Abuse, Adoption, and Attention Deficit Disorder
24 Pages Posted: 8 Sep 2012
Date Written: August 13, 2012
Abstract
This piece discusses how adoption is affected by abuse of disabled children, particularly those who suffer from Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Children who have attention difficulties are more apt to be abused by their parents than are those who do not. Unfortunately, the problems that plague these children do not end when they are removed from their parents. They are more likely to be “hard to place” in permanent homes than children without disabilities, and may only leave foster care as they “age out,” or become emancipated. Further, even if they are adopted, the adoptions may be disrupted at a higher rate than those of children without such difficulties. Finally, even when the adoptions remain intact, the children may not turn out as well as adopted children without known problems.
Keywords: ADHD,adoption, disability, child welfare, abuse, foster care
JEL Classification: K19, K42
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation