Continuing about this inspiration story of special needs adoption by Ukrainian citizen Svetlana Bondareva. Her life experiences build empathy in her and she started adopting children at 20 years of age.

When Bondareva was 12, her father, grandfather and two grandmothers died within a few months of one another, leaving her alone with her mother.

"I felt it very acutely. I thought, 'How can other children live without any parents?' I decided when I grew up I would take in orphans," she said.

So at 14, she began collecting addresses of orphanages. At 16, she began writing to children in orphanages. At 20, she adopted her first child, Marina, then 9, who still lives with her.

She Realized It Was Up to Her

She never set out to adopt disabled children--just to write to them and send gifts. But once the letters started, she decided--with the encouragement of her mother--that if she did not adopt them, no one else would.

So in her early 20s, with trepidation, she visited a home for disabled children.

"I was so scared I walked around the building twice before going in. I didn't know what awaited me behind those doors. Ordinary people don't go into those places," she said.

When Bondareva at first brought home children with disabilities, many people teased and pointed fingers.

"People are not used to seeing invalids. They are kept out of the public eye. At first, it was hard. But in order to live in the society, you have to learn not to pay attention to these things," Bondareva said.

Bondareva's children are typical of "orphans" in Russia and Ukraine, 95% of whom have one or two living parents. They end up in state care because of parental alcoholism or neglect, or because one or both parents are in jail. It is usual to give up disabled children.

Some orphanages in poor regions have as little as 5 rubles a day (17 cents) to feed each child.

Conditions in homes for disabled children also vary sharply. A 1998 Human Rights Watch report cited cases of humiliating punishment, neglect, and physical and sexual abuse.

From: The World; A Born Nurturer Does It Her Way; Ukraine
The Los Angeles Times
Nov 6, 2001
By: ROBYN DIXON;

To be continued....

Special Needs Domestic Ukrainian Adoption
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4