Yale

Yale is a cheerful and kind boy (Born Feb 2007) who has Cerebral Palsy and a sensitive special need. Yale came into ICC's care in August 2019, and was previously under the care of his local Social Welfare Center.  While the SWI has not prepared an adoption file for him, they have given us permission to advocate for him.  They have stated they will make an adoption file if an adoptive family steps forward!  We have a wonderful assessment done by an International Occupation Therapist who spent time with Yale.   We would be happy to share it with interested families.

It is suspected that Yale may have a mild cognitive impairment, however this has not been diagnosed or tested.  His Cerebral Palsy also appears to have affected his speech.  Yale's disability does not affect his ability to engage in daily life - he plays, goes to school and completes all of his self care tasks independently, and always with a smile!  Yale does not currently receive any therapy from ICC or within the project.

Yale is completely independent with mobility - he can walk, run, climb and play.  His CP does affect his gross and fine motor skills in that his motor movements are not as smooth as his peers.  He is able to feed himself with chop sticks, complete self care tasks and write.  He is able to draw even though his CP makes his fine motor motions a bit jerky.  Look at his artwork!

Yale is a bit more quiet than his ICC brothers.  He is able to understand all communications said to him, but his expressive speech is often slurred, making it difficult to understand him at times.  

Yale attends a Special School, which is located outside the ICC project, 5 days per week.  He is currently learning material on the 2nd/3rd grade level, and his teachers have noted that he may have a mild cognitive impairment.  Yale is learning Chinese, Math, Music and Exercise.  He engages well in class and is able to write Chinese characters and complete simple mathematics sums.  

Yale has a very calm and gentle personality, and he loves to giggle and smile which brightens the lives of those around him.  He is very social and loves to engage in all sorts of activities with people around him.  His easy-going and kind nature makes him a joy to be around!  

We hope that Yale will have a forever family who will be blessed by this boy!

Please contact Erin Schmidt at Erin.Schmidt@chinaconcern.org if you are interested in adopting Yale and to learn about next steps in getting his file prepared.

Sherman

Sherman is a joyful and loving boy (born May 2008) who entered ICC's care in August 2019.  He was previously under the care of his local Social Welfare Center.  His Social Welfare Center has not made an adoption file for him, but they have given us permission to advocate for him.  Once an adoptive family steps forward, they will make him an adoption file.

Sherman loves having fun with his ICC brothers in his community group home where he is living in family style care.  Sherman has Down Syndrome.  He is a great helper and will assist with weekly chores or tasks.  His caregivers report they appreciate his enthusiasm, positiveness and ability to bring warmth to others within his home.

Sherman enjoys spending time and interacting with his friends and carers.  He is quick to show affection, give hugs or take a friends hand to simply be with them.  He loves to play, particularly spending time outside on the playground or in the garden.  He is ables to entertain himself for long periods of time by creating his own games.  Sherman is a boy who knows what he wants, and can communicate this by using a range of simple words or actions.

Sherman attends a local special school, which is located outside of the ICC project, 5 days per week.  He is continuing to make progress with his learning goals.  For example, he is able to recognize and write basic Chinese characters and numbers 1-10.  He is independent in his self-care skills and is working towards acquiring more life skills such as washing his bowl following mealtimes.

Sherman is playful and silly, and enjoys making little jokes like sticking his tongue out for photos or making a funny face!  His sense of humor and personality will bring much joy to any family!

Please contact Erin Schmidt at Erin.Schmidt@chinaconcern.org if your family is interested in adopting Sherman.

Emily

Emily is a beautiful and joyful girl (born May 2008) who has a caring heart and radiant smile!  She has Cerebral Palsy which affects her mobility and has some high muscle tension that affects her upper limbs.  ICC has a full assessment that we can share with interested families!  This assessment was written by an International therapist who spent time with her, and includes additional medical information.

Emily's Social Welfare Center has not prepared an adoption file for her but has given us permission to advocate for her adoption.  If an interested family steps forward, the Social Welfare Center will make her adoption file.  We long to see her in a forever family because she is so special!

Emily came into ICC's care in Spring 2010, and has has made incredible progress in all areas of development.  She loves to communicate and laugh!  She is a "big sister" to many within her ICC family home, expressing sensitivity and care for the other children, making sure they are okay and having fun throughout the day.

Emily receives therapy 5 times per week to help her gain strength and skills.  She does have difficulty controlling motor movements in her upper limbs due to high muscle tone.  However, she is able to reach, grasp and release objects and enjoys playing a variety of games.  

Emily uses a wheelchair to mobilize but is not able to independently propel her chair with her hands.  She is able to stand for short periods of time with support to help assist with transfers.  She is able to make sounds but can not form words to communicate.  She is able to clearly express a message to others using gestures, facial expressions and head nods.  Our staff and caregivers feel she is very intelligent, and recently had her evaluated by a Speech and Language Therapist.  They have introduced using a PODD Communication Book to help her communicate throughout the day.  She can now more easily communicate her needs, want, thoughts and emotions using this book.

Emily also attends education classes during the week at ICC.  She loves learning and studying, and has made progress with achieving her learning goals.  She is learning to use and navigate a computer for learning and leisure.  She is attentive and enjoys her classes.

Emily is a joyful, well-behaved and sociable little girl!  She loves to smile, laugh and have fun every day.  She is extremely caring and has a good sense of humor.  Being one of the older sisters in her room, she ensures everyone is attended to with their needs being met.  She is often endearingly called "Emily Laoban" (Boss Emily) as she directs activities for everyone.  All her ICC brothers and sisters love her!

Emily has a smile that lights up a room.  She is ready to become part of a family where she will be greatly loved while giving so much in return.

Please contact Erin Schmidt if you desire to see Emily's report, more pictures and to find out how to proceed getting her adoption file prepared.  Erin.Schmidt@chinaconcern.org

Benson

Benson, age 5 (born May 2014), is a delightful, gentle and happy little fellow.  His diagnosis of Down Syndrome has slowed his development, but he is making continual progress in all areas of his life.  Benson lives with 7 other children with in his ICC family style care center and has consistent care givers.  He is very settled with in his ICC family, and enjoys the company of his ICC siblings.

Mr. Cuteness - Oct 2019

During this past year, Benson has made good progress and improvement in his social communicative skills.  He interacts with adults and children well.  He loves pre-kindergarten group playtime which he attends several times a week.  It has free play with focus on manipulative skills, singing, rhythm and socialization.  Often in his group settings, he perceives happy situations and will raise his hands in the air and exclaim "Horray!"  "He is delightful" state his carers.

Hooray for Park Outings - May 2019

Benson loves to watch and imitate his caregivers.  They have been teaching him how to stomp, twist and dance; he is able to follow their instructions.  He understands his caregiver's interactions with him, but he currently has a very limited vocabulary.

In July 2019, Benson took his first steps!  Our ICC staff were so excited to see this major milestone and even captured it on video!  It is not often that children in institutional care have milestones like this one captured! We are thankful that Benson is experience family style care and is loved and celebrated.

He enjoys the freedom to walk around and explore different things.  He can walk from his ICC family home to the kindergarten classroom every day.  At kindy class, he enjoys shape sorting and displays fine motor skills to pick up shapes, small objects, instruments and has a good grip.  His carers have recently started to teach him to feed himself and put on his socks.  He is trying to do both of these skills by himself!    

Sweet Benson has made a lot of progress in the last year!  He is delightful, well adjusted little boy whose happy kind ways would bring sunshine and joy into a forever family.  We pray that his forever family will see him soon!

Benson has a Reece's Rainbow Account where funds are being raised for his adoption.  https://reecesrainbow.org/130309/benson

Benson may also be eligible for adoption grants via certain adoption agencies.  Madison Adoption Associates previously offered $1500 towards his adoption.

Benson is currently on the Shared List.  Please contact Erin Schmidt at Erin.Schmidt@chinaconcern.org for Benson's identifying information if you wish for your agency to pursue his file.

Cora

Cora, age 5 (born March 2014), lights up a room with her magnetic smile and personality!  Cora has Cerebral Palsy which affects her mobility and some body control.  She has been in ICC's care since she was 3 months old.  Cora lives in family style care with 7-8 other children with consistent care givers.  Our ICC staff notes she has a strong persevering and endearing personality!

Cora was an Angel during ICC Christmas 2019!

Cora absolutely radiated joy when she received her new wheelchair in May 2018!  She wanted and needed to wheel herself around as she desired more independence.  Having seen other "big kids" wheeling themselves around, she took to it immediately! She is able to maneuver her wheelchair independently for 20-30 meters (65-100 feet) before she tires.  But she is getting stronger and going further over the last 6 months.

Fine motor skill development has been a consistent focus of Cora's class and therapy times.  Using a variety of puzzles, manipulative skills and play activities, she has become very adept at shape sorting and strengthening her fine motor skills.  She can hold a crayon but not with a traditional grip.  She is learning how to use a spoon for feeding but still needs some help.  She manages finger foods on her own.  

Cora can sit independently in a chair when the height is right for her feet to touch the ground.  She can stand from sitting using her hands to pull up.  When she is tired, ICC staff do use a chest harness in her wheelchair to help her with sitting balance.    She loves the outdoors and gets excited when outdoor activities are suggested!  She also loves spending time with her friends and ICC siblings.

Parking Outing May 2018

ICC staff note that Cora is very clever and perceptive.  She attends classes each morning within the ICC project.  Her teachers acknowledge her potential to further flourish if there was more opportunity for 1 on1 teaching time and additional resources.   She can confidently count to 10 in Mandarin, and happily counts to 10 in English too!  She recognizes names and colors.  She loves repeating phrases spoken to her.  In the classroom, she understands taking turns and teachers call Cora the "little helper" because she would remind the other children what to do!

Cora is a beautiful girl with an internal sparkle that just radiates.  She loves pretty hair and dresses, hugs and kisses from those she loves.  She gives love as well as receiving it!  Our ICC staff long for her to have a family of her own where she can flourish and reach her potential.  

"This little girl is full of life and joy!  She has so much potential that would only be realized if given supports of family, love, therapy and education.  The welfare system is not a place for her to grown up.  Let's find her family!" - ICC Staff

Cora is currently on the Shared List.  Please contact Erin Schmidt at Erin.Schmidt@chinaconcern.org if you desire for your agency to locate her file on the shared list.  

Everly

Everly is a sweet 3 year old girl born Nov 2016 who is affectionate and has an infectious giggle!  She has Down Syndrome which has delayed her development.  Over the last 4 months, Everly has made some significant improvements in her social and physical development.  ICC is so proud of the progress she is making with the help of her loving ICC family.

Everly can roll over independently, and crawls quickly when motivated!  She is able to get up into standing position happily, and enjoys cruising around furniture.  She has started walking with carer's holding both of her hands.  She LOVES this!  She can sit unsupported, and enjoys watching bubbles being blown!

This sunshine girl enjoys hugs and the company of others!  She loves to play hand games with people and gives kisses on the cheek!  She loves receiving kisses too!  Everly is part of family style care where she has 5 consistent caregivers, and lives with 8 other children all under the age of 4.

Everly has therapy sessions two times per week where she has opportunities to work on her development through play!  She makes sounds to communicate and enjoys face to face time with others.  She has not verbalized with simple words yet, but she enjoys connecting with people and has become a sociable little girls in the last few months.

Our hope is that Everly will have a forever family very soon who will be blessed by her!

Everly has an adoption account on Reece's Rainbow where funds are raised for her adoption, and she may be eligible for additional grants through various adoption agencies.  Madison Adoption Associates previously offered $1500 towards her adoption fees.

https://reecesrainbow.org/130045/everly

Everly is on the Shared List.  Please contact Erin Schmidt at erin.schmidt@chinaconcern.org  for Everly's identifying information if you wish to have your agency locate her file.

Chloe

Chloe is now assigned to Madison Adoption Associates, 

and MAA is offering a $1500 adoption grant to eligible families!

Chloe is a playful and happy girl who is currently 9 years old (DOB 9/2010).  She fills every room with laughter and joy.  She loves to play, socialize and have fun in all aspects of her day.  She has a diagnosis of Down Syndrome, and has recently joined ICC's care in August 2019.  Prior to moving into ICC's care, she was under the care of her Welfare Center.

Chloe is the youngest member of her ICC community group home, and she is very loved by all her older sisters and carers!  She is a very social girl who enjoys spending time with others.  She is able to express herself through use of gestures, simple phrases and sentences.

                      


She is friendly, greeting those she knows with a big smile and hug!  She also displays confidence and has been observed introducing herself to new people and is willing to spend time with them. She is caring and will make sure that all of her friends are included in any games or activities that are taking place!  She can be a bit mischievous - she has been caught several times sneaking into her ICC sister's room to eat snacks with a big smile on her face!

Chloe is independent in most self care skills through out the day.  At times, her carers will supervise her to make sure she is completing a task correctly like dressing.  She enjoys mealtimes and can feed herself with a spoon.  She can brush her teeth and toilet independently.  She loves selecting her own clothes and wearing pretty dresses!  Her carers report she will change clothes if she prefers to wear something else over what has been selected for the day :)

Chloe attends a special school outside of the Project and Welfare Center.  She attends school 5 days a week.  Her classes at school include fine motor activities, exercise, language, art and self care skill development.  Despite some difficulties with focus and concentration, Chloe has shown she has an ability to learn and is making progress in her subjects.  

Chloe loves many activities, especially if she can do them with other children or a carer.  Some of the activities she enjoys are:  Dancing and Singing, Playing games with ICC sisters, Watching stories on TV, Going for a walk or to the playground, Drawing/Crafting, Having her picture taken!    She LOVES all things girly including dresses, painting her nails and sparkly headbands.

Chloe's file was just released on 1/14/2020 to the Shared List.  Madison Adoption Associates is now holding her file, and MAA is offering a $1500 grant towards her adoption fees!   Please contact Erin Schmidt at erin.schmidt@chinaconcern.org or MAA directly to receive more information about Chloe!