ADOPTIVE PARENTS TO CHILDREN WITH SEVERE DEVELOPMENTAL-DISABILITIES -A PROFILE

A sample of 16 women and men who accompanied their adopted children wi th severe developmental disabilities to a medical appointment at Henry Ford Hospital's Multidisciplinary Care Clinic during the one-year per iod beginning July 1, 1988 are described in the context of their paren tal role vis-a-vis these children. Results of the study are presented through use of a six-part organizational scheme: demographic and socia l traits of the parents and their adopted children, the adopted childr en in family context, life satisfactions of the parents, adoption moti ves, adoption satisfactions, and humanization of the children.