
Grant funds depend on available funding; the link above, shows the current available amount. To inquire about this child, email childinquiry@reecesrainbow.org ***


Videos are available.

When Mell was born, his biological parents tried to take care of him even with his special needs, but they lived in a small town far away from cities and hospitals. At his one month check-up, he was diagnosed with congenital malformation of the spinal cord, hydrocephalus, low weight, fetal growth delay, and respiratory syndrome. At one of his following check-ups, the doctor sent Mell to the hospital due to a high fever and inflammation of the brain. Sadly, though they had tried, his parents recognized that they did not have the means of caring for him in the ways he needed, both due to finances and distance from necessary medical care, and they asked Protective Services to care for him. No other family members were able to provide the care he needed as well. Mell was placed in a foster home and is doing well.
Mell has been receiving various types of therapies which have been valuable in his development. When meeting adults for the first time, he becomes shy, but he recognizes familiar people and loves to interact with them. Mell identifies the emotions on people´s faces and interacts accordingly. He is a very expressive child who shows affection in various ways, and sometimes gets jealous when his foster mother gives affection to the other children. According to the professionals who care for him, Mell has the language development of a 12-month toddler. He communicates through crying and screaming and can say some short words such as “mama” and “papa.” He also imitates animal sounds, such as those of a dog or cat. He responds to simple instructions such “Take this” and “Give me that.” Mell identifies different body parts, plays with Play-Dough, and performs other activities that strengthen his fine motor skills. His movements are spontaneous despite the limitations he has in his lower limbs. Due to his chronological age, Mell requires support, supervision, and guidance to fulfill his daily routines. Mell takes two naps during the day and sleeps throughout the night. He wears diapers all day.
Mell likes to interact with peers or adults and loves to spend time outside. He gets excited when he hears a motorcycle engine as he immediately thinks he is going to go out and gets anxious. He gets upset when his diaper is dirty and when he is not allowed to go out. Mell gets happy with simple things, and he likes to laugh a lot. Mell loves to drink sweet juices. Due to his medical condition, he does not wear shoes but wears very soft socks. He enjoys it when adults help him to kick the ball to play soccer. Mell also likes to play with cars and airplanes.

Information in this report is from March 2023 when Jana was 5. The adoption agency has medical records and pictures for Jana dating back to 2019.
Jana entered care at one year of age due to abandonment and negligence. Within her foster home, it is evident that Jana likes to interact with others. In her own special way, Jana is able to share and receive affection. She communicates with others through body language and eye movements. The foster mother has learned to read her body movements to identify if something is bothering her. Jana responds to stimuli generated through loud voices. Due to her medical diagnoses, she needs constant supervision and guidance to fulfill all her daily routines. Jana´s gross and fine motor development is delayed. Her cognitive development is severely damaged due to her medical diagnoses. She wears diapers all day. Jana spends her days seated in her wheelchair or laying down in her bed when she sleeps. She receives therapy and medication through her gastrostomy.
According to the foster mother, Jana loves to receive massages. She likes when people speak to her in a soft voice. Jana enjoys going outside for short periods.

There is a $1,000 agency fee reduction for Declan’s adoption with a specific agency. Additional agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.
VIDEOS:
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-declan10
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-declan11
Password: Adoptmaa



VIDEO:
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-owen1
Password: Adoptmaa

Dillon is in the 2nd grade. He is respectful towards his teacher and classmates. It is hard for him to fully understand subjects such as math and language, but improvements have been made in his reading. According to an IQ test, his intelligence is lower than expected for his age. He can stay focused for short periods.
Dillon´s social development has been challenging. During the pandemic he did not interact with other children. He is currently learning to be calm during his interactions and not to become aggressive towards them. Dillon participates in group activities for short periods since he might become aggressive or behave in a bad way. There are days when a situation has triggered Dillon and he then does not want to obey instructions. Dillon gets anxious about loud noises and insects. Sometimes Dillon demands the full attention of his foster mother. While Dillon is very affectionate towards people he is familiar with, he gets anxious and nervous when around unfamiliar people. He gets worried about going out, mainly because he worries about unknown people. Dillon is still learning to manage his impulses and frustrations, and when he is upset he usually hits the walls and screams. It is important to mention that Dillon gets along better with younger children than with his peers. Dillon’s fine psychomotor skills have improved over time. There are no major concerns regarding his gross motor skills; however, due to his diagnosis, he is restless and harms himself sometimes. Dillon is learning to become independent in his daily routines, but he still needs supervision and support. He has good sleep and eating habits. Dillon is still learning to urinary and bowel control, and he often will urinate/defecate outside instead of going to the restroom. He does not take care of his personal belongings and is still learning to have proper hygiene habits.
Going to the park or getting to do errands with his foster mother makes Dillon happy. He likes to play alone, and he has a favorite outfit that he would love to wear every single day.

Please meet this cute boy named Bowie. He was diagnosed with congenital cataracts in both eyes. However he underwent surgical treatment with implantation of intraocular lenses. There is suspected Glaucoma. He is also diagnosed with Children’s cerebral palsy – Quadri pyramidal syndrome. Grand mal seizures with or without petit mal seizures.
Bowie can sit up independently from a lying position. He can stand up by holding on to various objects. He walks independently but it is uncoordinated. The child lags in neuropsychological development. He accepts bodily closeness with pleasure. It is pleasant for him to be held by an adult. The presence of children in his immediate space does not bother him, but he does not show interest in them and does not initiate interaction. He is soothed by riding in a pram or listening to favorite children’s songs. He prefers the environment to be quiet. He becomes nervous and anxious around loud noise. He is entirely dependent on the care of an adult.


Please meet Brandon; he has multiple special needs. Sadly Brandon relies totally on the care of others. He sleeps in a room with four other children. The caretaker says he seems to like music and likes the bath. He can make some sounds for speech. He has difficulty feeding and swallowing.
The agency staff member that met Brandon said the following: “According to the caretaker, there is a slight regression, especially in terms of feeding. Unfortunately, I have not been given an opportunity to speak to any of the specialists engaged with the boy and possibly what exactly they are working on. Brandon could have some potential, but it’s very hard to tell. In any case, he needs a lot of love, a lot of attention and a lot of activities.” Could you be the family for Brandon?

Look at the sweet smile on Bella! Bella spends the majority of the time in her bed or in the special stroller that she can be pushed in. She is often fed in the stroller as well. She is fed with a bottle.
Agency staff member said the following: Given the fact that only a rehabilitator is currently working with the child and the staff at the Home only have time to cover her basic needs, it is definitely very difficult to say to what extent the little girl has developmental potential. In my opinion, Bella liked it when she received personal attention such as being spoken to gently, being teased by me or by my showing her different toys. She had been working on a smile during that time. Most of the time, both her arms and legs were in motion, and she even managed to roll over in bed. She needs a lot of love and attention and systematic and purposeful activities with specialists.

Update Nov 2024: Samson was recently moved from a large orphanage to a small group home for children with disabilities. He loves attention and responds with joy with staff interacts with him. He is described as a calm and radiant child.

He was born with low weight and with pathological neonatal period. The child has a
physical development within the lower limit of the norm and mental delay in mild to moderate degree (IQ-41). Phrase speech is not developed, he utters single words; lags behind in the development of habits, skills, emotional and social development.
Uses optical correction due to intermittent heterotropy and astigmatism of the eyes.
The child walks stably and independently. There is delay in the development of the fine motor skills. The emotional status of the child is mostly positive – he is calm and curious. He does not show aggression, he is adaptive. He understands phrasal speech, utters single words, but does not speak. The child is able to play by himself, but he also is looking for the company of other children. Participates in the game process. He feeds himself, his personal hygiene is well-maintained. He controls physiological needs.

Jonah lived with his mother and various maternal relatives in a dysfunctional family and household until he was almost 9 years old.
Despite not attending school until he came into care at 9 years old, Jonah is in the 5th grade where he is a good student and interacts well with teachers and classmates. He had speech therapies until November 2023 due to a diagnosis of Academic school disorders, but after being re-evaluated he no longer needs to continue with therapy or medication. He follows simple and complex instructions. He can stay focused on one specific activity. His cognitive and social development is in accordance with his chronological age. Jonah is spontaneous and takes the initiative to start a conversation with new people. He recognizes authority figures; he is respectful and obedient towards them. Jonah takes good care of his personal belongings and does his best to be clean and put together every day.
Jonah has many friends and if he feels comfortable enough, he becomes the leader of an activity. He interacts positively with adults, peers, younger children, and animals. Jonah goes to psychological therapy sessions twice monthly, and he loves them. He likes to give and receive affection, and does not get jealous when his caregivers have to pay attention to the other children. He can verbally express his feelings and emotions. Whenever Jonah is upset about something, he isolates himself and gets very serious. It upsets him when people do not understand him. He is afraid of the dark and being alone for long periods, and at these times, he tries to distract himself by watching TV so that he will not hear any strange noises. He can manage his impulses and frustration in accordance with his chronological age. There are no concerns regarding Jonah´s motor development.
Jonah loves to listen to music in English and Spanish, he even makes up his songs. Spending time with other children makes him happy. He likes to play board games and also read comic books. Jonah has stated that he would love to study psychology and own two houses—one for his children and the other for rent. He would also like to build a veterinary clinic and leave that for his children. He would love to be part of a traditional family with a mom and dad with or without other kids.

Report is from August 2024 — Roman, 12, lived with his biological and an older brother until he was 7 years old. At that time, the place where his mother worked burned and she had to leave his brother with that child’s father, and she moved to a different town with Roman. Unfortunately, she could not find a stable job or place to live and she sought assistance from Protective Services. Roman was previously hosted by a family, but that family opted not to adopt him. More information is available.
Roman is in the 4th grade. It has been observed that Roman has great leadership skills, especially at school. Most of his teachers have stated that Roman has a lot of potential but his lack of motivation hinders his progress and development. However, Roman has great skills in math. He recognizes authority figures; he is respectful and obedient towards them. He can follow simple and complex instructions. There are no concerns regarding his motor, language, cognitive and social development.
Roman is an affectionate child after he has built a positive relationship with an adult. He can verbally express his feelings and emotions; however, when there are situations of high emotional demand, he limits the externalization of what he is feeling. Roman is still learning to manage his frustration and impulses, but good improvements have been observed. Roman is shy when meeting people but can easily overcome this behavior once he feels the adult is trustworthy. He interacts in a positive way with adults, peers, younger children, and animals. Roman gets anxious when he does not get what he wants immediately or when something he was expecting does not end up happening. Roman is sad when remembering his biological family, and this connection is part of why the hosting family did not choose to adopt him. Roman is afraid of dark, thunder, rain, and heights. In order to fall asleep, he needs some light or a stuffed animal.
Roman loves it when he gets to go to amusement parks, the movies or the pool. Roman likes to ride his bike, listen to music, and watch TV. He has stated that he would like to improve his drawing skills.

VIDEOS:
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-jaxon01
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-jaxon02
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-jaxon003
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-jaxon004
Password: Adoptmaa
There is a $1,000 agency fee reduction for Jaxon’s adoption, with a specific adoption agency. Additional agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.

Liamo was placed into protective care upon discharge from the hospital when he was born. At the time of his birth, he suffered severe asphyxia. His mother’s pregnancy was unplanned and she had not received any prenatal care. His parents were unable to grasp his medical diagnosis and condition, they were not in the position to care for his medical needs. No one in the biological family was able to care for him either.
Liamo is a child who needs constant supervision. His oxygen levels needed to be always monitored; however, oxygen support has been removed and he seems to have a better mood. He has not had any seizures but does have some spasms during the day. He cannot stay in a seated position. Despite his diagnosis, Liamo loves to receive affection. He communicates through babbling and other sounds. He needs support to fulfill all daily activities. He wakes up very early in the morning and is still not able to sleep throughout the night. Liamo wears diapers all day.
Liamo can kick his legs and with the help of external support equipment he can stay in a seated position for a period of time. His neck control is getting better, as he now can hold his head up for 40 to 50 seconds. He can grab objects with his hands without applying pressure. Liamo goes to occupational, physical, and speech therapy. He gets easily uncomfortable when he needs to wear more clothes, he prefers to wear very light clothes. He turns his head when he hears a strong noise. He takes daily medication. Liamo likes to change positions constantly and likes to participate in activities where there are sounds involved.

Ally is enrolled in school; she is in 8th grade. Her academic performance is good, and her main interest is art—she loves to draw and paint. Her least favorite subject is math. She has a positive relationship with her teachers and classmates. Ally does not get jealous when her caregivers pay attention to other kids, and she is able to give and receive affection. She is an independent girl who fulfills all her daily routines without help. Ally has good sleep and eating habits. She manages her frustration and impulses in accordance with her chronological age. She stays focused and does her best to complete every activity even if it is challenging.
There are no concerns regarding her motor, language, cognitive and social development. She used to go to psychological therapy, but every goal was achieved and she no longer needs this type of support. It is still difficult for Ally to fully express her feelings and emotions verbally, but a great improvement has been shown. At the moment there are no specific triggers that will cause her to feel anxious. In the past, the thought of being reintegrated with her biological family was a cause of anxiousness.
Ally does not get shy when meeting new people but might wait for others to take the initiative to start a conversation. She recognizes authority figures and is respectful and obedient towards them. She interacts positively with adults, peers, younger children, and animals. Ally has great hygiene habits and takes good care of her belongings.
Ally loves playing sports like basketball, and she is part of her school team. She likes to walk outdoors and is very interested in learning English. Ally is currently clinically healthy and does not take any medication. Ally is very aware of fashion and likes to wear clothes that are aesthetically correct. She likes to listen to K-pop.
Ally will need a family who is motivated to get paperwork done quickly as she is 14.5 years old and in danger of aging out of being able to immigrate to the U.S. While we do not anticipate any problems (we can never guarantee), a family must be committed to completing a home study and dossier in a efficient manner so the process can have time to complete.

Sani is currently enrolled in the 4th grade. According to his teacher´s report, the child is loved by his classmates. He uses his cane to walk around and there are no major concerns regarding his motor, language, cognitive and social development taking into consideration his diagnoses of secondary vision loss and severe child abuse syndrome. He has great communication skills and can verbally expresses his feelings and emotions with people he is very familiar with. Sani recognizes authority figures, but many times has trouble being respectful and obedient, especially if he does not agree with an instruction given by them. Sani can easily make new friends and has leadership skills among his peers.
Sani goes to psychological therapy. He is still learning to take full responsibility for his consequences, and sometimes he lies to avoid any kind of discipline. Sani is learning to manage his impulses and frustration. If there is a situation that he cannot handle emotionally, he will start yelling or behaving in a hostile way with his peers. Whenever he throws a tantrum, he sometimes experiences psychomotor agitation and uses bad language. Whenever there are situations that make him feel anxious, he bites his sleeves, has sweaty hands or has motor restlessness. He gets upset when he needs to continue pushing to do his best in order to fully know the Braille system. He is afraid of being in a dark room alone. Because of his severe history of child abuse, it is recommended that Sani be the youngest child in the family though this may be negotiable depending on a family’s experience with children from abuse. Sani has expressed that he would like a family with two heterosexual parents and he would like to have siblings.
Sani likes to play soccer and enjoys building with Legos and also engaging in conversations with adults. He likes to listen to music in English or Portuguese since he has expressed his desire of learning new languages. Sani favorite colors are blue, white, black and orange. He loves to practice soccer, swimming, martial arts such as capoeira and riding his bicycle. He even likes to breakdance as evidence in a video sent with his profile. Sani is good at playing musical instruments. He would like to become a scientist, learn about biology and astronomy and also speak different languages.

Anna is known for being a happy girl. Anna is not enrolled in school as it has been difficult to find an Institution that can work with her diagnosis and special needs. However, when she was enrolled in school, it was noted that she behaved positively and recognized authority figures. Anna loves to give and receive affection, and she does not get jealous when her foster mother pays attention to other children. Her closest bond is with the 12-year-old daughter of her foster mother. She needs support and supervision to fulfill her daily routines. Anna has a good sleep and eating patterns; however, she very occasionally wets the bed. Anna sometimes throws objects to the floor when she feels frustrated. She can follow simple instructions. Due to her diagnosis, it is hard for her to stay focused on one specific task.
Anna can keep her balance and walk, and she tries to jump but is not fully able to do it. She can run slowly and up the stairs if an adult holds her hand. Her fine motor skills are still developing. Anna is not able to hold scissors, but she can grab pencils and color. She needs help with dressing and hygiene. For the most part, Anna communicates through signs and very short words; it is not hard to understand what she wants. She goes to speech therapy. Anna recognizes familiar faces, and she does not get shy when meeting new people. She can play with younger children or with peers, but she gets upset when other children take her belongings. She recognizes her foster mother as an authority figure. She likes dogs as long as they are away from her, and she gets nervous when pets are near her.
Being told she looks pretty or that she is beautiful makes Anna happy. She loves to have her hair done in pretty styles and enjoys wearing new clothes. She likes to watch children’s movies and videos of people doing exercises. She is very good at swimming. Anna´s favorite foods are spaghetti and chicken with rice. She loves to listen to music and do puzzles.

A male child, born 2460 g., with a congenital genetic metabolic disease (pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency), leading to a disorder in the absorption of sugars and carbohydrates. The child is on a strictly individual ketogenic diet (rich in fat and completely excluding carbohydrates). He is fed with special diet milk – Ketocal.
When conducting electroencephalography, epileptic activity was registered, which is why constant anticonvulsant therapy with Trileptal is being carried out. No epi-seizures have been observed after its initiation.
The child lags behind in physical, neuropsychiatric development and motor skills. He needs follow-up by a pediatric endocrinologist and dietician and a pediatric neurologist.
The boy has pronounced axial muscle hypotonia, hypertonia of the limbs. He sits up independently, but still does not stand up in the crib. He is placed in a walker and permanent rehabilitation is carried out. He is calm, does not isolate himself in the children’s group. He shows discontent when he does not like something, but quickly calms down. The child’s sleep is peaceful.
According to a Psychologist’s last Individual Characteristic from November 2024: “ …Over the past months, progress has been reported in the child’s general and fine motor skills. He stands up on his own on a stationary support and steps to the sides, holding on to the stationary support. The child moves by crawling. He can sit alone without support. He spends his waking hours with the other children in the group and he likes it very much, calm and smiling.
Jean-Luc is smiling, radiant, calm. He stands next to the children and does not isolate himself. There is no joint play yet. He cannot initiate contact with the children by himself. He shows dissatisfaction when he does not like something. He enjoys teasing from a familiar adult. During activities, he is involved, but is not active and shows little interest.

Gene’s information is from a report in June 2024 — the agency does have older reports as well. Gene was 7 years old when he entered care due to neglect. He spent most of his days on the streets and there were behavioral issues within his family of origin. His father was in jail and his mother was involved in criminal activities as well as drug usage. While she said she was going to make changes in her life to regain her son’s custody, she did not follow through. Gene is now 12 years old.
Gene is in the 4th grade. He struggles academically. It is difficult for him to understand new concepts and therefore is unmotivated to do his best. He still has trouble pronouncing properly many words. In 2020 he was diagnosed with mild cognitive developmental delay, but this diagnosis was overruled though an IQ test is pending. He can get easily distracted if he does not like a specific activity. There are no concerns regarding his motor development. His language development is behind, it is difficult for him to comprehend a reading assignment; and he mispronounces some words. In the middle of the night, it is necessary to wake him up to go to the bathroom so that he will not have any accidents. Gene has been learning to manage his frustrations and impulses in a better way. Gene interacts in a positive way with his peers. Gene recognizes authority figures; he is respectful and obedient towards them. It has been observed that Gene interacts positively with adults, kids his age, younger children, and animals.
Currently, Gene goes to therapy, and he has been diagnosed with unspecified mixed behavioral issues for which he takes daily medication. He gets anxious whenever he is not permitted to do something he wants or whenever he does not fully understand a task. He gets upset when he feels he is being attacked, but he has not become aggressive. Gene is afraid of being alone, getting lost and being in the dark. Whenever he feels sad it is because he longs to have a family.
Gene loves to participate in any recreational activity, including sports. Some of Gene’s favorite activities are playing soccer, going to the park, playing cops and robbers, making bracelets and painting. When he grows up, he would like to be a professional soccer player or a chef.


Donna’s medical diagnosis includes: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) stage 5, post vitrectomy condition bilaterally; secondary glaucoma. Left eye ROP stage4 Nystagmus. Delayed neuro-psychic development. Condition after low birth weight. Self-aggression. Spastic quadriparesis. Iron deficiency anaemia
Dawn was born first. Her medical diagnosis includes: cerebral palsy – spastic quadriparesis. Spastic quadriparesis. Suspected hydrocephalus with normal pressure and hypoplasia of corpus callosum. Grade 1 hypotrophy. Convergent strabismus; hypermetropia. Condition following very low birth weight.
Update July 2024: After their placement into the foster home on May 14, 2024, the girls have adjusted well and made noticeable developmental progress. They show an attachment to the foster mom and follow her instructions. One of the girls can now walk independently and is well oriented in the foster home. The other girl sits with little support. The girls now eat mashed food from a fork or spoon and chew well. They have learned to speak their first meaningful words and are also observed to repeat syllables. While there’s some jealousy between the sisters when it comes to receiving attention, they are emotionally close and hug/hold hands. Videos from July 2024 show one girl as tenacious in exploring her environment and the other as joyful when playing on the floor. The girls attend therapy twice a week and their foster mom is proactive in seeking additional services for them. They like music and singing and enjoy massage from the foster mom. They are thrilled to be playing in the inflatable pool in the backyard. Their foster mom describes them as positive children who will continue to make progress with the right interventions and lots of love.
From a family who met them in 2023
I met these twins when I visited my daughter for trip one in 10/2023. One twin was active and was able to stand holding on and cruise around her crib. She was able to climb right out of her floor crib and back in herself. It was an activity for her and she did it with great ease. She wasn’t trying to escape at any point and would just flip In and out over and over again. She seemed like what you would expect for a toddler. She stopped what she was doing when someone called her name and turned in the direction of their voice. The other sweet twin was always laying down when I saw her. Sometimes in a crib, sometimes in a seat. My daughter asked for “baby” all the time and they would put this twin in her crib with her to lay together. They said she was more “severe”. She definitely seemed more infantile. They were in a really great place where they got plenty of food and were carried around a lot by the staff there. There were 8 kids on that floor in four rooms. The twins shared a room. I believe they are now in a foster situation. They def were pretty easygoing. They had a lot of musical toys which they seemed to like. The active twin kept herself busy a lot but the quiet twin seemed to love cuddling and other kids being around her. I think some of the delays they have may be related to vision impairments. I would imagine they would do well with siblings.

Tiana and Tenaya are loving sisters who look forward to a permanent and loving home of their own, with parents who will support them. Tenaya, born October of 2010, is a lovely girl who enjoys spending time with her sister and friends. She is affectionate with those people she feels close to and loves. She tends to be more introverted. Tenaya shows respect to her caretakers and peers. Tiana’s favorite activities include jumping, dancing, singing, and playing with her sister and her friends. She also likes to go for walks and listen to music. She adheres to change without difficulty and accepts the home rules. Tiana, born October 2014, is described as a cheerful and quiet girl. She has good social skills, which allow her to interact with adults and her peers. She likes to participate in active games, especially those that include running. She also likes to play board, such as dominoes, at the local park.
VIDEOS:
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-tenaya
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-tenayatiana
Password: Adoptmaa
There is a $500 agency fee reduction for Tiana and Tenaya’s adoption, with a specific grant agency. Additional agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.

At the age of 21 months old, Alina was admitted to the hospital with leukemia. Fortunately, her treatments worked and her leukemia was cured. However, Alina also has Down Syndrome and her mother could not care for her. She is currently not taking any medication. She drinks a lot of water during the day, which led to a medical evaluation as to why she drinks so much, but nothing was found.
As is the case with many children with Down Syndrome, Alina loves to give and receive affection. She is enrolled in an inclusive academic program where she attends sixth grade. She interacts in a positive way with her peers and participates in class. Alina cannot say the days of the week, but she knows what she is supposed to do daily. Even though Alina needs to be told what to do she somehow finds out the way to solve problems on her own.
Alina is able to use the restroom and she has been walking since the age of 3. She has been diagnosed with muscular hypotonia, for which she goes to physical, occupational, speech, and psychological therapies. Her fine motor skills are continuing to develop, and Alina cannot fully write or read yet. A special academic curriculum has been designed for her for some subjects. Alina said her first words when she was 4 years old. She has a cyst in her brain and is monitored periodically. The foster mother stated that the child was able to talk and most of her words were correctly pronounced but after having surgery on her tonsils in 2018, there has been a setback on her language skills. However, her language comprehension is the same.
Alina loves to play games on a cell phone, and she is a great helper around the house. She is a very talkative girl who loves to wear dresses. She also likes to color and draw. She easily makes friends and loves to interact with peers. It has been observed that many times, Alina has great leadership skills when it comes to organizing games among her peers. She can verbally express (in a limited way) her feelings and emotions. She interacts in a positive way with adults, peers, younger children, and animals. Alina has learned to be independent in many ways.

Ricky’s listing agency also has video available!

Nick is a very affectionate child who has bilateral hearing loss. While he has multiple diagnoses, he is able to attend school regularly and is in the second grade. Nick has adjusted well to school, his classmates, and teachers. Sometimes he gets easily distracted. He has constant support to improve his learning skills, especially his language development. Nick has trouble expressing his ideas, as his vocabulary needs to expand more and his reading comprehension is weak.
Nick is described as “so sweet and empathic that it is easy for him to interact with adults, peers, younger children, and animals.” He interacts positively with peers, makes eye contact, and loves to participate in games and activities with them. He is always willing to meet new people. Nick recognizes authority figures, and he is respectful and obedient towards them. There are no major concerns regarding his motor development, but it is important to mention that due to his medical diagnoses sometimes he can be perceived as clumsy. In the past 4 years, it has been noted that Nick gets anxious when he is not near his foster mother; however, he still is able to do all the things he is supposed to do.
As mentioned above, Nick has bilateral hearing loss, but is not deaf. He mainly communicates through facial gestures and guttural sounds. He can say and pronounce some words. He goes to special education sessions in order to improve his cognitive abilities. Sometimes Nick gets sad when his peers do not include him in an activity due to his language limitations. He is afraid of sudden loud noises and does not like when vehicles such as motorcycles are very loud. Nick has also been diagnosed with Localized Adenomegaly, Epilepsy, and related symptomatic epileptic syndromes with combined focal localization, Mitral Valve Insufficiency, moderate mental delay, and has an IQ of 40. He takes daily medication.
It makes Nick happy to be able to play with his foster siblings and to spend time with his foster mother. He also enjoys taking care of the household pets. Nick likes to sing, draw and paint. He is good at crafts and loves to play soccer in the park.
His listing agency has additional information and precious pictures of this child from when he was 3 years old! They will be happy to share this information with interested families!

Brooklyn has muscular dystrophy and a speech disorder. He has normal mental development. In 2020 he experienced burns over a large portion of his body and had right-sided bronchopneumonia. Therapy: Operative excisional cleaning of the wounds, sterile dressings; intensive treatment of thermal shock; antibiotic therapy. Brooklyn receives additional support in the form of resource teaching. With him a team of specialist work –speech therapist, psychologist, and resource teacher within the limits of the pre-school. The child is for a second year in a row in the same preschool class, because he was delayed from starting first grade because of medical reasons. He likes artistic activities and playing with his peers. He understands and strongly desires to be adopted, even if he does not talk much, his short dialogs are for his future surrounded by his loved ones.
Bailey is a healthy child with age-appropriate physical and neuropsychological development. He has good communication skills, has leadership qualities which sometimes turn bossy, and has a group of friends. He is curious, social and actively interacts with the people around him of different ages. Bailey has the attitude and the mindset for the adoption process with the needed positivity towards providing good living
conditions, including satisfying of the physiological needs, the needs for security, love and belonging, respect and self-affirmation. He understands and strongly desires to be adopted, he often talks about his future, surrounded by his loved ones. The adoption process is so desired and awaited by Bailey. The child is prepared and
ready to have his family, his adoptive parents.


While Zander enjoys school and has a good relationship with peers, he often experiences a lack of motivation regarding school. When faced when academic challenges he often gives up. Zander experiences sudden changes in his behavior, and his mood and disposition towards activities can vary from one moment to another. When he is in a good mood, he follows instructions and is respectful and obedient. Zander likes it when people invite him to participate in an activity. He is still learning to manage his impulses and frustration. Many times, when he does not get what he wants, he reacts inappropriately without measuring the consequences of his actions. Zander is not disrespectful towards authority figures, but it is hard for him to follow instructions and directions.
When interacting with other kids, at first he is shy due to the condition of his right hand, but once he feels comfortable he starts to interact with others. Sometimes he cannot get along well with peers due to comments he says that might be hurtful to others or because of bad behaviors to call for attention. Zander gets anxious when he wants to interact with a peer he likes. Playing with peers, watching TV, or playing on the computer makes him happy. He experiences sadness when people do not pay attention to what he is doing. He is scared of horror movies.
Zander enjoys sports such as swimming, basketball, and soccer. He also enjoys artistic activities such as dancing and singing. He is good at drawing and painting. Zander says he likes birds and dogs.

Brent lives in a family environment. He eats pureed food and can drink from a cup. He can crawl very fast on his hands and knees although he does not walk without support. He can pull himself to standing when he desires to do so. He is frightened easily by loud sounds. He does not have a specific activity that he enjoys.
There are no manifestations of aggression, but there are manifestations of auto-aggression, most often expressed as hitting his head against the wall, the bed frame, but not with his hands. Brent loves to go outside and he is taken in a wheelchair to do so.
The in-country staff member made the following personal observations:
Brent is cared for at a basic level. Unfortunately, I don’t get the impression that the child is being worked with systematically and purposefully. There is no connection and exchange of information and guidelines between the Day Care Center and the Family-type Accommodation Center for children with disabilities. Brent needs a loving and caring family environment. He needs a family that would be willing to pay attention to him, play with him, and patiently and purposefully help and teach him.

The agency staff member who met her during March of 2024, says the following: Nany likes music, and it seems to settle her down. She also likes being in the swing. At times she turned to various sounds. She can lift her head slightly while lying on her stomach. Nany is an extremely fragile, sweet and lovable little girl who needs lots of love, attention, understanding, support and lots of cuddles. Given the serious diagnoses, working with additional specialists definitely would ease and help the child’s condition. Nany is in need of a very prepared and supportive family.
Nany’s current adoption agency has grant funding is available for qualifying families.

Ivan has a moderate mental delay with hearing loss in one ear. He also has scoliosis of the spine. He can walk, run, climb and descend stairs alone. Ivan does not speak however he enjoys watching children’s movies. He prefers to play alone. He can feed himself and drinks from a cup. The staff is working on potty training with him.
The agency has a video of Ivan, from Feb 2024.
Update 8/2024
Ivan was born in 2016 and resides in a family-type accommodation center for children. He is a child of Roma origin. The parents consented to full adoption, due to the
inability to care for him. Diagnoses include moderate mental retardation, behavioral disorder, expressive speech disorder with hearing impairment – unilateral conductive hearing loss in one ear. Normal hearing with the other. Scoliosis. He has normal physical development for his age and is in good health. He walks independently, with an unsteady gait, goes up and down stairs alone, runs. Fine motor skills are poorly developed – knows how to match elements, string figures on a rope with help. He feeds himself, holds a pencil with his whole palm and scribbles on the paper, does not know how to draw, does not know how to color, does not know colors, does not know how to cut with a knife, does not arrange a constructor and a puzzle.
He rarely responds to his name. Positive emotion is expressed through a smile. When he is cheerful, he laughs loudly. He shows stubbornness and impatience but does not show
aggression or auto-aggression. He has no developed speech. He understands what is being said to him, recognizes the tone. Feelings are expressed through whining, crying, laughing. No expression of interest in anything specific is observed. He watches children’s movies. He loves attention from an adult. Does not play with peers. Eye contact is not complete. He likes to be hugged. He likes strollers, tries to play with them, prefers to hold them in his hand. Chase and kick a ball. Loves light up toys. He likes to spend time outdoors. During the academic year 2024-2025, he will be in 1st grade with an independent form of education.
He has a peaceful sleep. He knows how to feed himself; he knows how to drink from a cup, he does not know how to dress and undress himself, put on and take off his shoes by himself, but he must be asked. He does his physiological needs in the toilet or potty after prompting, he does not use a diaper.

George was born in 2013 and is said to have well developed general and fine motor skills. George is emotionally stable and has good social contact with other children in the school. He does need resource help in school. He has friends and shows respect for adults. He has established habits for independence in dressing, eating and sleeping.
Miles was born in 2012. Miles is diagnosed with deformed feet. He also has some contracture of the fingers in both hands. He has congenital syphilis however he has no clinical symptoms and is not contagious. Miles moves independently but walks on his toes. He also has contractures of his upper and lower limbs. He feels pain with prolonged loading of the musculoskeletal system. However he continues to be energetic and happily runs, jumps and plays with other children. Miles shows affection to adults. He is curious and shows interest an interest in everything. He does need resource help in school. He enjoys being involved in outdoor games with other children.
The adoption agency has very recent videos available of the boys.

Vincent was extremely calm during the whole visit. He sleeps in a small room, together with three other children with disabilities. He sleeps in a crib. He spends most of his time in his bed, being periodically put in a chaise lounge or in a car basket. He cannot sit upright, either independently, as well as with support. His position in the lounger/car seat is semi-recumbent.
Vincent predominantly uses his right hand and his body is almost constantly turned slightly to the right. He can turn from his back to one side and vice versa, he cannot turn on his stomach. When placed on his stomach, he cannot raise his head. Vincent is basically blind, according to the diagnosis and by a specialist, although the staff has doubts because the child often reacts to light. During my visit, when displaying and attempting to stimulate a reaction with a ball of light, no such reaction was observed.
Vincent showed interest in the new toys and especially in the noisy book which he grabbed with his right hand, held for a while and even waved it with his hand. As the teacher shared, he grabs like a crab, with pincers. The ball turned out to be too big for him to hold in one hand. Although the book was kind of prickly, Vincent did not react in any way, not even by pulling away.
A sharp noise does not startle Vincent, this was also evident from the sharp squealing from the side of the ball. He listens when there is music, and can show a slight liveliness/activity. He does not react to his name. He likes to be paid attention to, to be spoken to gently and to be hugged. He does not mind being touched … even from a stranger. Vincent’s entire care must be provided for by an adult. He is fed with a tube, being on 5 feedings per day. He doesn’t get angry or protest when changing or bathing. His sleep is peaceful.
From what I saw Vincent would be much better in a family environment. In the “home”, he mostly spends his time in his bed doing nothing and getting no attention. Every child deserves attention and love and stimulation. I really hope that this sweet boy will find his forever family soon!


VIDEOS:
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-malcom
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-malcom2
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-malcom3
Password: Adoptmaa
There is a $1,500 agency fee reduction for Malcom’s adoption. Additional agency fee reductions may be available for Malcom’s adoption based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.

Vance was also previously listed as Vinnie.

This precious little one thrives on affection — she has an incredible capacity for love and blossoms with nurturing care that includes endless cuddles, tender personal interaction, and thoughtful understanding. She merits a patient touch and activities tailored just for her, which will provide not only pleasure but also enriching experiences.
During our time together, Elise remained serene and composed, displaying a quiet passivity. My playful attempts to tickle and engage her elicited limited response initially, but as patience persevered, her awareness and interaction gradually emerged.
Elise’s life would be beautifully complimented by a loving family atmosphere, filled with unwavering support and encouragement. A home that teems with warmth and offers plentiful one-on-one interaction, a trove of stimulating activities, and specialist involvement, would cultivate her growth and happiness.
To the kind-hearted families contemplating the rewarding path of adoption: envision a life with Elise, where every day is an opportunity to nourish and celebrate a precious child’s potential, and where love knows no bounds.

Stefi uses a wheelchair for mobility. He can propel the wheelchair by himself. He tries to talk by making vocalizations to approximate words. He responds positively to attention and seeks out interactions with staff and the other children in his home. He enjoys playing with stuffed animals. He will push other children if they are playing with a toy he wants. He is completely dependent on an adult for all care tasks (feeding, toileting, dressing, etc).

Her fine motor skills are delayed. She has difficulty with writing, cutting and grasping objects. She speaks using single words and short phrases. She mispronounces sounds. She has difficulty making choices and decisions and relies on her foster parents for assistance with tasks. She has difficulty with social boundaries and often tries to hug strangers. She shows interest in other children and observes them, but has difficulty with following instructions or following rules with interacting with other children. She requires assistance with dressing. She can feed herself, but has to be monitored to ensure she doesn’t overeat. She is eager to help with household tasks, but struggles to complete them independently. She assists with cleaning the table, sweeping, and similar tasks.




VIDEOS:
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-marco1
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-marco2
Password: Adoptmaa
There is a $500 agency fee reduction for Marco’s adoption via the listing agency. Additional agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.

Marcel: Physical abuse and negligence by bio family
Milan: None listed
Additional information & pictures available from the listing agency.
Maci, born in March of 2009, is feminine and gets along very well with girls. She is described as smiley, friendly, a good friend, and empathetic. She is always ready and eager to help others. Maci needs to make everything suitable for everyone. She very much loves her siblings and has a great capacity to give love and care. She can search for help to resolve difficult situations. She loves to look good and likes using make-up and doing her hair. Sometimes learning is challenging for Maci, but her motivation allows her to overcome obstacles and persevere. She always wants to belong to something.
Milan, born in April of 2014, loves animals. She really likes taking care of them and pampering them. Milan is characterized by being playful, tender, empathetic, and loving. She is very close to her siblings and enjoys spending time with them. Her favorite activities are going to the farm, playing in the pool, and coloring. Sometimes it is difficult for her to make decisions. She must be motivated to learn to recognize those things that she likes and that make her feel good. You will always find her joking. To make her laugh, you need to tickle her a little.
Marcel, born in July of 2012, is a sweet, loving, disciplined child, eager to explore his environment and learn something new daily. One of the activities he most enjoys is building new objects and assembling Legos. He really likes learning new languages and about other cultures. Marcel is a very healthy boy. His favorite foods are fruits and salads. It is easy for him to relate and interact with others. He is expressive and friendly and knows how to recognize and express his needs.
There is a $2,000 agency fee reduction for Maci, Milan, and Marcel’s adoption with the listing adoption agency. Additional agency fee reductions may be available with the agency based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.
Maci, Milan, and Marcel have an additional $5,500 grant through Children Need Families; The adoption agency will allocate this grant. Maci, Milan, and Marcel also qualify for a RODS Heroes grant (RODS Applications are based on financial need)

VIDEO: https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-mariah1
Password: Adoptmaa
There is a $500 agency fee reduction for Mariah’s adoption with the listing agency. Additional agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.
Mariah needs a family with an approved home study to be able to move forward with adopting her.