c6350

Child's name: John
Number: C6350
Birthdate: 3/91
State: Washington
Listed: August 2006, Updated 8/07

Photographs by Yuen Lui

View: Wednesday's Child video for John

If you have completed an adoption homestudy and would like to have your information forwarded to this child's worker, contact us.

Kind hearted and loving, JOHN (3/91) enjoys swimming, swinging, and PlayStation games. He also likes to help around the house and spend one-on-one time with others. John has a positive attitude and an excellent sense of humor and is happy to be involved in programs and activities. John has developed good relationships with staff at the group home where he lives, and a main theme of conversation with them is being adopted or getting a permanent family. He very much wants that sense of belonging that only a permanent family can offer. John has also formed positive relationships with other residents at the group home. John is now legally free.

Despite significant physical challenges characteristic of cerebral palsy, John functions at a high level and is usually positive and upbeat. Academically, he attends public high school where he has a computer for written lessons and math and extra academic support.

His treatment program includes physical therapy and medications to help him manage. When he transitions into his permanent family it would be an act of acceptance and commitment for his adoptive folk(s) to participate with him in family counseling. Such support could be significant in helping him to settle in and helping him and his new parent(s) come together as a family unit.

Although John can act naïve, he is savvy and understands everything that’s going on. To help him grow and mature, it is essential that his parents (particularly his adoptive mom) hold him accountable for his behavior and choices. It can be so easy to excuse misbehavior due to his challenges, but that is such a disservice to John. And it would be a disservice to his adoptive family, too. "Mom" figures have often wanted to give him extra consideration above and beyond what his actual special needs require.

John is very vocal and communicative and likes to interact with others. He may need reminders to speak clearly, and responds very well to prompts and redirection and other kinds of corrective measures. Older kids and peers particularly can become impatient with John due to his repetitive and persistent behaviors associated with his obsessive/ compulsive symptoms, and he tends to do best with younger and some same age peers. John is often anxious in new situations and around new people. When anxious it is help to give him the space and freedom to move around and even go for a walk. When such outlets are not available, John needs clear directives and a calm, patient adult to help him get through the situation without having a meltdown.

Clear rules, expectations, limits and safe boundaries are important in helping John do well. John would like to have both a mom and dad. A strong dad figure would be great for John. John would respond best to a family with younger or no children.

Subsidy and Purchase of Service may be available.

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