Adoptions That Defy Prejudice

Only 1.6% of people who register with the intention of adopting a child in Argentina say they would accept a child with a disability. That small pool currently consists of just 30 people or couples.

Estefanía had completed the interviews required for the national adoption registry when she applied to adopt Lionel, then two years old. She was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair. Lionel had been in fragile health since birth, with stays in rehabilitation institutions, feeding through a gastric button, and breathing through a tracheostomy. Those needs had made it difficult to find him an adoptive family.

Their bonding period, which is generally recommended to last no more than six months, stretched to two years. They could see each other only on Sundays in the institute’s parking lot because there was no suitable room. Medical staff assessed Estefanía’s circumstances and repeatedly questioned how she would care for Lionel. She explained that her mother would live with them and help, while stressing how important it was for the child to have a family.

Soon after they began living together, Lionel overcame malnutrition. He no longer needed the gastric button because he could eat by mouth, and he moved beyond using signs and began speaking. He now helps his mother with her wheelchair, treating it as another game, and enjoys having her read stories while they look at the illustrations.

Estefanía says the system is not equipped to support families adopting children with complex health conditions. Now that Lionel has been fully adopted, a bill bearing his name awaits consideration in Congress. It would reduce waiting periods for children with disabilities and provide comprehensive support during bonding, guardianship, and after adoption. The proposal would also make information about a child’s health, treatment, and therapies easier to obtain, while helping families access services and overcome barriers.

Estefanía had dreamed of giving a child the love of a family, as she had experienced it herself while overcoming her own difficulties. Lionel has left the hospital and now has a family and many friends. The article urges lawmakers not to delay the bill so more children can realize their right to a family.

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The system is not prepared to support a family that adopts a child with a very complex health condition. Change is necessary.