China’s International Adoption Ban: Disabled Orphans and Waiting Families Caught in Limbo

China’s decision to ban international adoptions has left families across the globe heartbroken and disabled orphans in China facing an uncertain future. Among those affected are the Welch family from Kentucky, who had been eagerly awaiting the arrival of 10-year-old Penelope. Penelope, who has a special need, had been matched with the Welches since 2019. However, China’s new adoption policy, implemented in September, has halted the process, potentially preventing Penelope from joining her new family.

The ban, which affects all international adoptions, disproportionately impacts children with disabilities, who are already among the most vulnerable in China. According to Beijing’s civil affairs ministry, 95% of international adoptions between 2014 and 2018 involved children with disabilities, a group that often faces social stigma and limited domestic adoption opportunities.

The Impact on Families

Families like the Welches have been left in limbo, with the fate of their future children hanging in the balance. Aimee Welch, Penelope’s would-be mother, said that her daughter Grace, also adopted from China, has been deeply saddened by the news. Grace, born without a left forearm, had been excited to welcome Penelope, expressing to her mother that they “were meant to be a family of eight so that everyone could have a buddy.”

Aimee Welch urged China to uphold its commitment to families like hers, calling on the government to “keep the promises made to the children already matched with adoptive parents.” The government, however, has been silent on the matter since the ban was announced, only stating that the decision aligns with international agreements and reflects China’s “overall development and progress.”

Disabled Orphans Face Uncertain Future in China

For children with disabilities in China, international adoption often represents their only chance of finding a family. Huang Yanzhong, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that without international adoption, many of these children “will have no future.” Domestic adoptions are rare for children with special needs in China, where societal attitudes towards disability remain challenging.

China’s one-child policy, which was in place from 1980 to 2015, forced many families to give up children, especially girls and those with disabilities. Despite policy changes and increasing efforts to improve accessibility for the disabled, life in China for children with special needs remains difficult. Public infrastructure for the disabled, particularly in rural areas, is limited, and only the most severely disabled individuals receive financial support from the government.

The Story of Dani Nelson

Dani Nelson’s story highlights the critical role international adoption can play in the lives of disabled children from China. Born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, Dani was adopted by a family in the U.S. in 2017. Since her adoption, she has undergone multiple surgeries, enabling her to lead a normal life. Dani now works as a cashier and has even joined a swim team, achievements she attributes to the opportunities she gained through adoption. “Adoption saved my life,” she said, reflecting on her journey.

Many children like Dani, who need medical intervention and specialized care, would struggle to thrive in China’s institutional settings. Families like Meghan and David Briggs, who were matched with a 10-year-old boy with special needs in 2020, fear that the delay caused by the adoption ban will prevent their child from receiving the urgent medical care he requires.

“We were prepared to offer this care because we view this child as our family,” said David Briggs. The Briggs family, like many others, is left wondering what will happen to the children they were hoping to bring home.

Relief and Cultural Preservation for Some

Not everyone shares the same concerns. Some adoptees and advocacy groups have expressed relief at China’s decision to halt international adoptions. Lucy Sheen, a transracial adoptee who was adopted by a white family in the U.K., believes that international adoptions can strip children of their cultural identity. Growing up in a predominantly white community, she often felt out of place, recalling that she was even reprimanded for expressing an interest in learning Mandarin.

“I think that needs to change,” Sheen said, criticizing what she perceives as a “white-savior” mentality among some adoptive parents. The Nanchang Project, a non-profit organization that helps Chinese adoptees connect with their roots, echoed this sentiment. In a statement, the group expressed “a sense of relief that no more children will be separated from their birthplace, culture, and identity.”

The Future of China’s Adoption Policy

Under China’s new adoption policy, international adoptions will only be allowed in cases where the adoptive parents are blood relatives of the child. U.S. authorities are reportedly in talks with Beijing, advocating for an exception to be made for families who have already been matched with children. For families like the Welches and the Briggs, there is still a glimmer of hope that they may one day bring their adopted children home.

John and Anne Contant, who were matched with five-year-old Corinne in 2019, expressed respect for China’s decision, but also hope that exceptions can be made for the children already matched with families abroad. The Contants have six children, three of whom were adopted from China and live with albinism, just like Corinne.

During the pandemic, the family connected with Corinne via WeChat, showing her the home and room that had been prepared for her. “In one of our conversations, she pointedly asked, ‘When are you coming to get me?’” John Contant shared.

As families wait for a resolution, the future of China’s disabled orphans remains uncertain. Without international adoption, many of these children may face lifelong institutionalization and limited opportunities for care and education. For those already matched with families, the hope remains that they will one day be reunited.