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My son was just dx with autism. He is very mild, so it seems. He has great behavior and is very loving. His speech is delayed (says about twelve words), has his obsessions about balls, cars, doors and anything mechanical, and doesn't seem to have an interest in mimicking words or signs. There is another child we are interested in adopting but it could either be a really good or really bad idea...of course, we would have to be accepted, too. This child has a similiar profile as my son but is three years older. This other child that we want to adopt is very loving, gets along great with other kids, but is speech delayed and sometimes has temper tantrums (like most kids) - he just needs a little extra redirection. This child loves the mechanical things that my child loves and this child seems to be mild or high functioning autistic. Would they have a bond...not feel alone later in life as I hear many higher functioning autistics actually do? Or would they actually reinforce each others lack of speech and high interest in narrowed activities. Has anyone ever been in a similiar situaiton? How did it turn out.
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What can I say? If you purposely adopt antoher child with autism, you are one of two things. Either you are certifiable, or you are an incredibly patient, amazing, gracious angel on earth.I would prefer the latter. I have two children with autism. Sam is 8 and Becky will be 7 in January. THey are amazing children, and I have an amazing wife who loks after them, and loves them, and is patient with them, homeschools them, and barely keeping her nose above the surface, manages to do most of the other things that mums and wives do. I make dinner sometimes, and the dishes are my domain:D. Anyway, after 4 years of diagnosis, (3 for becky), a year each of early intervention therapy, and various other programs available for families with special needs cildren here (Western Australia is the only place in the world where some of what we have is available, and it's FREE), things, while not being easy ever, are certainly better. THe kids are beautiful, and we wouldn't ahve them any other way - except maybe if we could get them to clean up their stuff...:rolleyes:. It can be a big trial when they both wake up and start playing - LOUDLY - at 3 AM. But if I stopped to take stock, the blessings of these two far outweigh the non blessings, and being Christians, well, we know God gave them to us for a special reason, which we have not quite ealised yet, but we are working on it.So if you can do it, do it. If you can't, don't. You know your capabilities.
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Hi
It is good that both kids are very well behaved etc..I would worry more if the older one was showing any signs of aggressive or very impulsive behaviour..as the previous poster said..you know your limits..on one hand they may keep each other busy and it sounds like they both have the same interests..on the otherhand you would be stretched thinner with their special needs, activites etc..I have 2 special needs kids..12 years apart in age..our daughter did not start out special needs..in fact she was testing 12 months ahead before she had a vaccine reaction (thimerosal) and is now 9-12 months behind, impulsive and not sleeping..and we tried for 9 years for a 2nd child, made 4 trips to Guatemala and spent our life savings on the adoption..I had to quit my job because of her special needs but now have to go back to work to pay for her $400 an hour DAN! physician..I dread it because I have to get up at 4:30 am and she doesn't go to bed until MN..
It sounds like you are very experienced and have a big heart..I wish you the best with your decision..