Week 3

Yuting Yoo – Week Three

Yuting, now 4 years of age, has been lovingly cared for in the last few years. Ron and Tom have had the financial means to provide Yuting with all of the resources she needed. Yuting struggled to meet developmental milestones throughout early childhood, and Ron and Tom were unceasingly patient with her. Yuting had been participating in a Montessori program since she was 2 ½ years of age, and she was doing well at the school.  

* What are the major developmental milestones for a 4 year old? What should Yuting be doing physically, cognitively, and emotionally at this point? How does Montessori education support typical child development?

* What else is important for you to know about Yuting’s family at this point? (Hint: Think about all that you don’t currently know about the family that could be helpful for you with regard to demographic information.)un

Week 2

Yuting Yoo – Week Two

It has been a full year since the Yoo family started the adoption process. Ron’s family comes from China, and he and his partner Tom have always wanted to be parents. They have traveled to the orphanage three times to see their daughter, and they cannot wait to bring her home. They have made their final trip, and now they are on their way back to their home with their new daughter.

* What should Yuting be doing physically, cognitively, and emotionally at 12-months of age? Are there aspects of her development at this point that we might legitimately expect to be “culture bound?”

* Are there obstacles that Ron and Tom may face as an adoptive gay couple? Are any of these obstacles likely to affect Yuting? Why or why not?

* What does the research say about outcomes for adoptive children of gay or lesbian couples versus heterosexual couples? Are there any discernable differences between the groups?

DECISION POINT

* Has Yuting experienced adequate care in the orphanage? Has she been neglected and/or abused? Has she had adequate nutrition? Discuss the implications of your decision on Yuting’s capacity to bond with her new parents.

For the first post, each group will learn some information about each person’s family of origin. This should aid each group in beginning to imagine their respective adoptee. While some of the information may at first appear to be unrelated to our subject of study, life-span issues for individuals with disabilities, fear not. It will all make sense as we move through the semester. 

Yuting Yoo – Week One

In a small orphanage somewhere in Guangdong province, a new mother begins to give birth. She plans to name her daughter Yuting – after her grandmother – and then she will give her away. She has heard that this orphanage is able to get many of the babies adopted by Europeans or Americans. 

What are the conditions like in adoption centers in other countries? Russia and China come to mind as case studies.  

What are the procedures for adopting internationally? What conditions must be met? What are the costs involved?

Welcome!