[teachbear]

I read in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (5-24-07) a editoral page letter by a parent that adopted an autistic so from foster care. They did have a previous relationship with him as the writter's wife is an "autism exert" (authors words, not mine). It is a very positive articles and has interesting examples of strange questions people asked him. He is the author of a book about his experencies, I've not read the book but found the article interesting. Thought I would share with all.

[gclvaruba]

You wouldn't happen to have a link to the article would you? We live in the ATL metro area and would love to read it in that we too foster to adopted our Autistic dd from state care.

[teachbear]

Well I can't find the link on the AJC site, but I did find a link to it from the LAtimes. The book he wrote "Reasonable People:A Memoir of Autism & Adoption" was published on 05/21/07 so the op ed articles are a way to promote the book. Here is the link I hope it works You're adopting who? - Los Angeles Times At any rate I think positive press about adopting special needs children from foster care is helpful.

[gclvaruba]

WOW! A very touching story. I wept when I read,

"Despite the stigma attached to "special-needs children," people do adopt these kids. And yet, many more Americans spend gobs of money on fertility treatments or travel to foreign countries to find their perfect little bundles. I'm haunted by something my son wrote after we taught him how to read and type on a computer: "I want you to be proud of me. I dream of that because in foster care I had no one." How many kids lie in bed at night and think something similar?"

This was why we adopted. There is now one less child out there to lie awake at night wondering why they were so unwanted.