Special Needs Children

Special Needs Children
Abba's Kids Ministry, Bulgaria

Families with loving homes are desperately wanted for children with special needs in Bulgaria. They suffer diseases and have medical conditions that make them “unattractive”. Very few families, if any, are open to adopting them. These kids will be doomed if they don’t get adopted. Their whole lives would be spent in specialized institutions and they would be robbed of the right that every human being has – to be loved and live in a permanent family set. Their potential would never be realized.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Justice ("MOJ") publishes on a regular basis a list of the special needs children currently available for international adoption. So far the list has been in the Bulgarian language only. It is believed that in the future the MOJ shall start publishing this list in English too. Until then, you can download the translation of the current list here. If you need help with the medical terminology or just have specific questions regarding any of these conditions, please contact us. Our pediatrician D-r Dimitrov would give you professional answers and insight.

These children are not just special needs. They are also very special because they are Abba’s kids and their heavenly Father loves them and cares for them more than any of us does and can even imagine. Jesus is their complete source. He is faithful and His promises are true – He "sets the lonely in families (Psalm 68:6).

The following children are special needs children from Bulgaria. Please contact ICIA for any questions.

INFORMATION

About the problems in the health condition of the children available for international adoption, entered in the respective register at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria (updated June 12, 2008.)

1. Child at 5 years and 8 months, male, with problems in the neonatal period – left-sided diaphragmatic hernia which has been operated. With good physical development. Sagging of the sternal bone and strabismus are present with the child. He is lagging behind in his neuro-psychical development – moderate to severe degree. There are manifestations of hyperactivity, with unstable attention and tic neurosis – complex tic motions accompanied with exclamations. The child is with specific educational needs – individual educational program is being carried out with him. Positive changes in the development of the child are observed due to the individual classes.

2. Male child, at 6 years, born prematurely II degree from mother with positive Wassermann, in severe depressive state, with data for intraventricular hemorrhage II-III degree and internal hydrocephalus. At the present Hemi paresis to the left and Hypermetropia are present with the child. The anthropometric indicators are uniformly increasing but remain under the norms for the age. The child legs behind in his neuro-psychical development – started walking at the age of 2 years and 6 months. He has well developed rough motorics: walks by himself limping with the left leg, goes up and down stairs with support from an adult. The fine motorics of the child are with moderate degree of development. He eats independently and cleanly, dresses by himself. The child connects 2-3 words in a sentence. He tries to ask questions. He is an emotional and cheery child who shows willingness to do everything by himself. The child is with specific educational needs – individual educational program is being carried out with him. Rehabilitation is carried out too due to which improvement of the motorics and the posture of the body are observed.

3. Male child, at 7 years who is with good physical development, but the intellectual development is bellow the possibilities for the age, with immaturity of the psychical functions. If raised in a family environment with possibilities for individual stimulations of the intellectual development and training, it is expected that his neuro-psychical development will reach the respective for the calendar age. The child was consulted with psychiatrist who gave the following conclusion: the child is with delay in the development, dyslalia is present due to which sessions with speech therapist are to be carried out. At the end of 2006 new consultation with psychiatr ist was carried out and the following conclusion was given: reduced attention and observation are present with the child, he does not reproduce text, does not speak clearly; he is not oriented for time and location. Diagnosis: Oligophrenia, mild mental debility. Dyslalia. The child is with optical correction with glasses in relation to reduced vision. He has been ill with Hepatitis A – mild form, during august, 2003.

4. Male child at age 4 years and 1 month, without problems during the puerperal period, of a mother with idiocy. During the stay in the specialized institution the child has suffered urinary infection – treated, with hydronephrosis I-st degree of the left kidney. At the present the child is with good general health condition with co nsiderable lagging behind in the neuro-psychical development and delay of the weight. He has poor active and passive vocabulary. During training sessions imitative skills are lacking, his attention is hard to be drawn, he does not play with the other children and isolates himself. When awake the child performs stereotype motions – rocks to the sides and back and forth. The child does not have independent skills to feed himself and does not communicate his physiological needs. During November 2005 the child was consulted with psychiatrist whose conclusion was: it concerns mental underdevelopment – debility. As a result of individual work with the child, slow dynamics of his neuro-psychical development are observed.

5. Child at 3 years and 9 months, male, without problems during the puerperal period. The ch ild is with good physical development and severe lagging behind in the psycho-motor development, especially the speech. Good passive vocabulary is present, the child carries out verbal orders, however, he only vocalizes and imitates sounds. He walks independently and steadily, runs, climbs stairs with support. He eats independently. The child is with a mild facial asymmetry and hypertelorism. Individual therapeutic work is carried out with the child for the purposes of overcoming the delay in the neuro-psychical development.

6. Child at 3 years and 10 months, male, with divergent strabismus. He has been ill with severe pyelonephritis at age 2 years and 2 months. After the birth meningoencephalocele at the base of the nose was established due to which craniotomy and osteoplasty have been performed. Surgical correction of the nose is imminent. Examination was carried out – scanner of the brain with the following result: cyst of the brain is present with liquor density between the two hemispheres in the fore cranial fossa with dimensions 30/15, connected with the front horn of the left side ventricle which is dilatated in the temporal and dorsal part. The child is with normal physical development and legs behind in his neuro-psychical development – he has been walking independently and steadily since 1 year and 8 months, says some words.

7. Child at 7 years, male, with history of clonic-tonic seizure at the 7th day after the birth and febrile cramp at 11 months. The mother is mentally delayed. The child is in good physical condition and is with data for moderate mental delay. The child is with cerebral palsy. Motorics: he moves independently, without support, the motions are jerky and stiff. Speech development: the child speaks but the intonation of the speech is cut, with even tone, unmelodic. He does not possess big vocabulary but uses words freely and connects them into sentences. He is very curios and constantly asks questions. The child understands the speech of the adults but doesn’t always react adequately to their explanations. He shows preference to listening to music which calms him down. He helps himself. Eats independently and communicates his physiological needs.

8. Child at 7 years and 1 month, male. On the second day after the birth data for hypoxemic-ischemic encephalopathy was established. At the present the child is with very good physical development. He slightly legs behind in his neuro-psychical development due to the fact that he is raised in an institution. The child interacts well with the adults and other children in the group. He is with good emotional tone. He speaks in simple sentences. He shows vital curiosity to the surrounding world. The following behaviors are observed with the child: hyperactivity, hyper excitement, hyper irritability (shows strong emotional reactions, especially if his desires remain dissatisfied) as well as lesser discipline. For the last two years treatment with Tegretol has been carried out which has led to decrease in the irritability exhibited in the early childhood. He does not need special care for his upbringing. The child needs a family that is ready to accept his differences and to support him for his more effective adjustment to the surrounding world. 9. The child is at 5 years and 7 months, male, born prematurely III-rd degree with problems during the parturient period. The performed transfontanel echo-graphy and computer tomography of the brain established a slight ventriculomegaly. Inborn dislocation of the left hip joint has been established – surgical treatment has been carried out. Periodical examinations by orthopedist are necessary for the child until finalization of the bone growth. At the present moment the physical and neuro-psychical development of the child corresponds to the age and no special care for his upbringing are necessary. The child is with well developed general motorics – walks purposefully. The coordination of the motions is good. He runs, goes up and down stairs alternating the feet. He dances sport dances. The child is with well developed fine motorics. Good emotional status is present. He masters all hygienic and daily skills respective for the age.

10. Child at 9 years and 4 months, male with normal parturient period born of a mother with psychical disease. He started walking at age of 2 years and 8 months. At the present the child is clinically healthy with data for converging strabismus due to which he wears glasses. He slightly legs behind in his psycho-motor development. He walks independently, runs and uses his hands accurately when working with different objects. He is calm psycho-motorically. The child doesn’t exhibit aggression or auto-aggression. He is with good emotional tonus. He copes with simple tasks. He enters in contact with the others and does not feel uneasy. The boy uses simple phrases and articulates the words correctly. His thinking is concrete and figurative. The thought process is superficial and inconsistent. The child has rich impressions and fantasies. His attention is unstable yet. His concepts are not built up yet. He orients well in a familiar environment and adjusts easily in a new one. He is very curious. The child recognizes the parts of his body and knows that he is a boy. He likes to sing and dance, says short poems. He is active in all programs
organized in the orphanage. He eats independently and uses the cutlery well. The boy has elementary habits and skills built up. He copes on himself with his physiological needs during the day. The child is enrolled in a school for children who lag behind in their development. Provided that enough care and attention are provided to him he could fit in a family environment freely.

11. Child at 5 years and 1 month, male, with problems during the neonatal period (severe depressive condition, seizures). The transfontanel echo-graphy, followed in dynamics, shows data for intraventricular hemorrhage and internal hydrocephalus – slight to mild degree. The mother is with mental debility. At the present the child is diagnosed with: Cerebral Palsy. Epilepsy. Gastroezophageal reflex. Strabismus. Hypotrophy. Treatment with Depakine, Midocalm, Nootropil and Motilium is carried out. The child severely lags behind in his psycho-motor development, has quadriplegic syndrome and psycho-motor retardation that demand special care related to the feeding and daily physical therapy. 100% permanently limited possibility for social adaptation has been established. The child doesn’t turn from his back to his stomach, cannot sit and stand, can sit with the help of an adult. Fixed semiflexy of the lower limbs and spontaneous motion activity are present with the child but attempts for passive motions intensify the spasticity. When put on his stomach the child tries to crawl. He laughs when contacted, produces indefinite sounds.

12. Child at 3 years and 2 months, male, born in severe depressive condition, with problems during the period of the newly born. The child is with diagnosis: Hypoxemic-ischemic encephalopathy, spastic quadriparesis, symptomatic epilepsy. Due to permanent seizure readiness the child is treated with Depakine. The immunizations are postponed. The motor development of the child severely legs behind from the norms for the age – he does not sit, does not stand, does not walk. At age of 36 months the child is with psychical age of 8 months. When seated he would gaze at toys situated in the left side of the range of vision and would show motion activity with the left hand. When lying on his stomach the child transfers by himself to elbow support and for a long time keeps his head well standing. The boy turns from back to stomach. He takes steps with the help of an adult. He persistently gets to a toy. He shows strong interest for the toys and studies them. He does lengthy manipulative motions with his left and right hands. He continually gazes
at his appearance in a mirror, makes attempts to touch it. He smiles, laughs and vocalizes as emotional response on self initiative and imitation. He observes the other children with curiosity and tries to establish contact with them. The child is glad when praised and reacts with displeasure to restriction. There is privileged connection with an adult built up.

13. Child at 14 years and 1 month, female who is with problems during the period of newly born. In early child age the child was diagnosed with inborn dislocation of left hip joint. At the present the child is physically healthy, walks with stable gait. She lags behind in her neuro-psychical development to moderate degree (IQ=50). She speaks clearly but is with limited vocabulary. The active attention is easily drawn, the fixation is hard and she is quickly distracted. She remembers after multiple repetitions and the reproduction is not exact. The girl interacts freely with children and adults, both acquaintances and strangers. She goes to school with a great deal of desire. She is in 6th grade of the mass school. The child has a potential to master specific work habits and to be partially socialized.

14. Child at 4 years and 1 month, female, born prematurely II-nd degree. With data for divergent strabismus. The child lags behind slightly in her neuro-psychical development. Her motor development is normal. Frequent exhibitions of aggression toward the other children in the group and auto-aggression are observed with the child. She is irritable, she isolates herself. She prefers to play alone. She says her name and the names of close persons. She doesn’t yet use simple sentences. Limited remembering volume is presented with the child. She repeats separate words after lengthy individual work. The child needs special care and individual work for achieving positive results in her development.

15. Child at 6 years, female, with data for hypoxemic-ischemic encephalopathy, epilepsy, autism and strabismus. Hereditary laden with hypotireoidism is present with the child. She is with normal physical development and lags behind in her neuro-psychical development – doesn’t speak. The child has mastered the main physical motions – walking, running, jumping.

16. Child at 3 years, male, who lags behind in his physical and neuro-psychical development. At the age of ten months the child was diagnosed with cerebral palsy – quadripyramid syndrome. At the present the child walks independently. He doesn’t speak yet, only utters sounds. He interacts with adults and children through touch. When other children play he isolates himself and doesn’t show interest for their games. His play is stereotype: draws on the wall with the fingers of his hand, hits the floor with his hand. Stereotype motions are observed when dressed and undressed. He rarely makes visual contact. When an adult tries to engage his attention, his gaze is aside, looking at the fingers of his hand. The child needs special cares.

17. Child at 3 years and 6 months, male, born prematurely with problems during the period of newly born. The mother of the child is a drug addict with Hepatitis C. The child was tested for Hepatitis C and the result was negative. Adenotonzilectomy was performed on the child in August 2006. At the present the child is clinically healthy with adenoid facies. The child severely lags behind in his psycho-motor development. He walks independently, the gait is tilted, the motions are jerky. He goes up and down stairs abruptly lifting his legs, he is unstable. He eats independently but does not control his physiological needs. The child has passive vocabulary but rarely carries out verbal orders. The big deficit in the child is related to insufficient concentration of his attention which is kept for very short time: 1-2 minutes. He loves watching TV and is then calm and smiles. Often he isolates himself from the other children. He seeks contact with an adult to be held but hardly establishes visual contact. Individual psychotherapeutic work is carried out with the child for the development of his psycho-motor potential.

18. Child at 6 years and 1 month, male, who is physically healthy. The child lags behind in his psychical development, with unstable attention. In relation to the speech development: connects the words in a sentence. The child is with poor vocabulary and problems with the pronunciation which demand work with a speech therapist. There are no proved psychical illnesses or deviations with the child. He doesn’t need special cares for his bringing up.

19. Child at 5 years and 9 months, male. In October 2006 the child was operated in relation to hydrocephalus internus oclusiva; tumor foce posterior cranii. The child significantly lags behind in his physical development, psycho-motor retardation is observed. Due to the main disease, paleocerebral syndrome is available with the child: unstable gait to impossibility for standing and sitting, frequent throwing up. He understands the meaning of some words. He utters some sounds. He carries out some orders. He plays with toys. The child lags behind in his habits and skills. He needs special cares for his upbringing.

ADDITION TO THE LIST OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
(as of November 1, 2007)

( There are two blind children. There are people who specifically want to adopt such children. The important thing is that both children are with NORMAL physical and neuro-psychical development. These children are: ):

6. Male child at 3 years who is with familial laden for glaucoma. In November 2004 the child was diagnosed with: Blepharo-conjunctivitis. Doubting inborn glaucoma. Inborn infection.

Right eye – diameter 11-12 mm with decreased transparency. Does not lighten. Left eye – corneous diameter 12 mm. Decreased transparency. The cornea in the center has grown very thin and protuberant.

The child gets up and walks around static support. He walks leaded for two hands. Eats with feeding bottle, does not drink from a cup. He reaches toys by himself, feels them with his hands and plays with them. When called by his name, listens to the direction of the sound. Reacts with cheers to a contact with an adult. The child doesn’t see but hears. He doesn’t speak.

9. Female child at 6 years and 9 months with bilateral blindness caused by bilateral inborn cataract – the child has been operated twice. Malformative stigmas are present with the child – beak-like nose, prognatia, Gothic palate. She has normal physical (weight and height within the limits for the age norms) and psycho-motor development. She has well developed gross motorics and good spatial orientation. The child is with well developed active vocabulary and speaks in full and grammatically correct sentences. She is distinguished with good concentration of the attention. The child is communicative, freely communicates with peers and adults. She adapts very well in new environment. She likes to sing and dance. She attends a preparatory class in the school for children with damaged vision. She is with a very good educational capacity.

(II. There are some children who are with diseases but they are absolutely adoptable. These children are: 2 )

ADDITION TO THE LIST OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
(as of November 1, 2007)

1. Female child at 2 years and 11 months, born with defect in the lumbosacral region, non-united arches of the vertebras (Rahishizis toracolumbalis. Spina Bifida. Contractura flexoadductoria coxe sinistri. Contractura flexoria genus sinistri. Pes equinus. Paresis of the bottom left limb). During July 2006 a correction of the contracture of the left pelvic joint was carried out by performing myotentomia adductoria coxe sinistri. During the follow up in May 2007 directions for rehabilitation procedures were given. The left leg of the child is shorter than the right, with flexion in the knee joint. She walks independently and confidently and the left leg is bended at the knee. She tries to run, climbs up and down stairs with support. The child is with good neuro-psychical development, with very good emotional tonus. She plays plot-games and has rich stock of words which she connects in sentences. She asks questions and feeds herself.

(*** This child is with Spina Bifida (There are families who seek to adopt specifically children with such disease). This child walks and runs and is with NORMAL neuro-psychical development and GOOD emotional tonus! )

7. Male child at 7 years and 3 months of whom after the birth is established poly-malformative syndrome: Atresia of the anus and rectum. Inborn heart malformation: Fallot’s tetralogy. Hypoxemic crises. Agenesis of the left kidney. Pes equinovarus sinistra (flat feet). Male pseudo-hermaphroditism. Bilateral cryptorchism (currently treatment with Pregnil is being performed)

With respect of the atresia of the anus and rectum surgical correction was carried out on two stages (Abdominoperineal proctoplastic). No further surgical interventions are being planned.

With respect of the heart malformation, at age of 1 year and 7 months radical correction of the heart malformation of the child was carried out. Echo-cardiographic data for pulmonal insufficiency – II-nd degree and electro-cardio graphically established post-surgical right thigh block (October 2006). Good clinical tolerance, there is no data for heart insufficiency, without indications for treatment with medicines. Free regimen. The child is subject to follow up with cardiologist.

The decision of doctors’ commission of December 2006 establishes 56% disability, with preserved possibility for social adaptation.

At the moment with the child is present correct neuro-psychical development and good development of the global motorics – he walks extensively, runs, climbs. He is very well adapted and socialized. He plays subject-role games. Speaks with rich vocabulary, carries out free dialogue, likes to ask questions and tells stories. He has very good communication skills and strives to be a leader. He eats independently but does not regulate his physiological needs.

(*** Most of the conditions of the above child have been surgically corrected. He is with NORMAL neuro-psychical develpment, VERY WELL adapted and socialized!)

ADDITION TO THE LIST OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
(as of January 25, 2008)

11. Male child at 4 years and 8 months who is with diagnosis: Mucoviscidosis. DNA homozigot for the mutation F508 del. The following treatment needs to be applied to the child:

Inhalation with physiological saline solution – three times a day;
Inhalation with Pulmosin – once a day;
Creon – 4 times a day one capsule of 25 000E;
Liposoluble vitamins;
ACC – 100 mg daily;
It is appropriate to include food supplements;
Prophylactic antibiotic treatment is necessary – 3-4 times a year.

The child lags behind in his weight and height with more than two standard deflections for the age but is with normal neuro- psychical development. He walks steadily and independently, runs, jumps, goes up and down stairs with support. The child is with well exhibited passive vocabulary. He pronounces rationalized words which sometimes he connects in a sentence. He participates in individual and group games and classes. He has built up habits and skills which correspond to his age. He eats on his own and does so cleanly. He already gives signal when he needs to go to the toilet.

(*** It is a pretty mild disease that is not threatening to the boy's life or to the life of the others and the treatment is pretty easy. Many people live happily all their lives with this disease, have families, etc. He is with NORMAL development! )

III. A child with Cerebral Palsy who has pretty good physical development (she can walk independently) and is with NORMAL neuro-psychical development and very affectionate! This child is: 4

ADDITION TO THE LIST OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
(as of January 25, 2008)

1. Female child at 7 years and 10 months who is with normal for the age neuro-psychical development. The child is with diagnosis: Esotroptia congenita aternans. Ambliopia oculi sinistri (correction with glasses). Child cerebral palsy – spastic quadric-paresis, hypotrophy of the muscles of the bottom limbs (twofold surgical treatment of the bottom limbs has been carried out – elongation of the sinews). She walks independently but with difficulty. After surgery carried out in January 2006 the child started walking more steadily and to step on the full feet. She tries to accelerate the tempo. She jumps under persistence. She is a very friendly child who interacts with her peers while playing and easily talks to them. She recognizes and keeps the basic hygienic norms. She can count to 10. She coordinates the fingers of the hands with difficulty and that is the reason to give up quickly the manipulative tasks assigned. She shows preferences toward music.

(IV. There are two older sibling groups. In each of them one of the siblings is with normal physical and psychical development but the other has some problems. These children are: ):

ADDITION TO THE LIST OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
(as of February 28, 2008)

4. Male child who was born on August 26, 1994. The child is in a good general health condition. There are no physical disabilities, psychical, psycho-emotional or behavioral deviation. He is with a good emotional tonus. He is very well-balanced. The intellectual development of the child is within the norms.

5. Female child born prematurely with weight 1200 gr. on April 5, 1996 – sister of the child #4 above. The child lags behind in her psychical development. The intellectual development of the child is below the norm for her age. She has difficulties in her education and the communication with the others. She possesses limited vocabulary stock. It is difficult for her to pronounce difficult words and combinations of words. She is with a stable emotional tonus. She likes it when there are more people around and they give her attention. She is not conflict. She is very attached to her older brother who is in the same orphanage.

7. Male child who was born on April 30, 2002. The child is with good neuro-psychical development and adequate behavior. He lags behind in his weight with one standard diversion and with two in his height. He doesn’t need special care in his bringing up.

8. Male child born on November 29, 2000 who is brother of the child #7 above. He is with good physical development and lags behind in his neuro-psychical development. In August 2002 the child was placed in a specialized institution with the syndrome of abused child with diagnosis: State after fracture of the right thigh. Contusion of the brain. State after subdural hematoma. Post-traumatic Child Cerebral Palsy. Shortened after the fracture right limb. Rachitis. Impediment of the psycho-motor development. Urinary infection with cause enterococcus. Manifestations of protein-enzymatic insufficiency. During March-April 2007 the child was hospitalized in an Emergency Neurosurgery Unit with diagnosis: Hydrocephalus interna, established after Computer axial tomography. A surgery is carried out: Anastomozis ventriculoperitonealis. The child is subject to follow up once a year with respect of the neurosurgical operation performed. At age 14 another surgery is imminent of the ventriculoperitoneal Anastomozis aiming at prolongation of the abdominal tube. At the moment with the child are present: State after subdural hematoma in consequence of trauma. Post-traumatic Cerebral Palsy. Epilepsy. Post-traumatic shortening of the right thigh bone. Impediment in the neuro-psychical development. The child started walking at 2 years and 9 months but he moves slowly, with a limp due to the shortening of the right leg. The equilibrium while walking is improved, he tries to run. He spares efforts of his right hand when performing activities with the hands. He hasn’t mastered quickness of the movements, precision and coordination. His perceptions and notions are poor and incomplete and his memory is weak and mechanical. His attention is unstable. The concepts and notions for the age haven’t been formed yet. He can’t express his thoughts. His active vocabulary is poorly developed. His disease – Child Cerebral Palsy – is the reason for the child to face huge difficulties with adaptation to educational environment. The child attends Day Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities where the special needs of the child are being met. He understands the questions he is asked but answers with only “yes” and “no”. He regulates with difficulties his physiological needs. He needs an adult to take care of him and to help him. The child doesn’t have built up social skills. He is friendly and well-disposed. Seems calm and smiling. He is very emotional and easily gets upset. He enjoys the interaction and contacts with the other children. He is not conflict. He doesn’t participate in group games due to his undeveloped speech. He likes to play alone. He prefers to draw and color as well as to watch cartoons.

(V. Some of the children are physically healthy (or with small medical problems) but lag behind in their neuro-psychical development. All they need is a lot of attention and individual work and they would have all the chances to become normal. These children are: ):

LIST OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
(as of July 10, 2007)

3. Male child, at 7 years who is with good physical development, but the intellectual development is bellow the possibilities for the age, with immaturity of the psychical functions. If raised in a family environment with possibilities for individual stimulations of the intellectual development and training, it is expected that his neuro-psychical development will reach the respective for the calendar age. The child was consulted with psychiatrist who gave the following conclusion: the child is with delay in the development, dyslalia is present due to which sessions with speech therapist are to be carried out. At the end of 2006 new consultation with psychiatrist was carried out and the following conclusion was given: reduced attention and observation are present with the child, he does not reproduce text, does not speak clearly; he is not oriented for time and location. Diagnosis: Oligophrenia, mild mental debility. Dyslalia.

The child is with optical correction with glasses in relation to reduced vision. He has been ill with Hepatitis A – mild form, during august, 2003.

5. Child at 3 years and 9 months, male, without problems during the puerperal period. The child is with good physical development and severe lagging behind in the psycho-motor development, especially the speech. Good passive vocabulary is present, the child carries out verbal orders, however, he only vocalizes and imitates sounds. He walks independently and steadily, runs, climbs stairs with support. He eats independently. The child is with a mild facial asymmetry and hypertelorism.

Individual therapeutic work is carried out with the child for the purposes of overcoming the delay in the neuro-psychical development.

6. Child at 3 years and 10 months, male, with divergent strabismus (crossed eyes). He has been ill with severe pyelonephritis at age 2 years and 2 7

months. After the birth meningoencephalocele at the base of the nose was established due to which craniotomy and osteoplasty have been performed. Surgical correction of the nose is imminent. Examination was carried out – scanner of the brain with the following result: cyst of the brain is present with liquor density between the two hemispheres in the fore cranial fossa with dimensions 30/15, connected with the front horn of the left side ventricle which is dilatated in the temporal and dorsal part. The child is with normal physical development and legs behind in his neuro-psychical development – he has been walking independently and steadily since 1 year and 8 months, says some words.

The child needs a family that is ready to accept his differences and to support him for his more effective adjustment to the surrounding world.

ADDITION TO THE LIST OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
(as of November 1, 2007)

8. Female child at 5 years and 11 months who is in a good physical condition. The mother of the child is with a mild mental retardation and neurotic conditions. The motor development of the child corresponds to her 8

age. She has built up hygiene and life habits and completely serves herself. She has problems focusing on the tasks given and very often denies participating in collective classes. With emotional respect she gets very easily excited, often cries without significant reason and expects special attention. The child prefers to play alone and shows preferences towards the children in the group. She adapts with more difficulties to new surroundings and needs the support of the adults. She has poor vocabulary, communicates with her peers and adults with difficulty and answers the questions asked with unwillingness. The child needs to be constantly encouraged in order to show more desire for self-expression

With the child is observed lagging behind in the development of the main spheres – mental and psychical. Deficits in the main cognitive functions – thinking, memory and attention – are observed. Informational deficit is present due to the specific conditions of life in an institution. The intellect of the child fluctuates between mild lagging behind and borderline. The child attends preschool in the public school system. The placement of the child in an appropriate family environment would stimulate the lagging behind in the norms for the age which is consequence of the permanent institutionalization. Full compensation is questionable.

10. Female child at 6 years and 4 months who lags behind in her physical development – weight and height with one standard diversion. She lags behind in her neuro-psychical development – Retardatio mentalis moderata. Convergent strabismus (crossed eyes) is present with the child. There is data for flat feet – planovalgus. She doesn’t need special treatment. She started walking at age 3 years. Currently the gait of the child is steady, gently swinging and steps inward. She runs, climbs and loves to dance. She has built up skills for self-serving – eats independently and dresses up. For the physiological needs she has to be reminded by an adult. The child is with poor, inaccurate and incomplete perceptions. Concrete and figurative thinking prevails and the attention is unstable. The constructive praxis, psycho-motor coordination and intellectual development are disturbed. The child is with manifested motor alalia; she pronounces words and understands speech stimuli. She is emotionally unstable. She prefers to play alone. With the child is observed intense necessity of attention and positive evaluation to carrying out tasks given.

ADDITION TO THE LIST OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
(as of January 25, 2008)

2. Male child at 5 years and 11 months who lags behind in his physical and neuro-psychical development. Moderate backward mentality is present with the child. After the birth aplasia of the skin was established in the area of the abdomen and chest, as well as aplasia of the skin in the area of the big and small fonatenelle. At the present moment malformative syndrome is present with the child – encircling cicatrixes in the area of the torso, the skin of the head is not completely epithelized. Long epithelizing therapy has been carried out with the child. He has built up hygienic habits. The active vocabulary of the child is characterized with the use of poor stock of words which slowly widens; he uses simple sentences, keeps a dialogue. He reproduces texts of songs, poetry and fairy-tells with difficulty. Passive speech – he understands the meaning of the words, answers when called by his name and carries out tasks consisting of two actions. The child is quickly excitable and with unstable emotions. He is very affectionate and endearing with the members of the personnel.

(VI. There are many Down Syndrome children. There are many families out there who specifically want to adopt such children. These children are: )

LIST OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
(as of July 10, 2007)

22. Male child at 2 years and 4 months with Down Syndrome and problems in the neonatal period. Hereditary laden with the Down Syndrome on the line of the father. Cytogenetic analysis: Trisomia 21 – translocational form. Inborn heart malformation is present with the child: full atrioventricular septal defect, type III according to Rasstely – shared atrium. Undervalve aortic stenosis. Mild valve pulmonal stenosis. Persisting atrioventricular channel. Chronic cardiac insufficiency. Palliative cardiac surgery was performed in May-June 2006. The child is often ill with acute infections of the respiratory tract – rhinopharingitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. In June-July 2006 the child was hospitalized on the occasion of pyothorax and fistula of the right lung. The child can’t sit and walk independently. The speech development is related to throaty sounds and accidental combinations of sounds. He does not react to his name. He expresses his main necessities with crying. He does not seek and demand the presence of an adult but in a play and tease laughs loud. He establishes a good visual contact and follows 10

with a gaze the movements of an adult. He reaches and picks up a toy, manipulates with both hands, transfers an object from one to another hand. With a good gripping reflex characterized by palmar grip. The visual motor coordination has reached level hand-hand, eye-hand, and mouth-hand. The child is fed with a feeding bottle – slowly but with appetite.

24. Male child at 4 years and 6 months with Down Syndrome with manifestations of cardiac insufficiency in the neonatal period. There is data for inborn cardiac malformation: intervalvular defect – tubercular. He started walking at 2 years. At the present the child walks steadily, tries to run but is slow and unstable. He climbs up stairs slowly with support. The manipulations with objects do not correspond to his age; his motions are not well coordinated. Very good imitative abilities are present with the child. Throughout activities he is with good concentration of the attention. He uses more than 10 words reasonably. Reacts to his name and carries out simple orders. Sometimes aggressive behavior toward the other children is observed. The child feeds himself independently. The child lags behind in his neuro-psychical development at the level of severe mental weakness.

28. Female child at 4 years with Down Syndrome born with signs of infection. There is echo graphic data for Hemangioma hepatitis established in 2005. She is often ill with infection of the upper respiratory tract. She lags behind in her neuro-psychical development. The child doesn’t walk. She crawls on herself, sits on herself, gets up in the bed on herself (up to immovable position). She sits in a walker and moves around with it. She pronounces accidental combination of sounds. She eats with a spoon, drinks from a cup.

30. Male child at 1 year and 5 months with Down Syndrome born in depressive state and with functional heart murmur. He straightens up by holding on to a support and makes steps when up. The child can walk when holding on to hands. When put in knee support he can crawl independently for some time. He performs object-manipulative movements with toys put in front of him. He is emotional in his contacts with the adults. He distinguishes strangers from known people. He is happy when praised with “bravo”. He reacts with displeasure to prohibitions. He laughs loud and teases. He approaches with trust and curiosity in his contacts with children and adults. The child has established emotional connection with an adult and demonstrates expectations from her. He experiences emotionally the separation after individual activities. The child pronounces prolonged 11

combinations of sounds and syllables when imitating adults. He eats with good appetite. When awake he is active and always finds something to attract his attention to. He seeks contact with the adults and the children – teases with them, tries to take away toys left to some distance from him. He carries out social gestures – gives his hand for “hello”, does pick-a-boo. He looks in the mirror with interest. He enjoys his image, touches it and smiles.

31. Male child at 2 years and 3 months with Down Syndrome born with inborn cardiac malformation – full atrioventricular septal defect. Atrioventricular insufficiency of high degree. Persisting arterial channel. Debit lung hypertonia. Cardiac insufficiency. A surgery was performed in September 2005 – radical correction-plastic of the intervalvular defect with PTFE. Plastic of intervalvular defect, type I with pericardium. Plastic of mitral valve. Ligature of persisting arterial channel. Remaining small intervalvular defect. Moderate atrioventricular insufficiency. The child severely lags behind in his neuro-psychical development. He can lie on his belly while leaning on his hands and can sit with support. He straightens up by unmoving support and can walk sideways. He crawls and reaches desired objects with which to manipulate. He reaches out and picks up hanging toys and everything in his range. The coordination is developed. He shows interest to rings, rubber toys and toys with sounds. The child pronounces multiple sounds. He reacts to his name and smiles. He is very happy and charming. He enjoys tease and contact and laughs loud. He is fed with a spoon while sitting. He especially enjoys showers and baths. He doesn’t control his physiological needs. While awake the child is calm among the other children and observes them without entering in contact with them. He prefers the presence of an adult in different moments.

32. Female child at 6 years and 2 months with Down Syndrome. There is data for hypotrophy and lagging behind in her neuro-psychical development. She started walking independently at the age of 2 years and 6 months. She plays with toys. The child doesn’t speak but understands and carries out some orders.

ADDITION TO THE LIST OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
(as of November 1, 2007)

2. Male child at 7 years with Down Syndrome who is in a good health condition, good motor skills – moves independently, steadily and confidently, runs, climbs, goes down and up stairs without support, makes

“forward roll”. Lagging behind to moderate degree in his psychical development is present with the child. He understands the speech of the adults and carries out orders. He makes attempts to pronounce one-syllable short words without connecting them in a sentence. He communicates in gestures and mimics with the surrounding people. He could be persuaded with words. Draws within the limits of the paper. Recognizes the parts of his body. When listening to music he joins with rhythmical movements of the hands and legs. He is communicative. He enters easily in communications with adults and strangers, as well as with the children in the group. He feeds himself with the regular food. He can’t keep himself clean. Drinks on his own from a cup. He announces his physiological needs with gestures. He doesn’t control his physiological needs during sleep.

4. Male child at 4 years and 4 months with Down Syndrome, regular form, who was prematurely born I-st degree. The child lags behind in his psychical development – Coefficient of development – 52. He was ill with Tuberculosis of tracheobronchial lymph knots for which he was hospitalized and treated since April 2006 till July 2007. Since June 2007 the tuberculostatic treatment has been stopped. He walks steadily, rarely falls. He climbs up steps with support but is afraid to go down them. He runs pretty well, climbs. He performs imitative movements in imitational games. He can hold a pen and draws horizontal and vertical lines within the limits of the paper. He carries out simple orders. He is very emotional and seeks the contact with adults and other children. Laughs and teases. He pronounces 4-5 rationalized words. Understands and carries out orders according to verbal directions. Eats independently. Drinks from cup. Regulates but doesn’t tell his physiological needs. Takes his clothes and shoes off on his own.

5. Male child at 3 years and 7 months with Down Syndrome. Inborn heart malformation (operated big intervalvular defect with excellent post-surgical result, without manifestations of decompensation, without residual murmur find. He needs dispensary observance after the surgical correction of the inborn heart malformation). Atresia of the anus – corrected successfully surgically on three phases. Currently the child is with neoanus and restored passage. The child lags behind in his intellectual development at the level of severe degree.

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Publication date: 2008 Sep

Organizations: Island Coast International Adoption (ICIA), ABBA's Kids Ministry