Other Special Needs

Agency staff met Andy in October of 2022. Contact the agency to learn more about Andy and his listed medical needs!

There is a $2000 agency fee reduction for Andy’s adoption with a specific adoption agency; additional agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.

Enrique is an active young boy. He enjoys school and earns good grades. Math and art are Enrique’s favorite subjects. He also likes to draw. He loves to eat soup, especially seafood soups. Enrique’s favorite colors are orange and blue. Adoption agency staff met Enrique in October of 2022! Contact the agency to learn more about Enrique and his listed needs.

There is a $2,000 agency fee reduction for Enrique’s adoption via a specific agency; additional agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.

FAS, defect of the atrial septum, kidney agenesis, impaired and delayed psychomotor development, hypoplasia of the corpus callosum. The girl is making progress, but her development is now estimated at 12-15 months of age. She is curious about her surroundings and active in movement. She walks alone (still with her legs wide apart) and climbs the stairs holding her caregiver’s hand. Klair manipulates objects by shaking them or tapping them against herself. She can put items into box and take them out and build the tower. She does not know how to use a crayon yet and she can’t trace. She seeks contact with adults. She likes to be carried, tickled and hugged. The girl is making progress, but her development is estimated at 12-15 months of age.

Thomas lived in an orphanage for the first 4 years of his life. He was then moved to a group home with 10 other children with disabilities, where he lived for another 4 years. He made developmental progress while in the group home, but was still not receiving the 1:1 care and attention that he needed. He was moved into foster care at age 8 and has made significant gains in all aspects of his development since then.

Thomas can communicate verbally with words and short phrases. He also uses gestures and pointing to objects, in order to communicate his wants and needs to his foster family.
He is a sociable child who enjoys the company of other children, particularly his friends with whom he loves to play. He is so full of energy, enjoying running, climbing, and riding his bike (which is fitted with stabilizers). He particularly likes to kick a ball around in the garden with his friend and play with balloons. On outings to the park and the zoo, he takes great interest in everything he sees but loves most of all anything with wheels.

His motor skills have improved recently and he is able to do more complex activities without being told how. For example, when his jacket sleeves are inside out he turns them the right way round before dressing himself. He takes great interest in many different kinds of toys. He loves the rides in the school bus every day. He is in a small class group. He is independent with self-help skills such as dressing, undressing, toileting, eating and drinking.

June is a little girl, but she can make a lot of noise! You can often hear her in every room of the children’s home. Just when you start reading a story or giving directions June will start up, blowing raspberries or just experimenting with how high she can yell. When she’s feeling less feisty June loves to cuddle. She enjoys spending time in someone’s arms or a carrier, and will often fall asleep there. June cannot see well so she prefers toys that make lots of noise- she’s especially good at using her legs to kick the piano mat or crinkle wrapping paper. She also enjoys being tickled or gently bounced on a lap. June is working very hard at sitting up on her own- she has fantastic head control, can flip herself onto her stomach, and is also improving at grasping toys independently. June would benefit from good medical care to better control her epilepsy. She will bring lots of noise and fun, as well as an abundance of love to any family that chooses to bring her home.

Polly has been given a diagnosis of childhood Autism and is on several medications. She is now in a day program for children with disabilities and is receiving therapy services. As a result, she’s made progress in all aspects of her development. Polly speaks using simple words and small sentences. She understands everything said to her and can follow 2 and 3-step directions. She is able to express her wants and needs either through words or gestures. She asks questions. She learns new tasks best when a combination of verbal directions and visual demonstrations are used. She prefers playing alone and can play or work on a task for 10-15 minutes at a time uninterrupted. She plays appropriately with toys that interest her: coloring, building with blocks, kitchen/household toys (play kitchen, etc). She feeds herself with a spoon and drinks from an open cup. She’s toilet trained during the day, but still has some accidents when sleeping.

 

Update 2024: Polly now displays some self injurious behaviors.  They have seen improvements with the addition of multiple medications, but her behaviors can decline as the meds begin to wear off each day and before an additional dose can be given.

Jorrell favorites include playing with building blocks, toy cars, and reading storybooks – especially fairy tales and detective stories! Jorrell is inquisitive and loves to explorer.

Jorrell lives in a children’s home with 9 other children of similar age. He attends elementary school and is an eager learner. Jorrell is a helper by nature, and is one of the first to volunteer to assist his teacher and always wants to take care of younger children that he lives with.

Jorrell has a diagnosis of suspected absence seizures and suspected Tourette Syndrome, with developmental delays.

Samuel is an energetic and strong willed 5 year old boy who loves outdoor activities, playing with robots, puzzles and watching movies! Samuel said he would like to become a policeman when he grows up.

Samuel is not shy! He enjoys interacting with new people and likes playing in groups. His foster father said Sable “feels especially loved when there are more people interacting with him.”

Samuel resides in a foster home and has a 2 year old foster sister. He has a close bond with his foster parents and often expresses his affection to them.

Samuel has developmental delays and suspected ADHD. He attends occupational and speech therapy. During a recent visit with his social worker, he demonstrated his ability to string beads together, stack blocks and draw with a pencil. His articulation and pronunciation have improved, and he is able to clearly express himself. Sable also attends group therapy to help improve his interpersonal skills.

Nikki is very social, bright and intelligent girl. She is able to express verbally her emotions, interests, concerns and ideas and she is very well-spoken and has a rich vocabulary. She shared that her favorite subjects at school are physical education and English. She shared that she enjoys being around friends and she has many of them both at school and in her group home. She is not a conflict person and she starts every conversation and interaction with very positive intentions.

She shared that her passion is currently drama performances and classes and she has already some experience playing on stage at the local theaters. Nikki says that if she has to choose she would prefer the stage rather than playing in a movie because she likes to have interaction with the audience. However she has a favorite movie and it's a movie which she admits she watched like hundreds of time – Titanic. She shared that she likes Leonardo Di Caprio and Angelina Jolie as actors.

Nikki seems to be one very sensitive and romantic soul, she enjoys more peaceful activities, she likes the rain and she admits that some movies make her cry. However she does not spare any smiles and she loves to smile and have fun with her friends. Nikki likes the colors black, red and purple, she said that pink is definitely not a favorite color. She said that she is not a picky eater and she likes all kinds of food. She shared that she does not like lamb meat. Nikki enjoys the music of the singer Arianna Grande and she dreams to visit Paris one day.

Nikki's hope is that she will have a family. She was adopted years ago through the national adoption process but her parents seemed to be much older and at the end they saw that they feel much more comfortable without having a child at home, they had a hard time creating emotional bond with her and they disrupted the adoption after four years. Nikki seems to have processed the trauma from that separation and she now realizes that what happened maybe was in her interest as she felt undesired in their home.

Since 2021 she is in the current group home and she is now looking in the future and the possibility to have a new family. She said that it does not bother her if the family is from another country even though she admits she will feel sad for leaving her friends and the people who take care for her now.

When asked about how she is imagining her family, she said that she wants they to be good people and to treat her well. She is ok with both having other siblings or not. Nikki shared that she loves animals ( her favorite is a cat) and she would like her family to like animals too. Nikki believes that you can tell a lot about the people just watching them how they act and interact around animals and that it is always a good person the one who admits that likes animals.

He is 1.5 years old with a neurodegenerative disease called Huntington’s. We hope to find a qualified adoptive family to be Scotland parents.

Scotland has a gentle temperment. He lives with a foster family and each morning begins the day by giving a hug and kiss to his foster parents. From there, the day unfolds typically – with all kinds of playing!

Prior to submitting an inquiry to review Scotlands file, we ask you to learn about his genetic disease. The Huntington’s Disease Society of America website can be found here.

Diagnoses include severe prematurity, including damage to the central nervous system –
hydrocephalus; a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was implanted. There is a lag in physical and
neuropsychological development.

Archibald cannot walk independently. He moves by pushing when placed in a walker. Stands up on his own and stands on his feet when in his crib. He can get out of bed by himself. He can go around the whole game room. He can sit for about 15-20 minutes. In terms of fine motor skills, he can pick up a toy himself if it is nearby; he plays for a long time and prefers to manipulate with his left hand. If the toy is at a distance, he tries to reach it. He likes musical toys. He recognizes adults. He has a good emotional tone, he enjoys contact with adults he knows; he loves when they praise him. He gets angry if his toy is taken away and tries to keep it in his possession. Archibald cannot speak but he makes long sounds. In interpersonal relationships he shows preferences for certain adults and initiates contact with them. He plays with toys. The child doesn’t have independent household hygiene habits. He is calm when changing and bathing, as well as in his sleep. Archibald does not take an afternoon nap, he eats everything. He is very stubborn and when he decides that he wants to pick up an object, no matter how heavy and large, he does his best. He still uses a diaper, potty several times a day. His sleep at night is
peaceful. He has daily kinesitherapy and sessions with a teacher. He is followed by a
neurosurgeon.

Jesslyn is a snuggly baby that likes to be cuddled and hugged by her caregivers. When tired or upset she is able to relax when she hears music or soothing sounds. Although Jesslyn is not able to say words yet, she is able to vocalize through babbling.

Jesslyn needs parents who are comfortable with the many unknowns that are presented by her significant special needs. Jesslyn has epilepsy, hydrocephalus, global developmental delays, and vision concerns.

Melanie is a delightful little girl with a laugh that will brighten any room. She loves to be picked up and spun around, danced with, or held upside down. She enjoys being tickled or playing hide and seek with scarves or blankets. She is extremely bright and could use sufficient speech therapy. She is great at letting you know when something is wrong by calling out or crying. She is working hard to use her hands, as well as her head and mouth to manipulate toys and objects.

Melanie has demonstrated clear attachment to her favorite caretakers. It’s very obvious that a consistent family would help her to thrive most. She recognizes people and is even able to say some names. She gets very excited when people come and very sad when they go. She would bring unending joy to any family!

SEPTEMBER 2023 UPDATE:

Nolan can walk by himself. He enjoys walking around the center, engaging everyone, or just checking out what is happening around him. He enjoys morning and afternoon walks with his caregivers. He loves to look at himself in front of the mirror. He dances when he wants what he is watching while on the sofa. His caregivers assist and let him practice going up and down the stairs. There are times he prefers to be carried and hugged. He enjoys closeness and physical touch. He is sociable and plays on the trampoline with other children.  Nolan pays attention to social stimulation and imitates some actions. He is currently attending occupational and speech therapies, which has greatly helped him improve his skills. He can now hold toys and put blocks on top of one another.  Nolan likes everyone in the center and loves it when visitors come around. He does not display stranger anxiety. He still does not use words, but shows his excitement by laughing and shouting “ha ha ha” in a loud exaggerated voice similar to how Santa would say “Ho ho ho.”   Nolan eats solid foods such as rice, meat, and vegetables that are cut into small pieces. He likes biscuits, yakult, plain bread, and yogurt as snacks. Nolan is becoming better at expressing what he wants. He points out stuff and says, “ah ah ah” when he wants to hold something. He is cooperative with his houseparents and caregivers during his morning and evening care routine when taking a bath and getting dressed. Nolan is loved by everyone at the child caring agency, but they are praying that he will be placed in a permanent family. He has a lot of unique needs that will require special attention, financial resources, good medical specialists, and commitment of parents. He might have delays in development, but having the presence of a loving family will be of great benefit to him in reaching his full potential. He shows signs of being able to learn and improve with dedicated staff taking one-on-one time with him each day. Nolan’s agency believes that he will bring so much joy to a family and he will teach them how to love deeply.

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Nolan was found to have multiple congenital anomalies. Kleefstra Syndrome is to be considered. He was diagnosed as having global developmental delays and has mild hearing loss of the left ear and moderate hearing loss of the right ear. Nolan is being fed through a Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG) tube. However, his caregiver sometimes tries to feed him orally with infant cereal or yogurt, which he enjoys. Nolan is undergoing physical therapy and can pull himself up by holding the rails of his crib. He can sit by himself in his crib for a maximum of 30 minutes. He can stand with support and can move his legs freely. Nolan can walk approximately 100 steps with assistance. He can stretch his arms and hands to reach toys or any object near his crib. He loves playing with toys, such as rattles, that produce sound. Nolan responds when his name is called, and he can convey his needs through different tones when he cries or babbles. Nolan smiles, laughs, and babbles when talked to. He loves to be cuddled and played with! Despite his medical needs, Nolan is not demanding and is easy to care for.

A traveling family that met Nolan said, “We’ve met this child and he is the BEST cuddler! He hardly ever cries and loves to walk while holding your hands. He laughs hard when you talk loudly into his ear, and he loves cartoons that sing! We were with him for a whole summer and would be happy to share more info and pictures!”

We hope just the right family comes forward for Nolan!

Viv is a cute little girl who likes watching children’s videos and loves playing outside at the park. She loves music and dancing while sitting. Viv gets excited when playing with dolls and listening to music. Her general development is within her age range, but a little behind because of her skin condition. Contact the adoption agency to learn more about Viv and her listed medical condition!

https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-viv02
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-viv03
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-viv04
Password: Adoptmaa

Josie’s foster mother says she is smart and a quick learner. Josie is usually cheerful and active, however she can be shy and more observant when strangers are around. She has a steady routine throughout each day and sleeps well at night. Josie is not a picky eater and has a good appetite. We hear that she tends to like soup and side dishes the most, but occasionally needs to be reminded of the warm temperatures. Josie particularly likes the outdoors, and always enjoys the slides at the park jungle gym. From the information and stories that we have from Josie’s foster mother, we can tell that Josie is a determined little girl. Josie has been diagnosed with mild CP and developmental delays. After she was placed with her foster family in early 2018, she received 7 early intervention sessions a week (PT, OT, ST) and attended preschool since June 2018 for environmental stimulation. Josie has continued to make progress developmentally. At present, she receives 3 early intervention session a week (PT, OT, ST) at her teacher’s suggestion. She also wears corrective shoes outdoors. Could you be the right family to support Josie as she reaches developmental milestones?

Carrie  and Grace  are sisters who have been in state care since 2019. After their mother passed away, their grandmother cared for the girls for as long as she was able. Now they hope to find a forever family who will welcome them together. Both girls do well in school and enjoy group activities. Carrie says math is one of her favorite subjects, and she hopes to take gymnastics lessons again someday. Grace loves art and is described as a leader. Neither girl has any special needs. They just need a family.

 

Unedited pictures are available from the agency

Miriam came into care at six months of age. She was very small and had poor sucking reflex. At the age of 16 months, her skills were at about the 11-month mark. She is listed as having global developmental delay in the moderate to severe range. In April of 2022, Miriam walked without any assistance from anyone for the first time. Everyone was thrilled! Despite her delays, Miriam shows remarkable improvements daily. She is becoming active and physically strong. She is emotionally attached to the staff and relates well to all the house parents and caregivers. Miriam plays and interacts with some of the children. She is sweet and lovely. Her smile makes her even more adorable. The whole team is very fond of her. Miriam needs a family that would wholeheartedly accept her condition and one who is willing to walk her through the struggles and challenges of Noonan Syndrome. The family must be willing to seek the professional help she will need as she grows. Contact the agency to learn more about Miriam!

Brody walks independently. He is able to navigate stairs and playground equipment at the park. Most of Brody’s delays seem to be related to being unable to hear and communicate his wants/needs. For example, the foster family reports that he is not aggressive, but he does demonstrate frustration at being unable to communicate with them to express his thoughts and what he wants. He uses some gestures to communicate, such as opening the refrigerator to express that he is hungry. He is supposed to be under the care of a specialist to work with him now that he has the cochlear implant (and to continue to develop his communication skills), but this has not been consistent due to COVID restrictions and the fact that the family must travel to another town for Brody to see the specialist. The foster family does report that Brody seems to be able to hear now that he has the implant and they have seen improvements with the implant in place. Brody does attend a day program for children with disabilities and has recently become more interested in the other children.

Update 2024

Brody was born in  2015 and resides with a foster family. He is a smiley child. He is clinically and medically healthy. Brody has a cochlear implant but despite this, there is no clear evidence of hearing recovery. He vocalizes individual sounds without any meaning or meaning. He uses non-verbal means of communication to satisfy basic needs. He does not have a developed active and passive vocabulary for his age. Lacks developed speech. After the placement of the hearing implant, different-sounding sounds are heard more often, but it cannot be determined whether there is a connection with this. He has been assessed with moderate mental retardation with atypical autism, bilateral hearing
loss, a disorder in receptive and expressive speech, atypical communicative development, and delay in developmental stages.

He looks carefully at those around him. When stimulated, the child reacts, hugs and seeks contact with the foster parent. He smiles when teased, as well as gets angry when a toy he is interested in is taken away. According to information from the foster parent, there are no depressive and aggressive occurrences. He reacts to the absence of the foster parent and looks for her. According to information from the foster parent, the child is active in contacts with significant adults – both close and surrounding. Affectionate and seeking tenderness and attention from them. He takes a man by the hand to show him something he wants. No anxiety is observed when meeting a stranger but does not want to be left with strangers and reacts with grumbling and crying. He likes to be taken care of, smiles at caress and attention from adults. When observed, the boy moves steadily, independently and without assistance. Squats, stands, stretches and contracts arms. Climbing stairs with legs one after another. Handles objects equally with both hands. It is noticed that he walks on his toes. Climbs on chairs and sofas. His movements are chaotic – there is no real judgment of danger

Fine motor skills for the age are not well developed. No stacking of cubes is observed. Holds objects for a short time and throws them. The child does not have skills related to making coordinated movements with his fingers. Tries to play with constructor set but fails to assemble items. Under direct observation, he holds a pencil in his hand but shows no interest in the white sheet. It leaves no traces. With support, he manages to pull a zipper to fasten it. Unsustainable attention and concentration. Difficulty sharing attention. Orients himself in the space of the room, opens the door and wants to go outside. Does not recognize, does not name, does not show parts of his body. It has an orientation to the position of its body in space. Deal with obstacles by removing or bypassing them.

Brody does not use the toys as intended. Interest in the environment is chaotic. During the examination, chaotic play, grasping and scratching of the toys on the ground were observed. Plays with a given toy, but for a short time. According to information, when visiting a children’s corner or park, he prefers the same activities. He does not seek contact with peers, he is more interested in their toys. During observations in an outdoor environment / in a park / the boy walks and runs chaotically, no play activity is observed. Prefers to walk and walk holding hands.

In September 2022, the child was enrolled in the first grade at school, with classes taking place at the Center for Special Educational Support. There were a total of 7 children with different degrees of disability in the class. He was not able to adapt there and for this reason he was admitted to another specialized institution for the child to visit. At the time of preparation of his description to visit the center daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There he adapted very well to the new environment. A speech therapist, a psychologist, a rehabilitator and a resource teacher work with the child. Brandon feels very good at the center, interacting with the specialists. Physical therapy – passive and active – was carried out in the center. He did exercises for general strengthening of the body, improvement of independence and improvement of general motor patterns. Work was done on maintaining attention, stimulating fine motor skills and orientation in space, but it was not possible to carry out any educational activity, because of the lack of interest in the educational process. From the information received, he did not communicate with other children in the group, but accepted attention and proximity from the staff there.

Brody lacks developed self-care skills. From the information received from the caregiver, the child does not feed independently but uses a spoon with the support of an adult. He is on a general diet. The child is reported to have a good appetite. Differentiates the taste of food. Shows preferences for certain foods. He likes to eat sweet things. Constant salivation is observed. He is dependent on an adult for dressing and undressing, but according to the caregiver, he is involved and helps with dressing more than before. He undresses himself for sleep and when he needs to go to the bathroom. Brody is reported to be a restful sleeper, sleeping soundly at night and not waking up. The child uses a diaper all day. He cannot control and does not report when a physiological need arises.

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 5^th 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.

Jeremy was met by agency staff in July of 2022. He has a beautiful smile that lights up the room. Jeremy is affectionate with his foster mother and loves to listen to her sing. He really enjoys music! Jeremy will need a family who can provide dedicated care and one who can continue to help him develop and grow. We can’t wait to see who his family will be.

The agency has additional medical information and videos available.

Maci, Milan, and Marcel are a beautiful sibling group waiting for a loving forever family of their own! These siblings participated in a summer 2023 hosting program and still wait. The in-country team still talks to their host family regularly and knows these kids VERY well!

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)

Christian is a handsome boy, calm and very adorable with his beautiful smile. He often falls asleep. He is sensitive to noise. He jumps and cries when he is picked up to change position. Nevertheless, he likes to listen to music, he likes to be rocked and he likes when people communicate with him.

At school, he progresses slowly with his sensory exercises which he likes and are helping him to stay awake longer than before. In therapy, he works on functional mobility, which helps him raise his hand to touch an object. He has consistently shown slight improvement in engagement with increased stimuli. He is responding more to toys and people by raising his head, laughing, smiling, and keeping his eyes open.

Info is from January 2023; the agency can get updated information when there is a serious inquiry.

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.

Anna, now 10 years old, entered the Protection Services for the first time when she was a newborn baby as her mother used drugs while pregnant. She lived with her grandmother for a while, but reentered care at 13 months old.

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.

This is Jonathan!  Jonathan is almost 4 years old, and we had the absolute pleasure of meeting him on our last visit to Taiwan.  He is an active toddler who loves cars, balls, steering wheels, and toys that make sound and light up.  He also adores toys that spin!  While Jonathan is interested in meeting new people, he still maintains caution and will distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar people and surroundings.  At this time, Jonathan prefers to play on his own, but will occasionally engage with peers when a friend is playing with a toy that Jonathan wants.

Jonathan attends school regularly, and positively interacts with his teachers.  He follows instructions and participates in activities. Jonathan has made significant progress over the past eight months, with increased verbal expressions and connection with others.  While he does primarily use non-word vocalizations to express himself, more recently he has correctly pronounced several words.  Jonathan can accurately identify objects, and follow direction such as ‘go get your school bag.’

Jonathan has made great progress over the past year, and we know his progress would be even stronger with the love and support of a forever family!

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.

Christopher is a precious little boy waiting for a family of his own. Contact the agency to learn more about Christopher and his listed needs.

 

Christopher now has a $500 agency fee reduction for his adoption;  Additional agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’ circumstances!

Dawson is a 5 year old boy who is active and cheerful. He has been diagnosed with fetal hypotrophy, myopia, and nystagmus. He demonstrates curiosity and is very observant. His psychomotor development is good for his age. He moves independently, both walking and running. He struggles with maintaining balance, but he has improved in coordinating his movement. He hasn’t reached age-appropriate communication skills, but he has made significant progress in this area. He can imitate gestures and words and he understands basic commands. His emotions are becoming more complex. Dawson can remember the names of his peers and caregivers. He eats meals independently and is getting better at changing clothes without help. He is making steady progress and has demonstrated the ability to aquire new skills.

Grayson is a 2 year old boy looking for a family. He struggles with delays in mental and psychomotor development. He is a calm and observant child interested in his surroundings. He is comfortable around other children but doesn’t interact with them, mostly plays independently. He can walk without assistance but unsteadily. It is known that his mother consumed alcohol during her pregnancy, but Grayson has not yet received a FAS diagnosis.

Nathan enjoys arts and crafts, playing with toys, and listening to music. Those who know him, describe Nathan as easy going and gets along well with others. Nathan has an outgoing personality and enjoys talking with people.

Nathan is a second grader in elementary school. His teacher stated he is considerate and gets along well with his peers. Nathan receives one-on-one tutoring to help him with his homework, and he is taking additional one-on-one language lessons with his teacher at school.

Naomi’s favorite activities include listening to stories, playing games,  playing with toy cars, running and jumping rope. Those who know Naomi describe her as shy at first and takes time when she is getting to know someone new. Once she has built a relationship with someone, she is friendly and enjoys interacting with them.

Naomi is receiving occupational therapy for fine motor delays and speech therapy for her language delays.  Her speech therapist mentioned she has made vast improvements on pronunciation since starting therapy.  At school her teacher has Naomi read passages aloud from her textbook to help strengthen her pronunciation of words.

Naomi is a first grader in elementary school. Her teacher stated she has good learning skills, and she gets along well with her peers.

Nathan and Naomi live at the same children’s home, where they are able to continue to have a close relationship. Nathan shares a room with 3 other boys between the ages of 6-12 years old, and Naomi shares a room with 3 other girls between the ages of 6-11 years old.

Are you a family that can give the necessary time to build a trusting bond with Naomi? Give Nathan one-on-one time to help him focus on tasks at hand?

Evalina is looking for a forever family. She is a happy and playful child, with good behavior. She does suffer from a variety of developmental delays, specifically in her motor skills and communication skills. Evalina smiles often and likes to be around people.

Hailey is a 13 year old girl in Asia. She is reported to have good overall development with normal physical and motor development. While her vision has been listed as normal as of July 2022, she had some prior surgeries for visual issues and it is suggested she wear glasses due to myopia. 

Hailey is able to communicate easily and freely. She is described as outgoing, expressive and a frank teenager with a kind heart. She loves to share her thoughts and feelings to those around her. She seems to be a sensitive soul as her emotions are quite easy to read on her face and admonishing her in public, she becomes defensive or cries, but when spoken to in private she responds much more positively to constructive criticism. 

In December 2023, Hailey allegedly had a suicide attempt after breaking up with her boyfriend. She was hospitalized for a few days, but was not prescribed any medication. She also was reported to be smoking, which she admitted to as a way of calming her mood, but she has responded very positively to the staff’s positive reinforcement means of handling this situation. 

As with most teenagers these days, Hailey enjoys dancing, making dance videos with classmates, and watching videos on YouTube or  TikTok. She is on the basketball team at school and also enjoys playing volleyball. She expresses admiration of her geography, computer and Chinese history teachers.  Her social worker says “her smiles and laughter are contagious and powerful.” She enjoys the Korean Pop Culture music. 

Due to the process in her country and her age, a family wishing to adopt her will need to work quickly to complete paperwork if the foreign agency in charge of their adoption chooses the family for the child.

Ben is a determined and easy-going child despite his significant medical and developmental needs. He is described as having a gentle temperament and finds contentment in simple pleasures like listening to children’s songs, sleeping peacefully and engaging with his caregivers.

Ben has been diagnosed with Chromosome 2q deletion with developmental epileptic encephalopathy, and global developmental delay. His developmental age is estimated to be under 3 months. Ben also experiences visual impairment due to right eye congenital ptosis. While these conditions necessitate using a manual wheelchair and a gastrostomy feeding tube, they do not diminish his indomitable spirit. is a courageous fighter who has persistently strived for survival and shown constant improvement in his health. As of December 2023, he has successfully been weaned off oxygen therapy. Furthermore, the ward nurses report that Ben exhibits consistent progress in his motor development under the guidance of therapists. This highlights Ben’s progress in his development through appropriate stimulation. It is believed Ben will gain more opportunities to explore and develop his potential once he starts attending school. To learn more about Chromosome 2q deletion, here is one of many articles available online: GARD Rare Disease Information – Chromosome 2q deletion – National Organization for Rare Disorders (rarediseases.org)

With a loving, committed family who is open to acquiring the necessary medical knowledge, his care staff believes that Ben will receive the support he needs to continue flourishing. Ben’s gentle nature, resilience, and evident potential make him a truly special child deserving of a forever home filled with unconditional love. While some development is expected, Ben will need lifelong care from his loved ones.

A family with a home study for any country can submit for consideration of this child. If matched, the family would need to update their home study to this specific country.

Three-year-old Ricky has special needs primarily due to his diagnosis of agenesis of the corpus callosum. While his birth family tried to care for him, he entered into care in November 2022 and was (then) also diagnosed with global neurodevelopmental delay, cryptorchidism, dysmorphic syndrome, and failure to thrive. His current diagnoses are neurodevelopmental delay, dysmorphic syndrome under follow-up, history of intrauterine growth retardation, agenesis of the corpus Callosum and repeated Broncho obstructive Syndrome. The orphanage does report that since coming into care, Ricky has made progress with various types of therapy toward reaching his personal potential.

Ricky’s listing agency also has video available!

Emery can move using a walker and can make a few steps with support, too. Specialists are working with her to continue to strengthen her legs and are hopeful that she’ll become more independently mobile. Emery likes listening to music and is able to reproduce some of them. She can say a few words and makes short sentences as well. She receives support and intervention from specialists in the local community. She likes to receive an individual attention. She has emotional bonds with adults. She eats by herself and her sleep is calm.

Channing is a talented boy, born in December of 2011, with many interests. He likes to play with Legos, create Origami, and play soccer. He is a waiting child hoping for the love and stability of a family of his own. Contact the agency to learn more about Channing and his listed needs!

NEWER VIDEOS:

https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-channingupdate
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-channingupdate

The agency has several older videos available, too.
Password: Adoptmaa

There is a $2000 agency fee reduction for Channing’s adoption. Additional agency fee reductions may be available based on the adoptive family’s circumstances.

 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!

This little guy is a big fan of cuddle time and giggles in delight when his nanny calls his name! At the age of two he was diagnosed with pediatric lymphoma and was responsive to chemotherapy. Seth is currently 4-years old and has lots of energy! He enjoys taking walks with his nanny, listening to music and playing with toys that light up and make sound. Seth receives comprehensive development services in Taiwan for significant global delays. A family interested in adopting Seth will need to be available for therapies, medical care, and life-long care. Seth is not timid and he enjoys interacting with people so we expect him to have a life full of accomplishments! Seth needs a family to celebrate each milestone he meets!

The adoption agency has additional photos and videos available.

 

She resides with a foster family. She has ataxic cerebral palsy. She walks with slight unsteadiness. She attends a regular school with special education support services. She needs monitoring by a child neurologist and psychiatrist, motor rehabilitation, sessions with a psychologist and speech therapist, as well as special care and supervision by an adult in all social situations. She is friendly and initiates communication and contact with peers and adults, but often misunderstands intent or meaning and takes offense. She can easily be distracted, becoming fixated on an idea or object. Her emotional and social immaturity can put her at risk in social settings. She needs a predictable, safe and secure environment.

Meet this cute fellow, Brent. Agency in-country staff met him in April of 2024 and made the following report:

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.

Carl was born prematurely in a home environment lacking the basic necessities; he was moved into residential care homes. He has been diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which has impacted his development.

In his current residence, Carl has blossomed into a kind-hearted and friendly child, creating bonds with his caretakers and peers. He partakes in meals with growing independence, embraces dressing routines and self-care; Carl sleeps soundly.

Carl carries a history of medical complexities. Despite an unsupervised pregnancy and a birth weight of less than a kilogram, Carl continues to receive dedicated medical attention across a spectrum of specialties to bolster his growth.

His therapeutic services include speech therapy, psychomotricity, and psychology, extended under the nurturing folds of his supportive abode. Carl delights in equine therapy and the companionship of dogs. Carl is a good student, benefiting from customized learning supports. He also enjoys music, tablets and computers.

Siblings Ariel and Gabe, lived with their mother and older brother until they were placed in residential care over five years ago.

The siblings go to school and enjoy time with their friends. They follow routines for eating sleeping and personal care with minimal support. Their vaccinations are up-to-date and they have routine health checks. Ariel has managed psoriasis with the support of medication and therapies, while also enjoying the gifts of dance, music, and social activities. Gabe has had a minor surgical procedure, that he now manages with medications. He has medications and therapy for behavior support.

Academically, Ariel is in her fourth year and Gabe his second year.
Gabe enjoys watching tv, playing games, painting, and caring for animals. He attends a catechism class and church services. He may have behavior outbursts.

Both children are working through the child preparation plan for adoption.

Andy was born with Fragile X Syndrome,and his needs were complex from the start. He was placed in residential care as a newborn.

He has been making progress in his current placement. He enjoys going to school and participating in music class. He may need assistance to focus during school.

Anne Marie’s life has been marked by many transitions. Anne Marie lived in a family home previously, and then was placed in care of the government due to neglect. Even when the initial transition towards an adoptive family was unsuccessful, Anne Marie returned familiar surroundings with ease.

Anne Marie has a box of keepsakes that is important to her. Her diet is well-balanced, and she manages a minor visual impairment with glasses.

She is a typical teen in many ways — enjoying TikTok, beach outings, cycling adventures, and shared laughter with peers. Her active engagement in Sunday school further enhances her communal ties.

 

Maria (6) is very sociable girl and likes to start conversations with adults. She asks them questions, seeks attention and affection. She has the most skills expected for her age in the areas of language, motor skills, sociability and learning. Maintains a close affective and communication bond with her siblings. Maria was diagnosed in 2020 with local epilepsy of which she is currently under follow-up and treatment with magnesium valproate. She has not presented convulsive events to date. She also presents a diagnosis of intolerance to lactose. She is in the 3rd year of preschool.

Brenda (7) is known for her intelligence and autonomy. She learns easily and despite her young age, has great confidence in her abilities to perform any activity assigned to her. She seeks academic challenges and enjoys increasing her skills and knowledge. She is more selective with others although she is affectionate with her siblings. She likes to play individual games, loves to play to babies, draw, video games and coloring. Her favorite activity is playing soccer with her brother. She reflects a healthy emotional state. Brenda has a suitable academic performance and is in the first grade at a Montessori school. She presents a good state of health and is diagnosed with a history of trauma cranioencephalic without clinical repercussions with a history of violence family (Assessed by neurology with CT and EEG reporting normal).

Marcely (8) is described as in good health. She has favorable development in all areas. She is tender and collaborative with adults, she is also very active, and likes to keep moving, climbing, running, skating or cycling. She loves playing with dolls and coloring. Once her confidence is gained, she enjoys giving lots of hugs. She has built a healthy bond with her siblings which contributes to her self-esteem and feeling of protection. She is in the second grade and has an interest in learning and collaborating with adults. She has improved in her impulsivity control and emotional responses.

Jose (10) is intelligent, kind, friendly and bold and affectionate with adults and their colleagues. He has a protective attitude towards his sisters, shows them affection, but also seeks his own friends and does his activities independently. He has a leadership role with colleagues. He is competitive but also sensitive to needs and emotions of others. Jose shows emotional stability, establishes close and healthy social and emotional ties with peers and adults. His development is corresponding to his chronological age. He presents a state of good health and has a diagnosis of myopia and asthmatic which is being treated. He is in the 4th grade and interacts appropriately with his colleagues and guides.

Vanessa (11) has a calm temperament and has developed self-confidence and loving attitude towards her caregivers and siblings. She is very independent in her routine activities, helps younger children and assumes a role of caregiver. She enjoy activities like reading, coloring, making bracelets and playing with dolls. Vanessa is diagnosed with developmental delay psychomotor and speech disorders, ADHD, learning disorder, disorder secondary cognitive development, disorder specific pronunciation, delay expected physiological development for age and seasonal allergic rhinitis. Despite this, she maintains good health and doesn’t take medicine. She is in 5th grade and has established important emotional ties with her colleagues and friends.

Kinsley is a beautiful little girl who loves to look pretty. She likes to wear red, pink, and yellow dresses. She also loves accessories like hair clips, earrings, and bracelets. She loves to play with dolls and she also likes to play pretend teacher. Kinsley loves cats. She also loves to watch Princess Sofia. Kinsley is active and likes to swim, ride her bike, and play at the park. We hope this little sweet girl will find her forever family soon!

Additional photos available!

VIDEOS  (Password: Adoptmaa)
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-kinsley1
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-kinsley02
https://vimeo.com/maaspecialkids/maa-kinsley03

There is a $500 agency fee reduction for Kinsley’s adoption with a specific agency!

Kinsley is eligible for a $10,000 grant with the LPA, as long as the family joins LPA!

Kinsley needs a family with an approved home study to be able to lock her file or submit a letter of intent to adopt her. A family without a home study can look at her redacted file. If you are interested in reviewing Kinsley’s file or in adopting Kinsley, the agency would be happy to assist you.

Trina just glows with positivity! She likes to participate in the activities carried out in the institution, mainly those related to the creative arts such as painting and dancing, she likes to play with her peers and sometimes acts as a leader in social groups. In the psychological report, they describe the girl as responsible, obedient, dedicated, organized and friendly. Trina has a tendency to withdrawal and mild depression, due to the presence of feelings of insecurity, low self-worth and low self-esteem.

Trina also projects a strong need for belonging, parental protection and a strong desire for firm support, these aspects are explained by her life history and have been worked from different approaches by psychology, overall a calm state of mind is reported.

We know that an adoptive family can greatly help Trina feel valued and loved, and will help her improve in these areas with love, security, acceptance and healing.

Photo available from agency!

Trina has Sickle cell anemia, and she was medicated with folic acid. Sickle cell anemia is one of a group of disorders known as sickle cell disease. Sickle cell anemia is an inherited red blood cell disorder in which there aren’t enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout your body. While there’s no cure for most people with sickle cell anemia, treatments can relieve pain and help prevent complications associated with the disease. Many people with this condition live very normal lives. Learn more about the illness and living with Sickle Cell by visiting Sickle Cell Speaks.

High altitude risk: The air at high altitudes, such as in an unpressurized airplane or in the mountains at altitudes greater than 5,000 ft (1,524 m), has less oxygen than at sea level. The lack of oxygen can cause cells to sickle which is painful and dangerous for a carrier. For that reason, it is not advisable to place a child for adoption with a family living at higher altitude / mountains.

Taylor was born to a mother who tested positive for Anthetamine and Methanthetamine at the time of her birth. She did not experience any type of withdrawal symptoms. The birth mother also smoked throughout pregnancy. Taylor was placed into government care due to her birth mother’s drug use.

When she was 4 years old, she was placed with a local family for the purpose of adoption. She lived with that family for 17 months. The family chose not to finalize the adoption. Taylor was placed in an emergency foster placement for 7 months and then moved into a permanent foster home, where she currently resides.

The previous foster family described her as “a happy and outgoing child who has a very good memory”. Her current foster parents describe her as “talkative, happy and polite”. She seeks out interactions with others. She can play alone appropriately, but prefers to play with other people. She is willing to share her toys. Her gross and fine motor skills are at the appropriate developmental level for her age. She talks in complete sentences and can answer questions and follow verbal instructions. She is diagnosed with ADD and has difficulty staying focused on activities, especially when required to sit still for longer periods of time. She will also “push the boundaries” to see what she can get away with. If she does not get her way, she will throw a “tantrum” to see if the adult will give in.

She is showing signs of the effects of the placement transitions that she has experienced in her young life. She often asks for permission to do even the smallest things. She worries that she is in trouble. The foster family reports that she says she wants to be good. She is seeing a clinical psychologist, who has begun preparing her for a permanent adoption placement. Interest families should be knowledgeable of the effects of trauma and disruption or be willing to obtain continual education on the topic during the adoption process.