Date of Award
12-2002
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Sociology
First Advisor
Dr. Subhash Sonnad
Second Advisor
Dr. Douglas Davidson
Third Advisor
Dr. David Hartmann
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Donald Cooney
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to examine special needs adoption from the perspective of the adoptive parents. Using the general guidelines of grounded theory, the study analyzed secondary data from a post-adoption program providing services to families who adopted special needs children. The data revealed that adoptive parents function under a cultural script of special needs adoption. The cultural script influences how families view themselves, the environment around them and how they decide to function as adoptive families. The study explains the cultural script, ways that professionals working in adoption can use that cultural script to support adoptive families and assist them in maintaining their adoptive placements. The understanding of the cultural script could play a role in reducing the number of adoption disruptions and dissolutions.
Access Setting
Dissertation-Open Access
Recommended Citation
Grant,, George Jr., "The Cultural Script of Special Needs Adoption" (2002). Dissertations. 1228.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/dissertations/1228