According to statistics, there are more than 100,000 children with special needs who are waiting to be adopted. Unfortunately, it’s a much more complicated process to complete a special needs adoption. If you are interested in adopting a special needs child, here are some factors to consider.

What Is a “Special Needs” Child?

A special needs child is any child who has a physical, mental or emotional disability, or who needs special education or training of any sort. A special needs child can be any age, but the guidelines vary from state to state. As a general rule, though, special needs children are older and frequently are members of an ethnic or racial minority. They can be victims of physical or emotional abuse, or may have been prenatally exposed to drugs or alcohol.

Are There Different Requirements to Adopt Special Needs Children?

As a general rule, anyone who can qualify to adopt a child can qualify to adopt a special needs child. Every agency will have its own specific requirements, so you’ll need to check and may need to interview a few different agencies to ensure that you qualify. Most agencies allow single or married couples to adopt special needs children, but may have a requirement that you’ve been married for minimum period of time.

What Are the Costs of Adopting a Special Needs Child?

It’s not uncommon for an adoption agency to either charge no fee or only a small fee to parents adopting a special needs child. In addition, there are state and federal programs that provide assistance to parents adopting special needs children.

Contact Us

To set up an appointment, call us in Haddonfield at 856-429-5005 or in Woodbury at 856-845-2555. We can also be reached in Philadelphia at 215-563-2150 or by e-mail. For clients with personal injury or workers’ compensation claims, we offer a free initial consultation, and will represent you on a contingency basis, only charging attorney fees if we recover compensation for you.

Our offices are open weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Weekend and evening appointments may be arranged upon request. We will also come to your home or the hospital, if necessary.