand! So many things will costs everything that people don’t realize it. Donation to the orphanage home like clothing, perfume something like that. Look for an adoption agency that suits you because I’m sure any other agencies don’t have those kinds of rules. Feel free to ask me anything ok?

        1. Thank you for sharing your outstanding story. You have done the right thing and made two lives better. We are all made better by your selfless acts.

          4. I found a wonderful website on requirements but I don’t know how to put this on to share with you and others as well. I only could do thru Facebook or email.

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