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Bipolar Disorder/bipolarism and adoption

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Expert: Joyce A. Anthony - 8/19/2010


Question
My question is that I recently was denied adoption rights to my paternal granddaughter. (I have been raising her since she was 7 months old she turned 2 this past March, before coming to live with my wife and myself she lived in a tent on the street)the denial was because of as stated mental health and background, I am bipolar with pstd,have been on the same drugs,(carbamazephine,seroquel,levetiracetam and occasionally celexia) for many years with good results. Should there be any right to denial of adoption of this lovely child that is so dear to me, because I have a mental condition(they will let me raise her just not let me adopt her,also several of my biological children including her father were diagnosed with bipolar or depression and were raised by us) Thank you, Steve

Answer
Steve:

If you haven't already done so, hire a lawyer!  As long as your disorder is controlled, there is absolutely no way they can legally deny you adoption rights if you meet all their other criteria.  If necessary, keep appealing.  You are being discriminated against and this is illegal.  If you have difficulty finding a lawyer, contact NAMI and they should be able to help you.

                            Joyce A. Anthony

Bipolar Disorder

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Joyce A. Anthony

Expertise

I can answer questions dealing with bipolar disorder in a parent, yourself or your child. I can give suggestions and insight into what can be expected of many medications for bipolar disorder. My most extensive knowledge is in children with bipolar disorder. Here I can give advice on dealing with daily events, schools, medication and professionals.

Experience

I am the daughter of a bipolar/schizophrenic parent, am bipolar myself and am raising a bipolar child. I have a background in Psychology from Gannon University, have run several parenting classes for those parenting bipolar children and have had extensive experience with medications, the school system, homeschooling a special needs child, dealing with counselors, doctors and other professionals in the mental health field. I write for a bipolar website, with the focus on educating the child with bipolar disorder on his/her illness.

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