Should Physically Disabled People Be Allowed To Adopt Children?

[beso]

Bringing up children in a "normal" family unit has been a hot topic of discussion lately.

Some have demonstrated an aversion to children being brought up in same sex parented families because they claim that it isn't a "normal" family unit. They have also objected to same sex parents being portrayed in children's books.

Most people are able bodied therefore that is the "norm". Indeed there would more people in same sex relationships than there are people where one of the partners is disabled.

Children brought up where one of the parents is physically disabled are obviously not experiencing a "normal" family life. On the terms some posters have backed these people should not be allowed to have children and certainly not permitted to adopt.

I am most interested in hearing from those who object to same sex couples having children because it isn't "normal". Do they also object to portraying disabled people in children's books on the grounds that it is not normal?

[sherrardk]

I found this -

'Disabled people are not excluded and sometimes experience of disability will be positively welcomed.'

From - http://www.baaf.org.uk/info/adoption

I think the problem is that the term 'disabled' covers such a huge spectrum of conditions and making sweeping generalisations is both hurtful and ill-informed.

[naomi24]

Woofgang, It would depend upon the circumstances. If they could truly cope, yes - but if the severity of the disability meant that the child was obliged to become a carer for one of the adoptive parents in any way whatsoever, then no.

[woofgang]

now there Naomi, you and I agree. No child whether adopted or born to the parents should be a child carer for a disabled parent. I am sure that the disabled people who have posted on this thread would agree to that too.

[naomi24]

Woofgang, one would hope so.

[sherrardk]

Presumably the adoption agencies wouldn't let anyone unsuitable adopt a child, be it on all sorts of grounds so it's a bit of a moot point really. On the other hand, a biological parent could become disabled during the course of their child's life and then may need care from the child.

[woofgang]

sadly circumstances are often otherwise because sufficient care cannot be provided by Social Services.

[daffy654]

I wasn't disabled when my son was born but have become so since. He doesn't look after me in any way and I would never want him to.