Can I adopt?

Post Reply New Topic

I've been thinking more and more about adopting a child.

I very recently received an autism diagnosis and this has me wondering whether or not being diagnosed is likely to count against me in the adoption approval process.

I'm high functioning and have a supportive family but I don't know if there are any rules about adopting if you have autism? I'm in the UK.

Does anyone have any insight or experience regarding this?

https://www.first4adoption.org.uk/who-c ... -squashed/

I couldn't find anything explicitly saying autistics can't adopt in the UK.

It won't automatically count against you. There's no rule in the UK that says autistic people can't adopt. I've looked into this a bit myself.

But they will have questions about it. That's not a bad thing imo. They're not looking for reasons to refuse to let you adopt but they'll want to know that you can provide a stable and loving environment for a child, that means you'll probably have to demonstrate that you can hold down a job (unless you're independently wealthy) and provide a home that's safe and suitable for a child. The fact you have a supportive family will stand in your favour. Given your diagnosis they'll probably have questions about your flexibility and your response to unexpected situations, that sort of thing.

If you decide to go ahead, good luck.

Thank you! I have a decent-paying stable job that I've been in for 5 years so I think that'd be okay.

I've had a lot of physical health problems this year though, they're resolved now but they were very serious.

So I've decided to wait until next year, until I'm at least 1 year past my latest operation. I will spend the intervening time getting as physically and mentally healthy as I can, continuing to do therapy etc. and come to terms with the autism diagnosis because it's very new. And doing research about adoption.

Then hopefully I'll be in a good place to start the process.

Are you willing/interested in adopting an autistic child? Because that might actually be considered an advantage.