Anyone venturing into the international adoption world this week, even if putting only a toe into the territory, will have heard about China's new adoption rules that will go into effect on 1 May 2007.

According to reports, soon to be taken off the list of possible adoptive parents are singles, the disabled, those on anti-depressant meds, the very chubby, the not-rich-enough, and more.

The yack-yack on groups and forums is a back-and-forth between those thinking China has every right in the world to make their own rules, and those who think that a lot of these rules are discriminatory in ways having nothing to do with parenting.

So far, the situation with SN kids is unclear, and some are thinking the CCAA's basic requirements of adopters of SN kids will remain as is.

1. They are loving and caring, mentally qualified and prepared to nurture children of special needs;
2. They have experience and skill to care for children of special needs;
3. They have medical rehabilitation and nurturing plans specially worked out for children of special needs;
4. They are in good economic position and their annual incomes are higher than that of average adopters;
5. They are physically and mentally healthy, free from contagious diseases, AIDS, cancers, psychosis or other diseases which might affect their ability to nurse and nurture children of special needs;
6. They are of good conduct and have no criminal records;and
7. They must not give up adoptive relations and medical care.
8. They are two-parent families in principle.

Maybe these will stand, and maybe not, but the upper age for SN adoptions appears that it will be raised from 50 to 55, allowing a bit wider window for these adoptive parents. Considering the range of special needs in China, this program is certainly worth a look.

(For anyone interested, here's the link to Brian's Stuy's post on the whole subject of the new rules.)

I've not adopted from China, so I hesitate to get into the fray about whether adoptions there are or are not squeaky clean, or say much of anything that would insert a personal opinion about something I have not studied thoroughly. I must, however, jump in when the discussion turns, as it has, to the idea of supply and demand.

Hang around for the next post for that ...