**Interview with Aimee Welch on the Challenges of International Adoption**
**Interviewer:** Aimee, can you tell us about your family’s journey with adoption? What motivated you to grow your family in this way?
**Aimee Welch:** Our adoption journey truly began with a personal experience. When our nephew was born without arms, it opened our eyes to the incredible potential of individuals with limb differences when they have the right love and support. This experience deeply moved us and inspired us to adopt children with disabilities, starting with Grace, whom we adopted from China. We believe in recognizing the inherent dignity and worth of every individual and embracing their diversity.
**Interviewer:** Grace has been looking forward to her older sister Penelope joining the family since 2019. Can you share a bit about Penelope’s situation and what it means for your family?
**Aimee Welch:** Absolutely. Grace has been eagerly awaiting Penelope’s arrival. She was thrilled when we told her that her soon-to-be sister, also from China, would be joining us. Grace was born without her left forearm, and while Penelope has a “serious but manageable” special need, I prefer not to disclose the specifics. The thought that Penelope might never come home has truly saddened Grace. She once told me, “We were meant to be a family of eight so that everyone could have a buddy.”
**Interviewer:** It seems that the pandemic has caused significant disruptions in adoption processes. How has that affected your family’s situation?
**Aimee Welch:** The pandemic really caused major delays for us, which was challenging. Then in September, China announced a pause on international adoptions, even for families like ours who had already been matched. This is particularly heartbreaking for vulnerable children with special needs, as the chances of being adopted domestically are quite low.
**Interviewer:** What are your thoughts on how this situation affects children in similar circumstances?
**Aimee Welch:** It’s truly devastating. Experts point out that many of these children “will have no future” without international adoption. The statistics are alarming—around 95% of international adoptions from 2014 to 2018 involved children with disabilities. I genuinely hope that China will honor the commitments made to children like Penelope who have families waiting for them.
**Interviewer:** Can you elaborate on the broader context of international adoptions in China?
**Aimee Welch:** Certainly. China opened up to international adoptions in 1992, with numbers peaking in the mid-2000s. Over the last thirty years, more than 160,000 children have been adopted worldwide. Unfortunately, societal pressures, including the former one-child policy and stigma surrounding disabilities, have left many children with special needs in orphanages.
**Interviewer:** Can you share some personal stories from individuals who were adopted and how their lives have changed?
**Aimee Welch:** Definitely. For example, I know a young woman named Dani who was adopted into the U.S. in 2017 after facing limited care in an orphanage. She has a spinal defect and a neurological disorder, but since her adoption, she has undergone multiple surgeries that have greatly improved her life. She is now involved in activities like swimming and has even secured a job, which showcases the transformative power of adoption.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing your family’s story and shedding light on these important issues, Aimee. While the challenges are substantial, the hope that comes with families like yours is equally powerful.
**Aimee Welch:** Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share our story. It’s essential that we continue to advocate for these children and strive toward a future where they receive the love and care they deserve.
