Legal Question in Family Law in Arizona

Re: Special needs Adoption

Interestingly enough, my brother and sister-in-law just adopted a Russian child too, so I understand your situation quite well. Your adopted children are unlikely to qualify as "special needs" children just because they were institutionalized during the first part of their lives. However, should they begin to show any of the symptoms that would identify them as "special needs" as they get older, they will qualify for the same sort of assistance that any Arizonan child would, regardless of the fact that they are adopted, or came from elsewhere. So, for example, if one of them began to display learning disabilities, at that time you would be able to obtain assistance from the public school system for special education accommodations.

This is not really a family law question, so much as it's an administrative law question. If you have any questions about the special needs programs available in the state of Arizona, you can call the Department of Education (about educational assistance), the Department of Economic Security (economic assistance), and the Center for Disabilities Law (a private, non-profit organization that helps families with disabled children get the assistance they need).

Enjoy these two new additions to your family.