April 17, 2017 - 22:59
Project Proposal
While running at Indoor Natioanls I had the privilege to meet Missy Rock, a former All-American and record holder NCAA Division III athlete. My coaches here at Haverford often tell stories about her races, accomplishments, and family. Her brothers and sisters hail from South Korea, Vietnam, Guatemala, Alabama, and Iowa, eleven of her fourteen siblings were adopted and considered to be special needs. Many times they would come to her races with pre-printed family T-shits that read “Missy’s Army” or “Missy’s Fan Club”. Now, married and with four children of her own, Missy continues to construct a family with values similar to those that she grew up and has already adopted two special needs children from Africa and India.
In my project I hope to explore what classifies a child as “special needs” in the process of national and international adoption. How does stigma, prejudice, and notions about disability and how that plays into advertisement and likelihood of adoption. I have listed some of the topics that I hope to look into with this project:
How does stigma, prejudice, and notions about disability and how that plays into advertisement and likelihood of adoption?
What are classifications of “special needs” in international adoptions?
What are some regulations that may prevent disabled parents from adopting disabled and/or non disabled children? How are they protected?
Presentation of documentation of adjustment to family life in listed “special needs” adopted children
How does perception of disability change in the family that adopts children with “special needs” before, during, and after the adoption process?
Analysis of tactics, wording, and listing advertisements that promote “special needs” adoption processes