In the countries where we work, many children with Down syndrome are waiting for loving adoptive families.
However, Down syndrome is not as embraced and supported in some countries as it is in the United States. People with Down syndrome often go without access to special education, therapies or other resources that they need to reach their full potential. While we always strive to find a loving adoptive family in a child’s birth country first, for many children with Down syndrome, international adoption is the best route to a permanent, loving family. If an adoptive family does not come forward in the birth country, children with Down syndrome become eligible to join a family through international adoption.
“When we think about Micah’s future, we feel an incredible sense of excitement for what is to come and the successes and joys that he will experience…. And we continue to celebrate that Micah is valuable and worthy just the way he is.” – Jade Presnell and David Sekula 
“Keeping an open mind and open heart has been the key to our family. He’s fit so well in our family and made everyone’s life better.” – Shawn and Jaime Butcher 
“She was very sweet and calm in China. I just remember thinking, ‘Wow, she is like an angel child.’…. She does fuss, and she has opinions, and she has this little stubbornness about her. But mostly, she is just an absolute joy.” – Robert and Mindy Hostetter 
“SNAF [Families Not Finances] donors essentially gave my daughter life. Without them, she wouldn’t have a life,” Sara says. “She’d live, but she’d have no chance at ever being independent, finding meaning in her life…They made that happen.”– Sara Croasdaile
For some families, like the Hostetters and Presnell-Sekulas, the idea of special needs adoption was new territory. But they chose to push aside fears, worries and uncertainties and moved forward in trust and faith. For other families like the Butchers and single mom Sara Croasdaile, who adopted two children with Down syndrome, they knew they wanted to adopt a child with special needs from the beginning of the adoption process.
Each of these families has a different background. Some have experience with special needs and some none at all, and all of their adoption journeys are different. But each one is full of positive change, joy, patience and love.
Grants are available for eligible children with special needs through our Families Not Finances campaign. Learn more about the campaign here.
Children with special needs are waiting for families!
Meet some of the children waiting for loving adoptive families. Could you be the right family for one of these children?
